An Invitation to Marriage (Middleton Series Book 1) by Tanya Wilde

Author:Tanya Wilde [Wilde, Tanya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-03-07T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

They arrived at his estate just before nightfall. A modest strip of land with a quaint two-story cottage, it was about an hour’s drive from the nearest village, from civilization. The air was crisp, and the initial slight breeze rapidly strengthened into a mighty wind. Thunderclouds ahead signaled a storm. The sharp burst of air swept up her hair, tugging her small frame in the direction it desired.

Holly cast a nervous glance to the clouds. Storms were not uncommon in these parts, but they did wreak havoc with the terrain, known at times to even demolish houses not built sturdily enough. Her gaze drifted to her temporary home in a skeptical frown.

She stumbled over her feet when another gust of wind propelled her sideways. A solid arm snaked around her waist then, hefting her tightly against his rock-hard body. She’d never been so grateful for the wind—or the support.

Locked together, they dashed for the house, her shorter strides battling to keep up with his long, stronger ones. A loud curse rang in her ears, and she was lifted, much as she imagined a sack of potatoes would be, and deposited over his shoulder.

Holly did not even squeak a protest as Brahm ran with her into the house. Indeed, she enjoyed the contact. It was jarring—to say the least—but his hand gripped her thighs just below her buttocks, leaving a warm imprint.

Too soon he lowered her to the steady floor of the parlor.

His eyes blazed as they boldly roamed her before he nodded once, turned on his heel, and ran for the door.

“I need to secure my horse,” Brahm said. “The coachman refuses to stay, he is returning to the village.”

“Is he mad? He might not make it back in this weather!”

“Tell that to his stubborn hide,” he shouted over his shoulder, as he disappeared into the tempest.

With a sigh, Holly circled the parlor, inhaling the musky scent of the uninhabited space. All men were stubborn, it seemed.

She wandered to the drawing room, noting that some but not all of the furniture had been covered with white sheets. This made her think that no servants had occupied the home for some time.

The sudden sound of her stomach rumbling gave her pause, drawing her attention to her hunger. And with it came a more pressing question. Did they have any food? And if not, did Brahm mean for her to survive on her own, picking berries and hunting rabbits?

Holly would never kill a rabbit or pluck feathers from a bird. About the only thing she could do was bake bread. Or rather, knead the dough that one used to bake bread. Would Brahm at least show her how to use an oven? If he even knew how to use one.

Then it struck her, like the sudden clap of thunder outside that illuminated the entire room.

They were alone for the night.

With a storm brewing outside!

The eventual downpour might rage for days, or it might pass after the night. But it was the perfect opportunity to seize the moment.

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