The Shadows of Stormclyffe Hall by Lauren Smith

Author:Lauren Smith [Smith, Lauren]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Literature & Fiction, Romance, Historical, Historical Romance, Series
Amazon: B00NE06UI4
Publisher: Entangled: Select Otherworld
Published: 2014-09-28T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

The empty bed woke Jane the following morning. It was as if Bastian’s absence had jarred her body awake. She didn’t know whether to laugh bitterly or shake her head. Last night she and Bastian had shared a bed, and she had loved every minute of it. And now he was gone. Again. Hot and cold. The man could write a book on leaving women confused. Of course, she was becoming the queen of mixed signals herself. Hadn’t she clung to him like she was drowning? Bastian probably couldn’t have escaped her death grip last night until she’d fallen to sleep. The image of him prying her fingers off his body wasn’t a flattering one.

She rolled onto her back, watching the gold beams of light through the half-pulled-back crimson moreen hangings. Birds twittered outside. The sound of their chatter was comforting. She loved birds. There had always been birds back home. It was something she missed when she spent time in London. Sure there were plenty of pigeons, but nothing replaced wild birdsong. She and Tim used to lie in bed late on Saturdays, listening to birds and the beat of each other’s hearts. Tears pricked her eyes, and she blinked them away.

It was no surprise Bastian had fled her bedroom. She’d confessed about the dreams last night, and he’d cut her off before she could fully explain. He obviously thought she was crazy, just like Tim had. Would she ever find a man who would believe her? Regret and shame turned her stomach into knots.

Why couldn’t I keep my mouth shut?

But it had been so easy to talk to Bastian, to tell him everything that was in her heart and to share her fears.

The door swung open, and she sat upright. Bastian entered, nudging the door open farther with his foot as he carried a tray inside. A delightful breakfast of eggs, toast, and bacon adorned with a bright bouquet of wildflowers was presented to her with the solemnity and grandeur owed to a queen. A blush worked its way across her face, and her heart gave a treacherous little flutter of joy. He hadn’t abandoned her. She did not miss the mischievous twinkle in his warm brown eyes.

“Breakfast. I wanted to spare Randolph the stairs this morning. He gets a touch of rheumatism from time to time.” He set the tray down over her lap and then eased down on the edge of the bed next to her, leaning back against the pillows beside her in a pose of utter relaxation.

Trying to ignore the intimacy of the moment, she spoke up. “What about you? Have you eaten?” She was already reaching for the plate of toast to offer him a slice. She wanted to ask him about his original plan to avoid her; it had been such an obvious goal yesterday. Yet here he was, bringing her breakfast. The last time she’d questioned his intentions toward her, he’d shut down completely. She’d stay quiet if it kept him here and happy.

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