Separated by class
Brought together by passion
Having finally fulfilled her dream of opening a hairdressing parlor, Nellie Regan has no interest in love ruining her plans. After Nellie is caught mocking landowner Dominic Lockhart’s lifeless engagement to Lady Cecily, she’s not expecting him to defend her in a tavern brawl. Now the frustratingly handsome gentleman must recuperate in her home! Close quarters stir simmering attraction...but Nellie’s determined to follow her head, not her heart. Is Dominic willing to do the same?
The real Dominic Lockhart had returned.
The man she had briefly seen, the one who could laugh, who could relax, even talk about how he felt, had once again become hidden behind that wall of superiority and reserve.
Well, so be it. She may have harbored ridiculous fantasies last night when they were side by side in bed, but that was all it could possibly be.
“Right, well, I for one have work to do today,” Nellie said, standing quickly.
“I’m well aware of the long hours that servants work.”
She stared at him for a moment, wanting to give him a lecture on the working conditions of most servants, but once again registered the bruising on his face, now turning various shades of green, blue and yellow. He did not need lectures from her. She’d accused him of being haughty, but if she hadn’t been so haughty when they first met, if she hadn’t been so determined to make him feel uncomfortable, he’d now be lying in his own bed, his face unscathed by fists and boots. Meeting her had caused him so much harm. He was right. He should return to his own world as soon as possible.
Author Note
Nellie Regan featured as a lady’s maid in Beguiling the Duke and Awakening the Duchess. She was never happy being a secondary character in someone else’s story and I had to work hard to stop her from taking over. Now she has her own book, where her big personality and even bigger aspirations take center stage.
The late Victorian era was a time when feisty women like Nellie were starting to challenge the status quo that kept people of her class and sex in their place. It was also a time of growth for the middle class and saw a rapid expansion of shops and businesses, such as Nellie’s hairdressing parlor, which catered to this “new” money.
Mr. Dominic Lockhart is also one of the new men who emerged in the Victorian period—men with money but no real status in a society where having the right background often meant more than how wealthy you were.
I loved writing Nellie and Dominic’s story and hope you enjoy reading Aspirations of a Lady’s Maid.
EVA SHEPHERD
Aspirations of a Lady’s Maid
After graduating with degrees in history and political science, Eva Shepherd worked in journalism and as an advertising copywriter. She began writing historical romances because it combined her love of a happy ending with her passion for history. She lives in Christchurch, New Zealand, but spends her days immersed in the world of late Victorian England. You can follow her on evashepherd.com and Facebook.com/evashepherdromancewriter.
Books by Eva Shepherd
Harlequin Historical
Beguiling the Duke
Awakening the Duchess
Aspirations of a Lady’s Maid
Visit the Author Profile page
at Harlequin.com.
To Dawn, Jamie and Fernando.
Thanks for making working in the “broom cupboard” so much fun. And to Hayley B, thanks for my beautiful website and all the IT help.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Epilogue
Excerpt from The Warrior’s Princess Prize by Carol Townend
Chapter One
England—1895
Just look at them...unbelievable. Nellie Regan shook her head and released a disdainful sigh. It was supposed to be a celebration, but you would think the assembled guests were attending a funeral. Although even a wake back in Nellie’s native Ireland would be more enjoyable than this woeful ball at Hardgrave Estate, being held to celebrate the engagement of Dominic Lockhart to Lady Cecily Hardgrave.
From her discreet vantage point behind a large potted palm on the minstrels’ balcony overlooking the ballroom, she watched the supposedly happy couple waltz round the parquet dance floor. They were barely touching each other. There was no smiling, no laughter, not even an exchange of pleasantries. It was as if dancing together was a duty, not a pleasure.
No, Nellie would never understand the upper classes. Their formality, stiffness and lack of passion. It was as if they were a separate species from the rest of humanity.
She shook her head again. If this engagement party was taking place among people of her own class, there would be laughing, singing, hugging and kissing. People would be drinking to the health of the engaged couple, who would be brimming with love and happiness.
But this couple looked as if love and happiness were foreign concepts they had never heard of. She gave a quiet laugh. And even if they had heard of love and happiness, she suspected they would consider such things far too common for the likes of them.
Although Mr Lockhart certainly did look handsome—Nellie would give him that at least. Tall—slightly over six foot, she estimated—with coal-black hair, olive skin, and a strong, clean-shaven jawline that at this late hour bore a hint of dark stubble. Yes, he was quite something. And his black swallow-tailed evening suit certainly gave him a manly quality that was undeniably attractive. Especially as it showed off his broad shoulders—something Nellie had to admit she was a tad partial to. And that white-silk waistcoat, high stiff collar and white tie showed off his dark good looks to perfection.
As she watched him glide his partner across the dance floor and around the elegant ballroom, she also had to admit that Mr Lockhart was a superb mover. You’d think a woman would be pleased to be in the arms of such a commanding, graceful man, but Lady Cecily’s tight face suggested it was all too much for her
