Yellow Lemons (PDF) - A contemporary romance by Ailsa Joy

PDF Format

Love comes in many forms and frequently appears when and where you're least expecting it - just ask Lemoni.

‘Yellow Lemons’ is the touching account of an earnest and well-meaning maid with the Greek name of Lemoni who is welcomed into the household of the owner of a large citrus grove. There are hints at the cruelty she suffered in her last position, but here everyone treats her well, from Mrs Zambini the cook and her comical husband, to Mr Salt the butler who rules the staff with a firm but kindly hand, to the household’s eccentric guests including one who arrives in a large yellow balloon that has blown off course, and of course His Lordship her master himself.

The book takes Lemoni on an enchanting journey from new arrival to a position literally and metaphorically above her wildest dreams. The change in her fortune comes about through tireless work, consistent good temper and above all intuitive understanding and protecting of her shy and socially inept master especially when there is an attempt on his life.

Similar in many ways to a stage play, this is a book of gentle, understated comedy and of suspense. The language is imbued with such poetry that we can almost see the shine of the lemons and smell their scent wafting through the branches in the orchard.

Sample text

It was morning, or so Lemoni guessed. Cautiously, she eased herself up into a sitting position, and it was as though every bone was rubbing together. When she looked up, she saw, at last, where she was. It was the servants’ quarters— there was her suitcase, propped neatly by the wall. There was the chest of drawers, shirts in the top drawer, skirts in the second and under-garments in the third. There was her hairbrush lying on top, a few black strands of hair caught in the bristles.

She thought her hair must be a mess by now— she remembered catching it and tearing it in the branches. She pushed back the duvet and climbed out of bed. Unable to actually stand, she dropped down onto her knees and crawled the short distance to the chest, where she used each drawer as a rung to haul herself to the top. The hand that went to pick up the brush was thinner than she remembered it, and, upon further examination, mottled slightly here and there, like an old rash.

“Miss Leonidas?”

Lemoni looked up. His Lordship was sitting up in the furthermost bed, watching her anxiously. And Lemoni remembered everything; she dropped the hairbrush to the floor.

“You’re alive, sir,” she said.

“Yes,” His Lordship said and climbed from the bed. His shirt and trousers were very crumpled and he wasn’t wearing any shoes. All his hair, usually smoothed flat, was sticking up. “Yes, yes, completely alive.”

He smiled and Lemoni smiled too. Then she realised that she was not quite up to standing and much to her chagrin, she crumpled to the floor. But she did not mind.

That was the day that Lemoni started to get better.