Read Yearning Heart for Free Online Page A

want to see my new home.”
    Malvina threw back her head and laughed, causing Rebecca to smile at her obvious glee. The thought of the skinny young lady in her clothing was comical indeed.
    “No, my lady,” Malvina said. “You would be lost in my garments.”
    “Then I shall wear what I have.”
    She walked to the closet and removed the black skirt and top, then pulled out the red shawl. A few minutes later, she stood in front of the mirror, checking herself over. She looked just as bad here as she did on the farm at Grinwold.
    “Which way?” she said.
    “Which way to what, my lady?”
    “To Sir Stephen's property. His animals. Whatever he has that I am now a part of.”
    “You are not part of his property and animals, my lady.”
    You're wrong, Rebecca wanted to say. Not only am I a part of it, I am his property. After a few days, I shall be his wife, even more a piece of property. Replacement for lands he does not need.
    Instead of speaking her mind, Rebecca went into the hall.
    “You cannot go outside. It is raining,” Malvina said.
    “Oh. Well, in that case, I suppose I can go downstairs. Or am I forbidden the use of other parts of the house?”
    Malvina stared at the child in front of her, dressed in one of the plainest garments she had ever seen. Who purchased such clothing? she wondered. Colorless and without style. Then she thought of her master bringing Rebecca in unannounced. Was she a stray he had picked up some place, one who had no money or family? But to marry her?
    “Why should you be forbidden to go any place you wish, my lady?”
    Rebecca shrugged. What did she know about where or why she could go any place? She walked down the steps and at the bottom of the stairs, turned to her left toward the room where she had seen the harp. It was the same type instrument she had played while at school. Those two years between twelve and fourteen when she was happier than she had ever been.
    A line from a poem she had composed ran through her mind. It had been for Richard, and she had set it to music her last year at school, had brought it home for his Christmas present. It had been on one of her sheets of vellum papa burned when he came upon her daydreaming beside the stream with the paper in her hand. She had never been able to duplicate exactly the words of the poem, so she had never given it to her beloved Richard. It went something like, ‘Let no one judge me for what I hope to be. Let no one see me for less than I am. Only ...'
    “Oh, Richard.” She whispered his name as her forefinger drifted across the strings, leaving a soft melody echoing behind it. Three days ride from Grinwold meant papa would never allow Richard to take time off just to visit her. Twelve whole months before she saw her brother. For the others, it mattered not, but she sorely missed Richard.
    A clatter of hooves brought Rebecca's attention to Malvina as she opened tall doors of the front hall. It was a few minutes before Sir Stephen entered the house, removing his hat and coat to shake them before handing them to Malvina. She took his black topcoat then several packages from the driver who stood just outside the door beneath the roof overhang.
    Sir Stephen looked up to see Rebecca watching and smiled as he strode toward her.
    “The skies have opened up,” he said. “We need the rain, but by heavens, a bit easier would be to my liking.”
    His gaze went over her figure, completely hidden beneath the ill-fitting dress. She thought his expression softened a bit, and then he frowned, turning away.
    “I went into the village to do some shopping,” he said. “They have little to chose from, but whatever I have must be an improvement over the clothing you have.”
    Rebecca smiled at his back. “Yes, my lord.”
    He whirled. “My name is Stephen. Do me the courtesy to learn to pronounce it before we become man and wife.”
    She opened her mouth to repeat the automatic ‘my lord,’ thought better of it and set her teeth into