In honor of the soon release of the paperback, I plan on posting the first three chapters. Here’s chapter 1.

Haven by the Sea
        	“Lily Jane Wilder! You look frozen through! Come and warm yourself by the fire.”
        	Lily’s mother grabbed her hand and pulled her into the sitting room where Mr. Wilder had a fire roaring. “Papa! Move your foot,” she demanded as she ushered Lily to his footstool to situate her in front of the fire.
        	“My Little Idyllily,” Papa fussed, “you should not have stayed out so long.”
        	While Mama pulled off her gloves and scarf, Papa worked at her boots. Lily explained through chattering teeth, “I’m sorry, but both the Walkers and Clarks have the fever, and I was obliged to cross to the other side of the village twice with hot soup for them.”
        	“Could no one else go to one while you went to the other?” Mama asked.
        	“The Spencers work you too hard,” Papa scolded. “We should not have given you leave to work for them. We could have managed without the extra pay.”
        	“Papa,” Lily frowned. “You know the Spencers are kind and generous, and employ me out of their immense fondness for you. Besides, the other servants are sick,” she replied, planting a kiss on his cheek. “Oooh, you are so warm,” she said, snuggling in for more.
        	Papa chuckled and pulled her onto his lap. “Fetch me the quilt, Mama. Let’s get our little buttercup warm. And put on the kettle for tea,” he called after her.
        	Lily closed her eyes. She might be almost a grown-up young lady, but she would never be too old to snuggle with her dear Papa.
        	“Lily?”
        	Lily startled and her eyes flew open. She was not snuggled in her father’s lap. Instead, she was leaning into the willow tree she had climbed into, where she had gone to have a good cry.
        	“Niece?” Uncle Nael called. Lily swiftly brushed away her tears hoping her Uncle Nael wouldn’t see. “Are you well, Niece?”
        	“Yes, Uncle. Of course,” Lily answered, willing her voice to be as cheery as possible. She smiled at him from her perch in the tree.
        	Uncle Nael was relieved. He had little experience in comforting anyone. Especially one who had lost so much as Lily had.
        	“Come, return to the garden and sit with me then,” he invited as he held out his hand for her to climb down. “It does not befit a young lady of standing to be climbing trees, and I fear for your safety in that one. It has been damaged. I see that Cecilia has set the tea out for us.” 
                 Lily nodded as she grasped his hand to climb down.
“Mind that broken part. I don’t know why you prefer this half-dead tree over all of the trees in my garden,” Uncle Nael added.
	        Lily sighed. Truth be told she wasn’t sure herself why she was drawn to the tree which appeared to have been split by a great force. Maybe because it so perfectly mirrored herself. Only half living, holding on to what was now dead with all her might. 
                “The broken half makes a perfect stair step to that shaded seat there,” she simply said. “And I love to sit by the stream here. It’s so peaceful, when I’m feeling lonely for them.”
        	Uncle Nael smiled as she took his arm. “I am fond of that tree myself, which is probably why I’ve never had it cut down.”
                “How was it damaged, Uncle?” Lily asked as she took a place on the garden bench while Uncle Nael sought a nearby chair. 
	         Uncle Nael grew quiet and looked thoughtful, before shaking his head. “I have been thinking, Niece,” he said, changing the subject. “I worry for you being here all alone with no one your age to socialize with.”
        	“Cecilia is my age,” she offered.
        	Uncle Nael scowled. “We do not socialize with servants!”
        	“Yes, Uncle. Of course.” Lily replied, quietly.
        	“I’m sorry, Dear One,” he said, taking her hand. “I sounded just like my father then. And it made me cringe. I just worry for you,” he continued. “You are my ward now and I have a responsibility to you. More than just allowing you to haunt my gardens and fields wearing nothing but black. It has been almost a year. Certainly, we could throw a party and you will allow me to introduce you to my friends. It has done you no good to have no society”
                 “But Uncle,” she protested. “You live here alone, rarely socialize and it doesn’t seem to have done you any harm.”
        	Nael laughed. What an imp of a niece he had. But then he quickly sobered. “I am a grumpy old curmudgeon, who desires no one’s society but my own,” he replied. “But you are a beautiful, young lady, who should be introduced to the society I can provide for you here.”
        	Lily shook her head. “I couldn’t bear it, Uncle. Not yet.”
        	Nael thought to press her, but decided against it. Her ‘not yet’ encouraged him. “Very well. But in time, I hope you will think better of it.” 
He stood to leave her, but glancing at the sky decided she had better accompany him to the house. “Come dear,” he said, offering her his arm. “The weather is turning. Never mind the tea,” he scolded as she moved to pick it up. “I’ll send Cecilia for it, and I’ll have her bring us a fresh pot. This has grown cold.”
        	Lily put down the tray and took her Uncle’s arm. She didn’t have the heart to tell him that it was not her grief alone that kept her from society. She feared not knowing the rules and that someone would take her for nothing more than a housemaid. At the Spencer’s she worked in the kitchen and never went above stairs.
