The Girl with the Golden Eyes by Hastings Samantha

Author:Hastings, Samantha
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9798478529567
Publisher: Scribbling Pens
Published: 2021-10-13T00:00:00+00:00

19

Aaron felt unaccountably nervous the next day as he rode in the carriage to Elm Lodge. He drummed his fingers on the seat and exhaled slowly. He checked his reflection in the window pane—there was nothing in his teeth. Aaron took off his hat and used his fingers to move a few locks of his hair before putting it back on. The carriage came to a stop.

He was there.

Aaron took a deep breath and released it before leaving the carriage and ringing the bell. A butler answered the door, but behind him, already wearing a hat and dressed to go out, was Hana. The butler opened the door wider, and Hana walked out of it.

“Thank you, Mr. Thurston.”

She continued on to the carriage and stopped in front of the door. She tilted her head slightly toward the door and looked meaningfully at Aaron. His sluggish mind snapped into reality and he rushed forward to open it and assist her inside. He hopped in behind her, not without noticing her lips curve into a mocking smile as he sat down next to her.

Why do I act like such an idiot around her?

Not that he had much experience talking to beautiful young women—he’d been at school for most of his life. The only girls he’d met there had worked in taverns and they had not been shy or demure. And the ladies he’d dined with at his grandfather’s parties had been motherly-type figures like Lady Farrington. He swallowed and tried to think of something to say to fill the silence. Something Daniel would say. He had no trouble talking to girls.

“Have you ever visited Chadlington Hall before?”

Hana shook her head.

“I haven’t either,” Aaron continued awkwardly. “It’s only seven miles from Elm Lodge and closer to the village of Cushings than Foxdale.”

This time she raised her eyebrows and gave a polite, “Hmm.”

He couldn’t think of any other innocuous things to talk about.

“Dash it,” Aaron said, hitting his knees. “I don’t know what else to talk about. The wet weather? Say something, for goodness’ sake.”

She laughed and it reminded him of a little tinkling bell. “You’re not very good at small talk.”

“Neither are you,” he retorted. “At least you could’ve responded with words instead of sounds and gestures.”

Hana gave another tinkle of laughter. “No, I’ve never been to Chadlington Hall. I was completely unaware of its close proximity to Elm Lodge and to the very thrilling city of Cushings. Thank you for pointing them both out for me. I’m also quite enjoying the wet weather. The mud in particular brings me to raptures—”

“Stop. Stop,” he said, holding up his hands.

She raised her eyebrows and tilted her head to the side again. “But I’m doing what you asked—speaking words.”

“Say something real about yourself.”

Hana was quiet for several moments. “I hate the color white.”

“What else?” he prompted with a wave of his hand.

“I despise cows.”

“Cows?” he clarified, his eyebrows raised.

Hana wrinkled her nose. “I hate their smell, and I hate their milk, and I even hate the sound that they make.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.