Elisabeth and the Nobleman

 Upcoming book:

Elisabeth and the Nobleman, Historical Romance 

https://www.amazon.com/Lilly-Setterdahl/e/B001K8FWDG/

Here is the beginning:

Chapter 1. 

A large crowd had already gathered at Lundby Castle Park when Elisabeth and her best friend, Angret, both eighteen, arrived to enjoy the Midsummer Fest. The long sunny days of summer had tanned their faces, arms, and legs. As the band began to play, an incredibly handsome young man had his eyes on Elisabeth and asked her for the first dance. His narrow hips swung to the music. He had the bluest eyes Elisabeth had ever seen, wavy, blond hair that fell to his collar, and a bewitching smile. His medium height felt so right when they danced.

“My name is William,” he said. “What’s your name?”

“Elisabeth.”

“That’s a pretty name, and you’re a beautiful girl. You look great in your miniskirt.”

 Happily, Elisabeth continued to dance with William. He smelled good and had no pimples. His fingernails were clean, and he acted like a man of the world. What girl wouldn’t be interested in him? She was the lucky one tonight.

They danced the twist, the Rock and Roll Waltz, and slow danced to If You Desire Me. There was no lack of desire between them when he nudged her off the dance floor and kissed her behind the castle. Elisabeth’s heart thumped. It thumped even harder, when he asked, “May I have the honor of escorting you home tonight?” 

“Not tonight. I came here with another girl in her car, and I want to go home with her.” 

“May I see you tomorrow then? I could take you for a ride in my car.” Elisabeth couldn’t say no to that.

He arrived at her home driving a sports car with the top down. Elisabeth watched him as he opened the passenger door for her and closed it while flashing a broad smile her way. She couldn’t remember what he said, but with a few long strides, he was back on his side of the car, leaping across the door and into his seat. Elisabeth was sure her parents watched from behind the curtains as he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll take you to the highest point in Scania,” he said. 

He drove with one hand on the steering wheel along the narrow, meandering road ascending one hill after the other while holding Elisabeth’s hand. When they came to the highest point, he explained what they saw.

“From here we can see beautiful hardwood forests and lakes in three directions. Do you see the cliff in the middle of the largest lake?” He came close to her, took her hand, and pointed.   

“Yes, what is it called?”

“It’s White Point. Scania is divided into two parts, the forested part, and the plains. From another hilltop, we can see Stone’s Head jutting out in the Baltic Sea. Next time we can go there.”

He planned to see her again. She was in awe of him but suspected that he had taken many girls to the outlook point.  

“How come you know so much about geography?”

“I love geography. I’m also interested in architecture. The latter is a hobby of mine since I live in a house dating back to 1639.” 

Elisabeth gasped “You’re William Steinborg! Then you are a baron!” 

“Well,” William squirmed looking uncomfortable. “I inherited the title when my father died about a year ago, but I don’t use it. The tenant farmers and workers call me William.”

Elisabeth drew away from his embrace. He was the forbidden fruit she had tasted and coveted. How could she resist him?

After he had driven her home, and they were standing by his car to say goodbye, he put his arms around her, looked very serious, and said, “I think I’m falling in love with you, Elisabeth.” He kissed her more passionately than she had ever been kissed before. 

“How can you be in love with me after one date?” She was skeptical but couldn’t deny her own feelings.  

“It’s meant to be.”

Elisabeth felt utterly bewildered. William could upset her life. The fact that he was a nobleman had changed everything. She wasn’t his equal in any sense of the word. She had so many questions but didn’t dare to put them into words. Her parents would forbid her to date him. Having thought about it down the twenty hills while he held his hand on her bare leg, she already felt a great sense of loss when she said, “I can’t see you anymore William.”

“Because I live at Lundby Castle?”

“And you saw where I live.”

“Nothing wrong with where you live. I was hoping you’d like me.”

“I like you William, but I’m too young for you anyways.”

“I still think… never mind.” He got in his car and drove away into the sunset, 

 “That’s the last I’ll see of him,” she said to herself. Her best friend, Margareta, told her she had done the right thing by dismissing him. 

“It would never work out. He’s destined to marry a woman of noble birth.” 

Elisabeth reluctantly agreed with the level-headed Margareta, whose curly brown hair, pretty face, and big boobs belied her intelligence. 

Elisabeth’s sun-bleached hair framed her dimpled face, lit up by blue eyes and a ready smile. At school, the boys gathered around her between classes and competed for the favor of taking her to a nearby café for a soda after the last class of the day. In the summertime, young and old flocked to the beaches and sometimes to the archipelago to swim.