        	“Uncle, I never thanked you for taking me in,” Lily started. “I know Grandfather disowned Mother after she married Father. I didn’t expect you to come for me.”
        	“Pshaw, Child. Do you think I would leave you to the generosity of Colonel Spencer when you are my own flesh and blood? The only child of my only sister?”
        	Lily leaned her head against her Uncle’s arm. The childish gesture pleased him. “Your mother was a dear sister to me, and I was heartbroken when she left. If I couldn’t be of service to her - she refused to let me help them, due to your father’s pride – then I must be allowed to be of service to you.”
        	“Thank you, Uncle.”
        	“I have another thought, Niece,” Uncle Nael offered. “Your year of mourning is almost over. You must be tired of wearing black.”
        	“Nay Uncle. I have no interest in new clothes.”
        	“Nonsense Niece. I have engaged the dressmaker to make you a new wardrobe. She will come to take the measurements, but we must go there to pick the fabrics. You will indulge me in this,” he directed.
        	Lily thought for a moment. She must try to be more complying. “Of course, Uncle. If you wish. When must we go?”
        	Uncle Nael smiled and seized upon Lily’s willingness to comply. “On the morrow. After breakfast. The carriage has already been ordered. And mind you pick some ribbons and frills. I will not have my niece dressed plainly.”
                 The man disliked misleading his niece, but he was desperate to think of something to get her out of the house. He was afraid she would find an excuse not to go if he waited. He would have to order the carriage right away and send a message to the dressmaker to expect them.
        	Lily smiled. Her uncle was a kind man, no matter how gruff he tried to seem. But at the dressmaker’s the next day it seemed his warning was needed.
        	“Niece, what are these?” he asked. “I don’t see a lively color in the bunch. Is this gray? And what kind of fabric is this? Cecilia is dressed better than this.”
        	“I’m sorry, Uncle. I didn’t want to be extravagant. You have been so kind already.”
        	“Pish. Extravagant you will be. I demand it. It is every fine dress your mother should have worn. What about the blue?”
        	Lily fingered the blue thoughtfully. It was fine without being insufferable. And it was her father’s favorite color. He had often told her that he had named her for the blue lily that grew high in the mountains in a strange village he had visited once called Idyllwild. He fancied the name and thought it fine for a child, but of course his wife shortened it to Lily. But that did not keep him from calling her Idyllily. Idyllily Wild when she was particularly mischievous.
        	“And the blue ribbon,” Uncle added, addressing the dressmaker as he saw that she consented to the fabric.
        	“Don’t make it too fancy. Please Uncle, I would feel conspicuous.”
        	“But not too plain either,” Nael directed. “And something sunny, like this yellow.”
        	Lily laughed. “Uncle, I look horrible in yellow. I could never wear it. How about this? What is it called?”
        	“Periwinkle,” the dressmaker offered, taking the fabric and holding it next to Lily’s face for Uncle Nael to approve.
        	He smiled. “Yes, periwinkle is lovely on you. But come these are all still too plain. You must have some fancy dresses. I intend to hold a ball to show you off.”
        	“Uncle!” Lily exclaimed horrified. “I’ve never attended a ball in my life! I wouldn’t know how to act or what to do. I, I…”
        	“Peace, Child. Very well, no balls. Until you are ready. But a grumpy old curmudgeon must be allowed a gathering with friends.” Lily shot him a look. “A small gathering. With a very few close friends. We’ll invite the Spencers,” he offered.
        	Lily laughed. The very thought of the Spencers socializing with their former kitchen maid.
        	“Come Niece. You said you would indulge me, and it pleases me that you should have some party dresses.”
        	Lily shook her head. She had to yield. “Would this suit?” she asked the dressmaker, holding up a lovely lavender.
        	The woman nodded. “Paired with this,” she said, handing over a delicate fabric with purple and yellow flowers adorning it. “I will make it tasteful, but not overdone.”
        	Lily flushed. The pairing was very pleasing. She nodded and turned away abruptly, looking too intently at some finery that she had no interest in.
                She was angry with herself. How could she be so frivolous? Her mother was never frivolous. She was so careful with every penny the family had. And remade her own dresses over as new ones for Lily.
                Uncle Nael concluded their business with the dressmaker and appeared at her side. “That’s enough for today. I’ve asked her to make some suitable choices. Is tomorrow week acceptable for the measuring?”
                Lily nodded and Nael indicated the same to the dressmaker.
She was quiet on the road home, and Uncle Nael would not try to make her speak. He simply whispered, “you did well today,” as he helped her from the carriage.
               “Thank you, Uncle,” she whispered back. But alone in her room she could not hold her emotions at bay. She sobbed her grief into her pillow and stayed that way until morning.

ISBN: 9798372315242

© 2023 Sharon L Letson, Author

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