The Winter Queen by Katie M. John

Author:Katie M. John [John, Katie M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little Bird Publishing House
Published: 2017-12-18T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 6 HOME

I threw open the door of the bedroom and gathered my boots, jumping down onto the bed to lace them up. My velvet jacket was pretty much a right off, but it still had arms and offered me some kind of extra layer. The fur throw on the end of the bed would make a reasonable makeshift cloak and would at least offer me some decent protection from the cold. My leather gloves were still in my pocket and I thanked small acts of fate that I had removed them to take a photo minutes before things went a little crazy. Grabbing my camera, I headed out the door, down the stairs and towards the front door, relieved that everybody was far too busy elsewhere in the manor house to stop me.

The strange little man’s warning echoed round my mind. “Don’t stop to say goodbye.” But as my hand reached for the handle, something in my heart felt compelled to stop. “Robbie?” I said to myself. It didn’t seem right after everything he had done for me to just leave without explanation; not after the kiss we had shared.

“Are you leaving?” Robbie’s voice caused me to turn from the door and disengage my hand from the handle.

“Yes. I think I know how to get home.”

Robbie strode towards me, his face crumpling with various emotions. “You’re not staying for the ball?”

My stomach began to flutter. I was doing nothing wrong and yet I felt like a caught thief.

“I… I… It’s Christmas Eve. My father will be worried. I can’t leave him alone at Christmas, as much as I want to stay.”

“And you’re certain you know how to get home?”

Doubt and fear began to crowd in on me. “I think so.”

“You know that it’s going to get dark soon. The night comes in so early with the snow.”

“It can’t be that far away,” I said, not certain at all as to how far Robbie had brought me after the incident with the monster.

“You’re far enough away that with the snow, and the time of day, you’re putting yourself in terrible danger. There are still wolves in the woods, and those that remain are as hungry as we are – and if not wolves, then bears and… folk who are hungry enough to not abide by the usual common decencies, if you catch my drift.”

My unease led to a snort of laughter. “What? You think that they might try and eat me?” I asked incredulously.

“When your child is near death, people will do anything.”

Wolves, bears, cannibals – it didn’t sound the most enticing of trips, but I needed to get home and I was certain in my heart, I now had the map.

“Why don’t you stay for tonight. Enjoy the ball, and then tomorrow, I’ll ride you out to The Widows myself with some men – and guns. It would be a much safer option.”

“Could we go now?” I asked, knowing I was pushing my luck.

Robbie placed his hands on my shoulders and smiled reassuringly.

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