Page 81 of Snowbound Surrender

She flopped back in bed and pulled the covers up when the cold air swirled around the room from his exit. Finally, she rose and dressed. Her hem was still damp, but the rest of her gown had dried.

It didn’t take long enough for Callum to saddle his horse and prepare the way. The snow was at least a foot deep, but higher drifts had piled up next to the cabin. She didn’t want to leave their cocoon and face the world. Or her sister.

“At least the snow isn’t too wet. Are you ready?” He held out a hand to help her mount.

“Not really. I’d rather stay here.” The mulishness in her voice made him smile. It was amazing how much it transformed his face from careworn to charming.

“I would too.” He leaned in to kiss her. Just as her knees turned watery and she leaned closer to grab the front of his coat, he put his hands on her waist and turned her toward his horse to mount.

He settled himself behind her, taking a moment to wrap her in the warmth of his greatcoat. The going was slow and her feet grew numb with the cold and damp, but even so, the manor came into view too soon.

He stopped at the edge of a copse to hide them from view and surveyed the back of the house. Everything was still and deserted. Even the stables looked quiet. He nudged them into a walk. The mare’s steps were muffled by the snow, and the snuffing of the horse was the only sound.

“The herb garden will lead you to the stillroom. From there, the servants’ stairs are directly across the corridor. Find a maid, tell her you got turned around, and ask for your sister’s room. Hopefully, most guests are still abed.”

“What will you do?”

“I will stable my horse and enter through the front door. My sister and mother are also in residence.” He pressed his cool lips against hers before depositing her at the herb garden.

He did not tarry, and neither did she. She slipped inside the stillroom. It was cool but still shockingly warm compared to outside. No noise set her on alert. She was alone. Now she had to get to her sister.

Cracking the door open, she looked up and down the corridor, seeing no one. The clatter of cookery and the smell of bread came from one end. The kitchens. At the other end were more closed doors. The stairs were exactly where Callum said they would be. She scampered up them and emerged onto a plush carpet and elegant hall lined with a half dozen doors.

Panic had her frozen in indecision when a scullery maid scooted out of the nearest room with a bucket of ashes. She flinched when she saw Eleanor.

“Can I help you, ma’am?”

“I rose early to see the snow, but now I can’t remember where my room is. Everything looks the same, I’m afraid. I’m with my sister, Mrs. MacGrath.”

“Oh, you’re on the wrong wing, ma’am. Follow me.”

The maid took her across the three-story entrance to the other side of the manor and pointed to the last room on the right.

“Thank you very much.”

If the maid gave her a curious look, Eleanor ignored it. Hopefully, the previous evening had been too chaotic for the servants to have noted every guest.

Eleanor didn’t bother to knock, but slipped into Charlotte’s room and leaned against the door. Her heart finally slowed and moved from her throat to her chest. Eleanor tiptoed to the side of the bed. Her sister was sprawled under a heavy quilt, her legs pointing in opposite directions and snuffling slightly. It made Eleanor smile. She had forgotten what a chaotic sleeper Charlotte was. They had shared a bed until their father had moved them into the big house in the heart of the financial district in London.

Eleanor poked her in the shoulder and whispered, “Charlotte. Wake up.”

Charlotte sat bolt upright with a cry of alarm. “What on earth? Where am I?”

Eleanor clocked the fear in her sister’s voice and said soothingly, “It’s fine. You’re fine. We’re at Westhorpe’s manor. Do you remember what happened last night?”

Her sister peered myopically at Eleanor and grabbed her hand. “Are you well? I was worried about you.”

Eleanor handed Charlotte her spectacles from the side table. “I’m well enough. How are you?”

“I think…” Charlotte stared off into nothing for a long moment, but before Eleanor could question her, she added. “I’m fine. You’re the one who disappeared. I sent Callum to find you. What happened? Where did you spend the night?”

“Callum came to my rescue. I spent last night safe and warm.”

Charlotte slapped her arm. “You were an idiot to go off like you did in the snow.”

“I would have been fine to make my way back except whatever was in the punch made me feel very strange.”

“Yes. Most of the ladies—including me—imbibed. I wasn’t foxed but felt oddly euphoric and uninhibited.” She touched hertemple. “I don’t seem to be suffering from any aftereffects this morning though.”