Lily Read online

  Lily

  GUILFORD CROSSING BRIDES

  BOOK 1

  Margaret Tanner

  Copyright © 2018 Margaret Tanner

  Thank you for downloading this e-book. It remains the copyrighted property of the author and may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed for any commercial or non-commercial use without permission from the author and publisher. Quotes used in reviews are the exception. No alteration of content is allowed. If you enjoy this book, then please encourage your friends to purchase their own copy.

  This story is a work of fiction, and some literary license has been taken regarding setting. All characters are a figment of the author’s imagination.

  Cover Art by Susan Horsnell

  Acknowledgement: Thank you Susan Horsnell for your on-going help and support. Couldn’t have done it without you my friend.

  Heat Level: Mild/moderate sexual content.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  EPILOGUE

  Other Western Books by Margaret Tanner

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  New Orleans – 1870’s

  “Even if she is my sister, I don’t want that harlot at my wedding.”

  Lily slumped against the wall outside Aunt Mildred’s drawing room. Tears welled in her eyes. To think Julia could speak about me in such a horrible manner after all I’ve sacrificed for her.

  “Quite right, she’s not fit to mix with decent, God-fearing folk. Of course, she takes after your father’s side of the family. The Reardons were nothing but Irish trash. Thank the dear Lord you take after my side of the family.”

  Aunt Mildred’s strident words didn’t cut her to the quick like Julia’s had. She expected nothing less from her snobbish aunt. The woman had always hated her because she favored her father’s side of the family with hazel eyes and mousy blonde hair.

  Clutching the book of bridal material samples against her breast she took several shuddering breaths to regain her composure.

  “I would die of humiliation if Douglas ever found out what she was,” Julia said. “He would cancel our betrothal as sure as God made little green apples.”

  Hurt suddenly gave way to anger. Lily shoved the door open with her foot and marched across the room. “How could you say such scathing things about me, Julia?”

  Julia tossed her blonde head as she tapped the toe of her shoe on the floor. “It’s true, you can’t deny it.”

  “I did it to keep a roof over our heads and food in our bellies after Ma died.”

  “You could have done something else,” Julia shot back and Aunt Mildred nodded her agreement.

  “Pray what could a sixteen year old struggling to look after a twelve year old do?”

  “You could have come to me for help.” Aunt Mildred gave a sanctimonious sniff into her lace edged handkerchief.

  “You were away touring Europe when Ma died.” Lily couldn’t believe how raw the wound still was after five years.

  “Well, you can’t blame me for that, I came here as soon as I could. The dear Lord knows how much I detest this place. Charleston is where I want to live.”

  Yes, she had come back to collect pretty little Julia and take the child under her wing. She didn’t care about me, Lily thought bitterly. I was only good enough to work around the house while sleeping in a dingy attic room. Julia had been sent to an exclusive ladies academy in Charleston where she had met Douglas Fairchild. Of course, her sister Lily wasn’t good enough to meet him or any members of his family.

  “Let me look at those samples. I want my wedding gown to be better than anyone else’s, and the French laces and silks in New Orleans are of the finest quality. Douglas’ father comes from the English aristocracy, so I do have to keep up appearances.”

  Aunt Mildred smiled at her. “You are so pretty Julia, just like I was at your age.”

  Julia smiled. “Oh, but you still are beautiful, Aunt and so fashionable, everyone says you are.”

  Lily didn’t know whether Julia was blinded by the gifts Aunt Mildred lavished on her, or whether she was ingratiating herself. No reasonable person could think Mildred Wembly was anything but plain. From what she could remember Ma saying, she had always been ugly with a disposition to match.

  “Now Julia is to wed Douglas, she will live in Charleston, and as there is nothing to keep me in New Orleans, I’ve sold this place.”

  “Sold it?” Lily couldn’t believe she was hearing right.

  “Yes, a cashed up gentleman from the East bought it.” Aunt Mildred sniffed. “New money, of course. He wants possession in three days. Julia and I can be packed and out of here by then.”

  “What about my things?”

  Julia gave a smug smile. “You aren’t coming.”

  Lily gasped in shock and turned to look at the older woman.

  “You’ll have to find somewhere else to live, or maybe the new buyer will let you stay on as a ......maid. He doesn’t have a wife, so...”

  The ugly insinuation felt like a noose tightening around Lily’s neck, choking the life out of her. “Where am I to go? What am I to do?”

  “Whatever you like,’ Aunt Mildred snapped. “We don’t want the likes of you near us. You’ve played on my generosity for far too long.”

  “Generosity! I’ve worked hard here, not only keeping house, but keeping the place going when you’ve been away.” Truth be known Aunt Mildred and Julia had spent little time here over the years.

  “Get out of my sight,” Aunt Mildred screamed. “You’re not fit to be in the same room as us.”

  Gulping back sobs, Lily dashed up to her attic room and climbed into bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. She felt as cold as death, her dreams of forming a loving relationship with Julia were dashed. She gritted her teeth to stop them chattering. Her temples throbbed, and a queasy feeling soured her stomach. Her once sweet little sister had been ruined by Aunt Mildred and the snobbish school she had attended.

