One Winter's Night by Adele Clee

Author:Adele Clee [Clee, Adele]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2019-11-01T16:00:00+00:00

The tower was once a lookout post for the medieval house that had originally existed on Hugo’s land, and his great-grandfather had turned it into a secret hideaway. Hugo’s father had insisted the solid oak door remain unlocked. Bartholomew de Wold’s lack of faith in his wife often roused ugly suspicions. Distrust thrived in the mind of a man whose wife was forced to the altar, even during those times they lived in different counties.

“How quaint.” Miss Bennett scanned the small sitting room, sparse but for two chairs, a small oak table and sideboard. “I presume there are more rooms in the tower.”

“The spiral staircase leads to a bedchamber.” Hugo pointed to the arched doorway. He placed the lantern, left in the bothy by Miss Pardue, onto the table. “The third floor gives access to a roof terrace. Sunrise is spectacular from such a vantage point.”

“I would love to take a tour.” She arched a brow. “Then again, it’s one thing being caught sitting around a table, another for someone to stumble upon us in a bedchamber while I’m tugging off your boot.”

“You cannot leave without taking in the view,” he said, sucking in a breath when she lowered her hood to reveal a mass of rich brown tresses. “I shall remain here.” He welcomed the diversion. Keeping his hands from exploring every inch of her delectable body grew more difficult by the minute.

She nodded and took to the stairs. The echo of her boots on the ancient steps told him she’d gone straight to the top floor to admire the white winter landscape that stretched for miles.

While awaiting her return, Hugo tugged at his left boot. After a brief struggle, he yanked the damn thing off.

Miss Bennett found him sitting at the table examining the heel beneath the light of the lamp. “I could stay up there all night,” she said, pulling out a chair to join him. “You can almost touch the stars where the clouds break to reveal an inky sky.”

He glanced up from his task, and her brilliant smile sent his heart leaping to his throat. “Indeed.”

“Is the heel loose?” she asked. “Shall I see if I can find a knife to use as leverage?”

“Yes, there might be one in the sideboard drawer.” While she rummaged around, he continued to tug at the heel. “There’s definitely something—wait.”

Hugo twisted the bottom of the heel, and it came off in his hand. Inside the hollow space, he found a folded piece of paper, two inches square and a little damp and tatty around the edges. He peeled back the folds and studied the minute pencil notes.

Miss Bennett appeared at his side and bent over his shoulder. “Can you read that? The writing is so small.”

He pointed to the first line. “The word Bertie muttered wasn’t strawberry but Strawbridge.”

“Strawbridge? There’s no one here by that name. Unless he’s referring to one of your servants.”

“From the dates and times recorded, it is fair to assume that the Strawbridge is a ship.

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