Cast in Ice by Laura Landon

Author:Laura Landon [Landon, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781937216665
Amazon: B015UVOL4O
Barnesnoble: B015UVOL4O
Goodreads: 26823572
Publisher: Prairie Muse
Published: 2014-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

The days after their earthshattering kiss flew by faster than Winnie wanted them to. She wanted time to stop and never begin again. She wanted the days she spent with Nick never to come to an end. But she knew that wasn’t possible. Her bruises were gone, and a message had arrived two days ago from her father, hinting that she’d been gone more than a fortnight, and her presence was needed in London. He wrote that he had an important announcement to make and wanted her to be there when he made it.

Winnie was relieved. Anne was one step closer to finding her happily ever after. She was one step closer to being safe from the scandal Winnie feared would destroy them.

And just last night, Nick had informed her that his back had healed enough for him to travel. He mentioned that he’d been gone long enough and had work to do. Although she didn’t ask what that work was, she knew it involved Ellsworth, Willard, and what had happened at The Soiled Dove.

Several times during their long walks through the countryside, she’d wanted to ask him about his work as an investigator. More than once while they’d spent peaceful afternoons watching the ducks float on the pond in the center of the garden, she’d wanted to ask him why he’d been at The Dove that night, and all the nights before that. But she hadn’t because she’d been afraid bringing up his work would lead to him asking questions about her mother, and she didn’t want to risk having to battle his questions.

Instead, they talked about his family. About his mother, and father, and his three sisters. About living in Penrith. How old he’d been when he came to London that first time, and why he’d stayed. How he acquired a position as one of Mack Wallace’s brigadesmen. And so many other details that weren’t important, such as the fact that his favorite dessert was lemon pie. And that Mack Wallace’s wife, Cora, would have one fresh from the oven whenever she knew he was stopping by.

Or that he’d gotten a puppy for Christmas when he was six and he’d named it Hubert—Bertie for short.

But the idyllic days they’d spent together were nearly at an end. They would be returning to London in two days, and nothing would be the same after that.

She closed her eyes and imagined what her life would have been like if her mother had been a loving mother, instead of a cold-blooded murderer. What her future might hold if she and Nick had met under ordinary circumstances. What her future might hold if she and Nick had fallen in love the same as Anne and Lord Montroy had.

But those were nothing more than dreams. Fantasies. The imaginings of someone who wasn’t grounded in reality. And if Winnie was anything, she was grounded in the here and now.

She stopped and listened. She wasn’t sure if she heard the approach of footsteps along the cobbled path and knew he was coming, or if she just sensed he was there.

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