Page 38 of The Storybook Hero
Nine
Alex settled the fur blanket around his legs and set the horses in motion, grateful for a bit of solitude in which to order his thoughts. He should be cursing the heavens for the vagaries of Fate that had landed yet more responsibilities in his lap. But oddly enough, the only sound coming from his throat was a burble of rueful laughter. Their encounters with each other certainly didn’t lack for drama …
But it was he who had nearly swooned, rather than the intrepid Miss Hadley, on seeing her confronted by those three armed ruffians.
The sight of her brandishing a pistol at them had stirred a number of strange sensations. Chivalry had not exactly been his strong suit since longer than he cared to remember. And yet, on seeing her in danger, he would have launched himself barehanded at any number of assailants.
It made no sense. Miss Hadley wasn’t the most beautiful woman he had ever encountered, nor were her charms such as to twine a man in a net of silky infatuation. At that thought, another laugh nearly burst forth.Seek to charm him?Ye gods, she could barely tolerate his presence! But somehow, she affected him like no other woman he had ever met.
Alex felt his brow furrow. Over the past ten years, he had allied with a number of willing partners. But the passion was always fleeting, the transient pleasure unable to keep at bay the dull ache that inevitably crept back to suffuse his very being.
What was it about the prim Miss Hadley that seemed … different? When he looked in her eyes, he saw no trace of artifice, only keen intelligence that she didn’t try to hide.. Her words, as well, were unadorned with fripperies. Alex realized with a start that she was the only female of his acquaintance with whom he felt he could have an interesting conversation, save perhaps for his sisters-in-law.
There was no denying that she had spirit and courage as well, qualities he was more used to attributing to his friends than his bedmates. Nothing seemed to quell her spark. Eyes blazing, she kept her chin up, as proud as her namesake in the face of adversity. Instead of screaming or fainting, she had relied on her own resources—quite credibly he might add.
A certain part of his anatomy had ached for some time after their first encounter.
But despite her outward actions, he had caught the stirrings of a hot passion lurking beneath the icy shell. He found himself wondering what it would be like to fan its fire again, to have its flames lick over him and …
The wheels of the carriage hit a frozen rut, jarring his thoughts back to frigid reality. The cold had deepened, forming his breath into ethereal white puffs, which the biting wind quickly swirled away. Alex watched as they disappeared, then tightened his grip on the reins.
Wishes and dreams were as chimerical as such clouds. He had learned that long ago. Just as he had learned not to probe too deeply into his feelings, for the pain was too searing. It was best not to begin now. No matter how intriguing he found MissHadley, the attraction would soon die away, just like everything else that had mattered in his life.
It was after dark before they approached a low split log structure set off from the thick forest by a wheat field. Smoke curling up from the single chimney was the only sign of life. The stable, barely larger than a hencoop, also appeared deserted, but the sound of the sleigh’s runners crunching over frozen puddles brought a figure swathed in a grimy wool shuffling from inside, his muttered curses exploding in small puffs of vapor like so many artillery shells.
Alex stumbled down from his seat, his feet so numb with cold that he might as well have been walking on blocks of wood. Somehow, he managed to undo the door latch and help the three occupants out from inside the inky interior.
“It’s not the most appealing of places, but I fear we have little choice. At least there is a fire and, with any luck, a hot meal,” he managed to say, though his words were badly slurred.
Octavia pursed her lips as she regarded the dusting of ice crystals on his cheeks, but merely nodded and hastened the children towards the inn. Behind her, Alex couldn’t keep from stumbling on the rutted snow and ice.
She paused,then turned back and took hold of his arm. “You only have to manage a few more paces, Mr. Leigh.”
Inside, the room was not nearly so bad as he expected. The dim oil lamps revealed that the place was moderately clean, and the tall tiled stove set in the corner cast enough of a warmth to make it almost cozy. Without a word, Octavia guided Alex close to its hissing bulk and slowly unwound the scarf from his neck. He started to fumble with the buttons of his coat, but somehowhis fingers refused to cooperate. She pushed them gently aside and undid the fastenings herself, letting the garment slide off his shoulders and to the floor.
“Emma, bring a chair for Mr. Leigh.”
The girl obeyed with alacrity, dragging the heavy wooden legs across the uneven planks and nearly knocking over Nicholas in the process. He made a face, but the little kick he lashed out wasn’t quick enough to find its mark.
Though the action didn’t appear to escape her notice, Octavia chose to ignore it.
She reached up to take the thick wool hat from his head. “Sit down, sir.”
“I c-c-can …” To his chagrin he found his teeth were chattering uncontrollably.
“You will sit down like a sensible person so I can help you remove your boots. Or do you intend to be so stubborn that I will be compelled to use force?” Her eyes strayed to the floor. “The leather looks as stiff as a board.”
He sat down without further argument for she looked perfectly capable of carrying out her threat.
The proprietor approached, eyeing their modest attire with an ill-disguised frown.
“Tea. Right away, please,” said Octavia. “And something hot to eat.”
The man didn’t move.
Her head came up. “We are cold, and hungry. Youdohave food and drink here?” she demanded.
A rather rude grunt followed. “For those who can pay.”
