Gentle from the NightAlexandra Benjamin's father, a London physician famed for teaching the deaf to speak, is dead. Intent on finding solace in her own worth, Alexandra journeys to Cairncross Castle, in the melancholy York countryside.There, Alexandra meets Mrs. Penrith and Mr. Featherstone, the mysterious housekeeper and vaguely sinister butler who preside over the daily affairs of Cairncross Castle...and strikes an unusual bargain with John Damien Newell, the darkly seductive master of the house. Hired to be a governess to John Damien's simple-minded brother Samuel, who has not spoken a word since he was a child, Alexandra must first win Samuel's trust. It is a daunting task, but one in which she is determined to succeed.Then the whispers start.You should leave here, Miss Benjamin. You don't know how cruel the master is. Crueler still are the secrets Cairncross Castle keeps. For Alexandra's predecessor is the infamous Ursula Pole, an evil seductress who cared for John Damien and Samuel when they were children--only to mysteriously vanish amidst chilling rumors of murder. Is it a ghost or a madwoman who now stalks the castle's midnight pasages, and who seems to command the hearts and minds of her grown charges? Is it too late to free Samuel from his tortured silence? And will John Damien be forever trapped betwteen the darkness in his soul and his hunger for tenderness he has never known? |
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Alexandra Benjamin Alexandra looked Alexandra stared Argand lamp asked Beelzebub believe beneath Brian brother Cairn Cairncross castle catacombs chair cheek chest dark door dressing emotion evil eyes face father fear Featherstone feel frightened garden gargoyle gaze ghost glanced gone governess gown hair hand head heart housekeeper hurt inside Ivanhoe John Damien Newell kiss knew Lady Bess laudanum leave lips London Lord Newell lordship Mary Meagan McKinney mind Miss Benjamin Miss Pole moorland mouth never Newell's nodded once passage Penrith Perhaps pulled Sam's schoolroom scullery maids seemed servants shadows silence simple mind Slowly smile soul speak specta spectacles stairs stay stood suddenly tears tell There's thing thought told took trunk turned understand Ursula Pole voice waiting walked wall Wapping watched Waverley novels whispered Windsor chair woman wondered words