The First Snow of Winter by Joanna Chambers

Author:Joanna Chambers [Chambers, Joanna]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781999672034
Publisher: Joanna Chambers
Published: 2021-02-18T23:00:00+00:00

* * *

The storm did not pass. Indeed, over the next several hours, it got steadily worse. By five o’clock in the evening, the blizzard was showing no sign of letting up.

Sam was in the library reading when Hobbs brought Sam the note from his father, delivered by a boy from Stonecross Farm.

It seemed that shortly after his mother and father had set off from the farm, before the snow had even begun, their carriage had sunk into a bad rut in the road and become stuck. And then, while the farm labourers were trying to extract it, one of the wheels was damaged. By this time, since the snow had begun, Sam’s mother and father decided to accept the kind invitation of their tenants to stay the night at the farm. The note concluded by asking that Sam take charge of welcoming the Huxleys.

But of the Huxleys there was also no sign.

Hobbs informed Sam that he had spoken to Mr. Huxley about that. Apparently, Jasper had told Hobbs that, when he had left the White Hart Inn shortly after luncheon, the rest of his family had only just arrived at the inn. His grandmother had apparently been insisting on stopping for a “good long rest” at all the posting inns, on account of her arthritis playing up, so Jasper doubted they’d have left the White Hart before the blizzard began. Moreover, once the snow came on, Jasper was of the view that his grandmother would not have countenanced leaving the inn.

“With Little Wolkham being so far away, we will likely not hear from them tonight,” Hobbs told Sam as he gave him this report. “But Mr. Huxley did not seem overly anxious about it.”

Which was a polite way of saying that it was extremely unlikely that Jasper’s odious grandmama would have allowed a single member of the Huxley family to set foot outside the White Hart Inn as soon as the snow began.

Well, at least they wouldn’t have to worry about anyone.

“Should I ask Mrs. Braddock to serve dinner for yourself and Mr. Huxley?” Hobbs asked.

“Yes, please,” Sam said, trying to ignore the pang of excitement that struck him at the thought of an evening alone with Jasper. “Since there will only be two of us, a simple supper in the breakfast room will suffice. Send someone up to let Mr. Huxley know. Half-past seven if that suits the kitchens.”

Hobbs nodded. “Yes, sir. Will there be anything else?”

Sam paused, then found himself saying, “I think I’ll bathe before dinner. Could you have water sent up?”

“Very good, sir.”

After Hobbs left, Sam rose from his chair, going to the window.

It was dark outside now, and the air was thick with dense, swirling snow.

What was he thinking, bathing before dinner? Was he imagining he could make himself more appealing to Jasper Huxley? As though Jasper would look twice at him as he was now. Christ, he wasn’t even a whole man. And he had no experience. He was a virgin, and a maimed one at that.

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