The Yuletide Woodsman by Katie M John

Author:Katie M John [John, Katie M]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B07L1577LD
Goodreads: 43111030
Publisher: Little Bird Publishing House
Published: 2018-12-04T00:00:00+00:00

*

The kitchens were not too far away and they were pleasantly homely compared to the rest of the castle. Soft worn wooden counter tops, and the heat from the large open fire added to the feeling of sanctuary.

Eleanor indicated to a basket covered with a red and white checked cloth, which she informed me held the fresh bread, which I should organise into several slices of toast, using the stove top. I was grateful for the momentary distraction. There was something comforting about conducting such a normal task.

Eleanor busied in the cold cupboard, pulling out a large jug of soup, which she transferred to a heavy metal pot before suspending it from the metal frame above the fire.

A commotion at the door caused me to turn and see Stag, stamping snow from his boots as he broke into a warm grin of greeting. It was dark outside, the night having closed in early with the weather.

“Eleanor! I missed you at lunch.”

“Yes, Queen Morag had me cleaning the throne room.”

Stag looked around the room and asked, “Where’s cook? Isn’t she supposed to be prepping dinner”

“She’s gone walkies,” Eleanor said, rolling her eyes.

Stag’s gaze fell on me and he dipped his head in bashful greeting. “Neve, it’s nice to see you.”

I felt the unexpected flush of a blush on my cheeks. “Hi.”

“You okay?” he asked.

“So far, so good,” I replied honestly.

“Do you want some soup?” Eleanor asked her brother. “It seems cook at least had the sense to prepare something before she disappeared, which might save her one or two lashes of Queen Morag’s whip.”

He grinned and rubbed his hands together. “That would be great. It’s been even colder than usual out there today and cook only gave me bread and water for lunch, hard cow that she is.”

I sniffed with sympathy. The guy had been out chopping wood in the freezing air all morning, he’d at least deserved a hot meal. Now I felt a little less sympathy at the thought of cook being punished.

Eleanor explained she had to see to Queen Morag first but she would be back as quickly as she could, then we would eat together. I watched as she gathered together the soup, bread and a cheese selection and placed them on a tray, ready for the Queen.

I knew Stag was watching me as his sister was preoccupied, but I couldn’t trust myself to look at him without blushing even more and I didn’t want him to get the wrong impression.

With Eleanor gone, the kitchen grew smaller and there was no avoiding him.

“So rumour has it that cook is having a thing with the blacksmith,” Stag declared as his eyes twinkled with mischief.

I smiled. The thought of anybody having any kind of loving and warm relationship in such a bleak place seemed unfathomable. “I guess you find love where you can,” I replied, my eyes meeting his and then dipping.

“Are you harmed?” he asked, approaching me and lowering his voice.

I shook my head.

“I’m so sorry I had to bring you here, Neve.

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