Heedless Hearts
Evelyn Trimborn
ISBN: 1-58345-251-6
Young, inexperienced Marielle gets more than she bargains for when she takes on the role of live-in housekeeper for soon-to-be-wed architect Tristan Fitzmaurice. Sparks fly from the moment they meet, and though they struggle against their growing attraction, the heart is heedless when it comes to love....
buy the paperback buy the ebook
Not all that tempts your wandering eyes,
And heedless hearts, is lawful prize;
Nor all that glisters, gold.
Thomas Gray, Ode on the Death of a Favourite Cat, 1748.
Prologue
Marielle smoothed down her pearl-grey silk Victorian-style housekeeper's uniform and tapped on the study door softly. She entered when she heard the deep voice of her new employer order, "Come in."
She stepped into the room briskly and gave her most winning smile, though inwardly she was trembling with fear. She did so want to make a good first impression.
"Yes?"
Tristan Fitzmaurice stared at her, his icy blue eyes, as a pale as a wolf's, boring into her own emerald-green ones inquiringly.
Then he began to laugh. "Oh no, not now of all times," he gasped between chuckles.
Marielle stared at him uncomprehendingly. "Please excuse the interruption, sir. I won't take up much of your time, but I thought I might just...."
"My brother does seem to have the most ridiculous sense of timing for his absurd jokes. Though I suppose under the circumstances, I can't blame him. It is a sort of tradition, after all. But I have some very important guests arriving within the next half hour, so please, spare me the display of your, er, talents, and go."
"But sir, I only came in here to ask if you had any specific instructions, whether you had anything you particularly wanted for yourself and your guests tonight. I am here to please you, after all, not your brother."
He grinned down at her. "Yes, er, thank you, but really, this is too much. Though I must admit, you are a rather lovely little thing."
Marielle, five foot eight herself, stared up at his handsome face as he towered over her, and commented to herself that anyone would seem little from his commanding six foot six height.
"Mr. Fitzmaurice, there seems to be some sort of misunderstanding. Maybe we should start again. I'm Marielle, and need to know if there is anything special you want me to do for you or your guests tonight?"
"You mean they're all in on this? Forget it! I'm not giving them the satisfaction of taunting me about this for the rest of my life. But I must admit, I am a bit curious to see what you have on under that hideous outfit."
He paused for a brief second. "All right, I have a few minutes, and I have nothing important to do, so do it."
Marielle wondered why she felt as though he had been speaking to her all along in a foreign language. What joke was he talking about? "Do what?" she repeated.
Tristan sat down on the sofa and crossed one leg. "I'm ready. Start whenever you like."
"Er, would you like me to pour you a drink or something?" she guessed desperately.
"No, I'm fine thank you. I would offer you one, but as I've said, my business associates will be arriving at any moment, so please hurry."
Marielle decided honesty was the best policy. "Mr. Fitzmaurice, I really have no idea…"
He flicked his wrist to look at his Rolex impatiently. "I suppose coy is part of the Victorian parlourmaid act, but I simply haven't got time. So just strip them off, and leave."
"What did you say?" Marielle asked numbly, suddenly feeling a chill run up and down her spine despite the mild spring weather.
Tristan Fitzmaurice's eyes never once left hers. "I said, strip for me, show me you stuff, whatever you would like to call it, and then go about your business."
Marielle was convinced her whole world was crashing down around her ears. She had had such high hopes of this new job, this new home. They all had. Geoffrey had warned her about predatory men. She hated her cousin now as much as the smirking man sitting in front of her sipping a gin and tonic, for he would waste no time in telling her he had warned her.
She stared back at Tristan Fitzmaurice challengingly. She would indeed go about her business soon enough, but not before she told him exactly what she thought of him.
"I've never been so insulted in all my life! Geoff told me the world was full of degenerates, but I thought I could handle it. Well, if that is the way you want to me to behave in ordered to keep you happy, and keep this post, you can go to hell. Stuff your damned job. I'll pack and be out of here in five minutes. Dinner is in the kitchen. You can serve your disgusting friends yourself."
She whirled away from him on her heel and was about to storm out of the study when Tristan jumped up and grabbed her arm, suddenly realising there must have been some sort of terrible mistake.
Instinctively, her hand shot up, delivering a cracking bow which left a red handprint on his cheek.
"Let me go, you, you - pervert!"
She yanked at the handle desperately and ran through the open door before Tristan could stop her. She heard him calling out to her to wait, but she charged to the top of the house and bolted the door.
Grabbing her suitcase from the top of the wardrobe, she threw it down onto the bed and began to hurl all her clothes into it willy-nilly. Damn it all, just when they had all been starting to feel like Winchester Manor was really home…..
buy the paperback buy the ebook Buy the Rocketbook! $6 Heedless Hearts Amazon
Reviews:
As always, Ms. Trimborn’s prose has a visual elegance which enhances the sensuality of the novel. The characters are both people with whom we can identify, and there are many surprising twists and turns on the road to true love. The loves scenes sizzle, and are truly moving. The hero is stunning, every woman’s dream; the heroine became as close to me as my best friend. Another winner from this fantastically talented writer.
Sorcha MacMurrough
A great read from cover to cover. I love the way the couple meets! A fabulous combination of love and laughter. Sparks fly, without the usual bickering which passes for foreplay in some novels. There is an intriguing cast of characters to help and hinder their budding attraction for each other. Once again Evelyn is able to create a wonderful couple who manage to draw us right into their moving love story. Her best yet, though they are all great!
