ROMANCE: Paranormal Romance: The Valley (Book One) (Fun, Sexy, Mature Young Adult Vampire Shape Shifter Romance) (4 page)

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Dark Desire

Chanel Montague

Dark Desire

Chapter 1

Ella shook her head as she glanced down at the mud on her shoes. The urge to bend down and clean it away flitted through her head, but she knew there was no point. She was still a long way from the door that would let her step inside the small servant registry office and the rain-soaked street she was standing on was dirty. If she cleaned her shoes they would only be muddy again in two steps as she shuffled along in the line of people looking for household work.

At least the rain let her put up the hood of her slightly worn cloak. It covered the darker skin of her face and meant she didn’t stand out as much from the fair-faced girls around her. The cloak didn’t do much to hide her curvy body, however, and she was aware of a few glances from the people behind. It was something she was used to and she ignored it as best she could. Her fuller figure had blossomed during her teenage years and only got more voluptuous as she grew older.

She was now twenty-two and had lost count of the number of times she went on a diet. They generally lasted no more than a week before she got bored and returned to her usual way of eating. Not that she was really complaining about it. In truth, she liked her curves and thought they were pretty. All she needed to do was find a man that shared her opinion although that was easier said than done. Her attributes didn’t seem to be something that the men in her town were all that interested in and boyfriends didn’t come along very often in her life.

Ella let out a quiet sigh at the thought and looked up at the grey sky as the rain began to come down heavier. Standing outside the servant registry building was becoming a dull part of her daily routine that she wanted to end. It was more than six months since she was employed in a household and she was beginning to think that she would never work again. An employer that wanted her was even more difficult to find than a man and she was becoming depressed at the registry staff telling her there was nothing available for her on a daily basis. It hadn’t made her give up yet, but she was seriously considering trying something other than maid’s work.

It was more hope than expectation that today would be any different and she glanced around the gloomy interior of the large room she entered when she finally made it through the door. She saw that there were six employees working that day and hoped it wouldn’t be that long before she was seen. In the end it was around fifteen minutes before she got to the very front of the line and another five before one of the desks came free.

Ella knew the drill off by heart, so stepped across the room and sat down before she was even beckoned. The dark surroundings of the gloomy office were illuminated by only candlelight and the woman seemed to having trouble making something out on the form in front of her. She eventually finished what she was doing, put the form away and looked up.

“Hi, I’m…,” Ella started, but she was interrupted before she even gave her name.

“You’re just what I’m looking for,” the woman said.

The words came as a shock to Ella and her eyes narrowed as she stared across the desk, with a disbelieving expression on her face. It was the complete opposite of what she’d been hearing for six months.

“Really?” she let out skeptically.

“Yes…, really,” the woman went on. “The job came in a couple of days ago and I think you would be perfect for it.”

“Why would I be…,” Ella tried to say, but the woman cut in again to keep talking.

“Our client, Duke Rathbone, has just bought a property in the city for business purposes and he intends to spend around half his time there each month. His intention is to have the butler and cook from his country estate travel with him, but he wants to employ a local maid. He gave specific details about the girl he wanted to serve under him and I think you’ll fit the bill.”

The prospect of employment brought out Ella’s anticipation although she still wasn’t sure why in particular she was perfect for the job. She was keen to ask, but didn’t get a chance as the woman continued to speak about the job.

“The butler will pass you the details of your work schedule each month and you are expected to be at the property the day before the Duke arrives to have the place ready then finish up the day after he returns to his country estate. So…, would you be interested?”

After so long out of work, Ella knew there was only one answer she could give.

“Yes, of course I am.”

“Excellent,” the woman went on then rummaged around in the drawer of her desk. She brought out some paperwork and slid a form across the wooden surface. “Just sign this please,” she went on.

Ella did it and was then handed details of the address plus the daily remuneration she would be paid. Both were to her liking, with the salary being higher than she’d received previously and the property being located in an exclusive neighborhood. They were an indication that she was about to work for an extremely wealthy man, so she vowed to do whatever it took to become indispensable to him and make sure the job was hers on a permanent basis.

“Duke Rathbone is at his new home at the moment,” the woman said. “We promised to get someone to him as quickly as possible, so you will need to start right away.”

“I can do that,” Ella agreed.

“Give him this,” the woman said and handed over a letter of introduction. “Now, off you go.”

The meeting lasted less than five minutes and Ella’s mind was almost in a spin as it ended. She simply got to her feet to walk away without saying any more and was almost at the door when it came to her that she meant to ask why she was perfect for the job. She turned around, but saw there was someone already sitting on the chair she just vacated. It would mean interrupting a conversation if she returned to the desk and in the end she decided not to do it. The reasons why the woman considered her the right choice weren’t important anyway. The chance for a job was there for her to take and she again vowed to make things work out.

Chapter 2

Ella looked at the address when she walked out the door then set off straight away. Walking to the neighborhood took around twenty-five minutes, but it was an area of town that she wasn’t really familiar with and it needed another fifteen minutes for her to locate the address. The properties she passed on the way grew larger and more impressive, with the one she eventually stopped in front of making her eyes open wide. It looked huge and she wondered if it would just be the Duke staying there or whether there would be others.

“Only one way to find out,” she let out under her breath and stepped up to the door.

She reached for the rope pull to ring the bell and couldn’t hold down her apprehension as she waited. Her hands grew clammy and she wiped them on her cloak to try and dry them. The sound of someone approaching the door came to her and she prepared herself.