  She had to find somewhere to live until she could gain employment. No way would she work for the new Master of this house. She was done working for rich men.

  Over the years she had done a little sewing on the side, which brought in a few dollars. Dare she ask Aunt Mildred to loan her some money to set herself up in a small shop? She had worked for years for practically no wage.

  She hated having to throw herself on her Aunt’s mercy after their bitter exchange, but there was no other choice. Tomorrow morning at breakfast she would broach the subject.

  Tears built up in her eyes and for once she didn’t blink them back. No point being stoic with no one around to see it.

  How had they found out about her deep, dark secret? Could Julia have discovered what had happened each time she had left their bed in the middle of the night?

  ****

  New Orleans - Five years earlier.

  Weeping softly, Lily and Julia clung together as their mother was laid to rest in a local cemetery.

  “Do you have any relatives who could take you in?” asked the doctor who had attended their mother in the last week of her life.

  “Only Aunt Mildred and she’s overseas at the moment.” Lily scrubbed at the tears running down her cheeks.

  “I’ll mention your plight to Major Maximus. Because your mother worked for him so long, maybe he could give you a job as a maid. He’s a decent, Christian man.”

  “Thank you,
Doctor.”

  There were no mourners except herself, Julia, the doctor and a preacher. Major Anthony Maximus did not attend, it was beneath the dignity of a man such as him to attend the funeral of a lowly housekeeper. She had always disliked the man. Ma had always warned her never to be alone with him as he was dangerous, whatever that meant.

  She brushed away the tendril of dark blonde hair, which always fell across her cheek no matter how tightly she pinned her hair back.

  The sewing she did for Madame Beatrice wouldn’t pay for their food and put a roof over their heads until Aunt Mildred returned. At twelve, four years younger than her, Julia wasn’t a baby, but was too young to work. Would the Major let them stay? It would only be for a few weeks, a couple of months at most.

  Clutching Julia’s hand she trudged back to the old mansion with Julia’s piteous sobs echoing in her ears.

  “I want Ma, Lily. I want Ma.”

  “Hush. She’s gone to meet Pa in heaven. They’ll be happy there.”

  “I don’t want to go to a foundling home.”

  “You’re not going to a foundling home, who told you that?”

  “Major Maximus.”

  “When?” Lily’s heart slammed against her ribcage.

  “Yesterday when I met him in the stables. He said little girls who had no parents went to a foundling home.”

  How could a man be so cruel? Most men wouldn’t be. Major Maximus could, and would be. She had often wondered whether he was insane. Rumors abounded about his mother dying in an insane asylum.

  Lily shivered even though it was warm. At sixteen it was an awesome responsibility to look after herself and Julia. Until their Aunt returned she had to do the best she could to find somewhere to live and food to eat. What if Aunt Mildred decided not to come back?

  If Madame Beatrice ran anything except a brothel, she would ask her if they could stay there for a while. Although the French woman wore heavy make-up and low cut gowns, she had a kind heart. She always looked after any of the girls who worked for her.

  Lily shuddered, it would be criminal to take Julia there. Not that Madame ever employed any girl until they had reached sixteen years of age, but the stigma of living in such a place would tarnish their reputations beyond repair. Aunt Mildred certainly wouldn’t want anything to do with them. She was a wealthy snobbish widow, who had had very little to do with them because Pa was Irish, and she considered her only sister had married beneath herself. Aunt Mildred acted like she was upper class English. More English than the English, Ma used to say, even though they were both born in America.

  Julia would barely remember their father who had died when she was about five years old. He had been a groom for Major Maximus and Ma had been the housekeeper.

  Chapter Two

  Lily was holding a piece of stale bread, skewered on to a long handled fork, over the fire when Major Maximus’ voice rang out.

  “Are you there, Miss Reardon?” He strode into the room.

  “Yes Sir.” Silly question as he must have known she was.

  “If you’re prepared to take over your mother’s duties until I employ a new housekeeper, or your Aunt returns, you can stay here for as much food as you need.”

  “Thank you, I’m sixteen so I can do whatever my mother did for you.” She didn’t tell him that over the last few weeks she had taken on more of her mother’s chores, always making sure she did them when he wasn’t around. Thankfully he spent a lot of time away, and when he was home he mostly stayed upstairs.

  The Major was a tall, brooding man. He had never done anything to her, in fact he had ignored her existence up until now. He had rarely spoken to Ma, except to issue orders. His pale blue eyes were cold and his black, grey flecked hair touched his shoulders, giving him a sinister appearance.

  “I’ll be away for the next few days, so I won’t require anything from you until I get back.”

  Staying in the spooky old mansion with only Julia for company shouldn’t worry her, as she, Ma and Julia had often been left to their own devices. No other servants worked inside now, and the place was always dull and silent. She put the sudden feeling of foreboding down to the funeral and the loss of their mother.

