Page 1 of Untaming Lady Violet
Chapter 1
Darby Meadows
Kent, England
Life as a wallflowersometimes had its perks.
Wallflowers were forgettable. Unnoticeable. Invisible.
And Lady Violet Everstone had long ago decided that being invisible was a valuable commodity.
Today would be no different than any other, and once again, she was grateful her presence would go unnoticed.
With almost detached curiosity, she watched the man draw closer. His strides consumed the terrain, long legs never slowing as he marched with a single-minded purpose. Advancing across a hillside stained deep, emerald green, he glanced neither left nor right on his unwavering path.
Violet’s heart gave a flutter of apprehension.
Was her imagination playing tricks or was he stalking straight toward her? Or more precisely, the tree she’d just recently climbed?
Violet almost lost her balance, trepidation morphing into awkward clumsiness. With her free arm, she gripped the tree tighter, a dismayed cry escaping tightly pressed lips when one low-heeled shoe slipped free of her foot. Crafted of golden damask, it landed like a colorful leaf amongst the oak’s exposed grayish-brown roots. She stared at the ground, horrified there was now tangible evidence of her presence.
Another quick check of the man’s location dragged a groan of disbelief from deep in her chest.
Of all the meadows in England…
And of all the trees, his focus seemed narrowed on the one where she sat perched like a plump little partridge.
Blasted bad luck.
I’m safe up here. There is no reason to believe he will see me or my stupid slipper. And, I can do this before he comes any closer.
Violet’s fingers scrambled over rough bark before finding purchase in the oak’s grooves. With stocking-clad toes curling into the wood, and one hand clutching a branch above her head, she kept her precious bundle safe while moving away from the main trunk.
She stretched out the hand holding the crumpled bit of handkerchief, then stretched some more, and even more, until her arm ached and her toes cramped from digging into the tree’s rough surface.
Just a… bit… further…
There!
Finally nestled within a cocoon fashioned of twigs, leaves, and bits of morning glory vine, the wee bird flopped disjointedly. Mouth yawning wide, it desperately chirped for food alongside two equally hungry siblings.
Violet tucked the bit of silk back into her bodice as the mama robin landed on the nest.
The bird’s inquisitive eyes darted several times between Violet and the fledglings before deciding she could resume feeding her flock.
Violet watched, transfixed to see something so natural and primitive up close.
The chattering of a nearby squirrel jerked her back to awareness, a reminder that the discovery of her location was still possible. A course of action should be decided quickly.
Earlier, she’d scaled the enormous oak with stubborn determination, ignoring the possibility of a nasty tumble. Now, clutching the thinner overhead branch with both hands, Violet did not feel so brave. With her weight centered upon a limb, she froze in position like a circus performer toeing a tightwire.
Well, I would be very foolish to climb down now. And as long as I don’t make the mistake of looking directly at the ground, I’ll be fine.
Violet glanced down.
Her stomach flip-flopped as oxygen was suddenly in short supply. Deep, desperate gulps of air became essential to maintain her balance.
The ground could not possibly be so far away.