“Can I help you?” the elderly man said when he opened the door.

It was obvious from his smart uniform that he was the butler and Ella smiled as she spoke.

“My name is Ella Carter. The servant registry sent me for the position of maid in the household.”

“You better come in then,” the butler told her and moved aside. “My name is Mr. Bellamy.”

Ella walked inside and let out a slow breath as she looked around. A massive cut-glass chandelier dominated the entranceway of the property, but was only part of the lavish décor that gave the place a stunning appearance. The sound of the door closing made her return her attention to the butler.

“You understand that you will only be working part of each month I take it,” he said.

“Yes sir,” Ella answered. “The woman at the registry office said you would inform me of the days I was needed.”

“That’s correct,” the butler went on. “Duke Rathbone intends to be here for probably a couple of weeks each month for the foreseeable future and I will send a runner to inform you prior to our arrival. The Duke asked me to bring the maid to him on her arrival, so I expect he will let you know your full duties.”

              Ella nodded her head and followed as Mr. Bellamy set off towards a hallway. She glanced from side to side at the large portraits on the polished hardwood walls and wondered if the men and women she was staring at were the Duke’s ancestors. It wouldn’t have surprised her if they were, but she looked to the man in front of her when he stopped at a door. He knocked and waited until he heard the sound of the shout from within.

              “Enter.”

The deep, baritone voice sent an unexpected shiver down Ella’s spine and she inhaled deeply as Mr. Bellamy opened the door and held out a hand to indicate she should go first. She walked inside to see it was a study, with Duke Rathbone sitting behind a huge desk. His eyes narrowed as he stared at her and she caught the flash of a smile crossing his face before she dropped her gaze.

“This is Miss Ella Carter, sir,” Mr. Bellamy said. “She’s been sent by the servant registry we contacted with regard to supplying a housemaid.”

“Ah yes,” Duke Rathbone said. “Thank you Bellamy. You can return to your duties.”

“Yes sir.”

The elderly butler left the study and the sound of the door closing brought out Ella’s nervousness even more. This wasn’t helped by the fact there was complete silence in the room and she glanced up quickly to see the Duke’s gaze was fixed on her.

“I…, I have a letter of introduction sir,” she said hesitantly and got the paper from her pocket to hand it over when she moved to the side of the desk.

Duke Rathbone’s fingertips brushed against her hand when he accepted it and the quickening of her pulse was instant. She kept her eyes on what he was doing as he unfolded the letter and it gave her a brief opportunity to study him as he concentrated on reading. He was certainly unlike any of her previous employers. They were typically older gentlemen, but the man she was looking at appeared to be in his late twenties.

His dark locks were slightly unruly, with the loose curls hanging down to just cover the collar of the smart blue jacket he was wearing. His lightly tanned face gave the impression that he liked to spend time in the outdoors and he was clean-shaven, but for short sideburns that were as dark as his hair.

Ella saw the sparkle in his eyes when he looked up and was aware she’d been caught staring. Her heartbeat quickened more as she dropped her gaze and she stood silently as she waited for him to say something.

“Lift your gaze,” he told her.

Ella did as she was told and tried not to stare at him as he studied her face.

“What is your heritage?” he asked.

“I beg your pardon sir,” she let out.

The Duke laughed as he got to his feet and Ella could suddenly see that he was a tall man. She could also make out his muscular physique through the buttoned-up white shirt and jacket he was wearing.

“Where are your parents from?” he went on.

“Oh…,” Ella said. “My father was from England and my mother was from Jamaica.”

“That explains the pretty skin then,” Duke Rathbone went on as he moved around the desk.

Ella couldn’t stop the flush of warmth erupting on her cheeks at the compliment. It was the last thing she expected and she was even more aware of how tall her employer was when he stood right next to her.

“How did your parents meet?” he asked.

Ella wasn’t expecting to be questioned on her background and suddenly wondered if it would count against her. She desperately needed the job, but all she could do was answer the question.

“My father worked for a trading company that did business in Jamaica,” she said. “He met my mother through that and they courted for around a year before he asked for her hand in marriage. They settled here after the wedding.”

“Interesting,” Duke Rathbone said. “Have you ever been to Jamaica?”

“No sir,” she replied. “I was born and brought up here.”

“And you have experience of maid’s work?” he went on as the subject changed to the job she was there to do.

“Yes sir,” Ella answered. “I’ve worked in a number of well-to-do households over the last five years.”

“Well, I’m sure you’ll do fine here then,” he told her. “Take a seat.”

“Thank you sir,” she said and dropped down on the chair next to the desk.

She expected Duke Rathbone to return to his own seat, but instead he sat on the edge of the desk right next to her. The bulging muscles of his thighs strained against the material of his light colored breeches and Ella needed to force herself to drop her gaze from the alluring sight. There was no doubt that the Duke was a handsome, powerful man and it was intimidating and slightly exhilarating to be in his presence.

“I’m a stickler for a clean home,” he told her. “And will expect you keep the place in pristine condition while I’m here.”

“Yes sir,” Ella answered.

“My bedroom, the dining room, kitchen, lounge and this study will need to be cleaned on a daily basis. Bellamy will provide you with a cleaning schedule for the other rooms in the property.”

Ella simply nodded her head.

“I insist that you stay here while I am in residence, but you will go home when the property is empty.”