  After supper, she took the lamp and with Julia clutching at her skirt, they hurried to their bedroom which was close to the kitchen on the ground floor. All three of them had slept in the same double bed.

  It was quite a nice room; Ma had sewn pretty lace trimmed curtains for the windows, while the bed quilt was made from squares of blue, pink and white material sewn together.

  As they knelt by the bed to say their prayers Julia’s simple words tore Lily’s heart to shreds. “Please God, make sure Ma finds Pa so they can live happily ever after. Amen.”

  Lily’s prayer was a little less romantic. “Please God, make me strong enough to care for Julia and to be a good person like Ma was.

  ****

  One night, a week after the funeral, Major Maximus returned home. Lily was in bed when she heard the front door bang, followed almost immediately by him cursing.

  “Girl, get out here immediately and light some lamps.”

  It was late. A while ago she had heard the large grandfather clock in the hallway strike twelve.

  “Immediately.”

  She jumped out of bed and glanced around for something to cover her nightgown with.

  “Now. You hear me.”

  Julia still slept soundly, she always slept like a log once she got to sleep. Lily grabbed up an old coat of Ma’s, re-lit her lamp and dashed out of the room.

  The Major, now roaring obscenities, stood just inside the front door. Obviously he didn’t want to risk injury by bumping into something.

  “I’m sorry.” She quickly lit a couple of lamps. “Would you like me to light a fire?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, girl.” He gave her a hostile stare. He was unshaven and disheveled, his cut-away-coat so crumpled it looked like he had slept in it.

  “Lead the way upstairs, I need a good night’s sleep.”

  She hesitated at his bedroom door.

  “Go.” He gave her a none-to-gentle shove. “Set the lamp on the dresser then you can return to your bed.”

  She was in such a hurry to get out of his bedroom, after placing the lamp in position, she stumbled into him.

  “Ah, is that the way of it?” His arms clamped around her so tightly she could barely breathe let alone speak.

  “No,” she finally managed to gasp out.

  “Yes, you green-eyed little witch. You better please me if you want to stay here.”

  She fought, kicked and screamed to no avail. He was much too strong.

  From then on he expected her to come to his room at midnight to service him whenever he was home, which fortunately, wasn’t often. There was no other choice, if she didn’t appease him they would be left homeless and destitute. Even worse, what if he went after Julia?

  She kept the mansion clean, not a hard task when many of the rooms were locked up, prepared his meals when he wanted them, and all the while her hatred built up.

  Please Aunt Mildred hurry home, I can’t stand much more of this - for Julia’s sake I have to.

  She would never forget the pain and terror when he violated her for the first time, and it didn’t get much easier as time passed. Fear of him impregnating her was a constant worry, adding to her turmoil and revulsion.

  Her only consolation was Julia didn’t know what it cost to keep a roof over their heads and food in their bellies. Each day Julia trotted off to school with a smile on her pretty little face, and returned home happy and laughing because she had enjoyed her day so much.

  I have to do something, Lily thought this one particular day, but what? She clung to the hope Aunt Mildred would soon return. If she stayed here for much longer she would be driven to killing Major Maximus, then what would become of Julia when she was hanged for murder?

  She scrubbed the plates so hard she wondered why the gold edging didn’t come off. A
Creole youth delivering the supplies she had ordered from the general store, interrupted her. She always put the goods she bought on the Major’s account. Each time she gave her boss the bill he would barely glance at it before shoving it in his pocket. The supplies never stopped being delivered, so the storekeeper must have been getting paid.

  Today, when the youth handed over the account his gaze swept her from head to toe, lingering longest at breast level. Lily cringed, his stare was so insolent she wondered whether he could possibly suspect what was going on. Bile rose up in her throat and she swallowed it down.

  “That will be all thank you,” she said, trying to close the door on him.

  He shoved his foot against it. “Don’t get uppity, Miss Lily, I can pleasure you more than an old man.”

  “Go away or I’ll tell the Major.”

  “You haughty bed faggot. You’re no better than me.”

  She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stand straight and tall, no easy task when she was only 5 feet 3 inches tall. “Please leave.”

  The Major suddenly appeared. “Having problems?”

  “No, no, not really, but....”

  “Get about your business, boy,” he snapped.

  The Major had been out riding, she could tell by the clothes he wore.

  “Leave here immediately, or I shall have a word with your boss.”

  The youth swung away and scurried off.

  The Major turned to her. “Be in my room in ten minutes.”

  She gulped and nodded.

  “Don’t keep me waiting.” He stepped over the stack of supplies on the back porch and disappeared inside.

  Hunched over with despair, Lily stumbled into the kitchen. This was the first time he had ever asked anything of her during the daytime. “Please God, stop him from doing this to me,” she whispered. Her prayers went unanswered.

  ****

  Three months after their mother died, Aunt Mildred arrived at the door of the Maximus mansion.

  “Oh, Aunt Mildred I’m so glad to see you.” Lily hugged her aunt, who shrugged off the embrace and walked into the drawing room.