Free Belmary House Book One by Cassidy Cayman

she even took a bite, she was sure it would have nowhere to go and lodge itself somewhere halfway down, causing her to die a slow and painful death. A couple of young ladies stood a few feet away, twittering behind their fans and casting her some rather unpleasant looks.
    She smiled at them, and one of them looked aghast, as if she’d given them a nasty hand gesture instead of a shy smile. Her friend put her arm around her and whisked her away, and Tilly decided she’d had enough. No one knew her, and because of the bizarre manners, she couldn’t get to know anyone unless she was first introduced. And that rude Ashford had ditched her. The more she observed everyone, she really started to feel a bit overdressed. All the young girls had on pastel colors, and even though she knew she was meant to be a matronly widow, no one else had on such a shade of crimson as she did.
    After a half an hour passed and Ashford still hadn’t returned for her, she got fed up with standing around being stared at, and smelling food she couldn’t eat, and went to look for him. At the sight of wide paned French doors opening out onto a garden, she gasped with relief at the prospect of fresh air and went outside.
    There were a few candles but it was mostly dark, and she settled herself by a large potted tree where she could see her old post by the buffet. When Ashford finally returned for her, she’d enjoy watching him freak out for a minute, then go back in. A giggling couple hurried past her into the depths of the garden, not giving her the slightest glance, and she slumped against the wall, fighting self pity.
    The ball and the people were so different from what she imagined. At the very least she thought she’d get to have some sparkling conversation with someone. As she’d stood around watching everyone who belonged there dancing and flirting and whispering to each other, she’d felt the worst sort of loneliness.
    While she’d never been the sort to stand out or be the star, she’d always had friends and coworkers who included her in things. Here she only had Ashford and he kept disappearing as if he couldn’t stand to be around her.
    Of course, while it wasn’t her fault at all that she was here, she still had to be a great burden to him. From what she could make out from the bits she’d gleaned from the tight lipped Duncan, Ashford seemed to jump around in time, trying to help people who’d accidentally slipped through, but by his own admission, he hadn’t had to keep anyone in his house before.
    She stopped herself from feeling sorry for him and tried to steer her cart full of pity back to its rightful owner, herself. But, she wasn’t the sort to wallow, and she’d definitely gone through worse things than this and survived. Nothing as weird to be sure, but definitely worse than spending time in a posh mansion with pretty dresses and good food.
    If only she could get the Ashford who’d smiled so joyously for those few seconds to stick around longer. Not the dour, rude, pompous— she tugged at her bodice, and calmed her fresh frenzy of anger at him before she hulked out of her dress. A peek through the window showed he still hadn’t returned for her, the fiend.
    “I say, you must be Ashford’s girl,” a voice said from behind the potted palm.
    She stepped away from the wall as a man rounded the tree, grinning at her. His wavy blond hair caught every tiny flash of light from the candles scattered about, quickly shaded as he made his way closer with his large, muscular frame. She blinked, taking in his perfectly fitting breeches and royal blue frock coat, all frills and brocade. He looked like a rock star. Seriously, the clothes in this time were going to kill her. When he got close enough for her to see the mischievous twinkle in his blue eyes, and the dimple in his cheek, she felt fairly light headed.
    “Someone so lovely shouldn’t be all alone in the garden,” he said. “Unless you meant to put the flowers to