As the road curved and she went through yet another small town, Ashley spotted a pub. The hollow feeling in her stomach had gotten worse as she drove. She needed to eat, especially since she wouldn’t get anything until morning if she didn’t make dinner. With a look at her watch, she put the turn signal on. Mitch would be doing whatever he could to annoy her tonight, so she couldn’t afford to be cranky. She’d have to take the precious half-hour and eat. Stopping would put her to the party by eight thirty. She’d eat fast.
The interior was dim, with a few locals at the bar. There was a couple heads bent, whispering to each other, and she quickly averted her eyes. On the other side of the pub was a table of guys talking loudly, and at another table, a family of four. Ashley chose a table next to the family. She ordered at the bar and sat down, scrolling through the notes on her tablet.
The aroma of freshly baked bread wafting up from the plate made her drool as she carried the meal to the table. The rolls were perfect. Crisp and crunchy on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside. It would be easy to eat an entire plate of those little bits of heaven. The stew was just as delicious, the vegetables done perfectly and the sauce rich and filling.
As she quickly ate, she looked around the pub, trying to avoid the far left corner. But no matter how hard she tried, her eyes kept straying to the couple. There was something about the way he looked at her, the softness in his eyes, that made her flinch.
For as long as she could remember, relationships had been hard for her. All around her, friends paired off, broke up, and found someone new. While she went ages and ages before she found anyone. Everyone made it seem so easy, but to her it was exhausting. Between work and staying fit, and making sure she was on track to meet her five-year plan, Ashley had given up on dating.
And then she met Ben. Her company had season tickets to the Rangers, and she’d always liked hockey. Had thought perhaps if people vented their frustrations on the ice, maybe everyone would get along better. At one of the games, a puck sailed over the glass and hit the man beside her. She stayed with him until the medical personnel arrived. While she was cleaning herself up, she met Ben, the team doctor. He’d been the only guy brave enough in a long time to breach her porcupine exterior, so when he asked her out, she said yes. They’d been dating for the past few months.
He was attractive, successful, and sometimes she wondered what he saw in her. Ashley knew she came off as prickly and standoffish, but they seemed to get along well enough. Though she still found herself thinking about their relationship, wondering if there was anything she could do to make it easier, and why it always felt like work.
The soundof a horse approaching had Christian unsheathing his sword. He put the blade back in its sheath when he recognized the figure.
Edward reined in the horse, sending mud flying as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
“A messenger arrived not long after you left. Melinda andJames met a wealthy merchant at the last market day. They did not want to say anything until it was decided. The girl’s father has agreed to the match.” Edward dismounted and left the horse to graze.
Christian gaped at his brother as he wiped mud from his cheek. It smelled of decay and earth. “What girl?”
“Her father is a merchant, so she is not a noble, though I think you do not care as long as she has all of her teeth.” Edward waved a hand. “All that is of consequence is she has said she will plight her troth to you.”
“Do they know what is said about me?”
“Her father knows, but for a great deal of gold he has agreed for her to wed you anyway. He is desperate to raise their station and see his daughter make a good match. He promised his wife on her deathbed.”
“And you said I would pay.”
His brother slapped him on the shoulder. “Aye. What good is gold if you do not spend it? You would give all your gold to find a wife, would you not?”
Instead of answering, Christian scowled. It was true, but he did not like to hear his brother make him sound like a boy pining after his first love, the evil ogre hiding alone in his castle waiting for his bride. ’Twas pitiful.
“You are to marry before Yule. The girl will be delivered to Winterforth in six weeks. We will all travel for the wedding. Best stock the larder; you know how our brothers eat and drink.”
Christian handed Edward the leather flask. “Drink. You sound like a fish pulled from the sea.”
“Have you nothing to say, dolt?”
“Nay, I will not believe ’tis so until we stand in the chapel and say the vows.”
“As you wish. You have lost many brides, but you should not let this worry you overmuch. This will be the girl. You will be marriedand she will bear you a son before the next year is done, putting all the rumors to rest.”
His brother handed back the flask, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. The smell of ale filled the air.
Christian was unconvinced. “We shall see.”
“Shall I ride with you to Winterforth? You should not be without your guard.”
“Nay, I’m meeting them in a few days. ’Twill be fine. You worry overmuch.” He did not tell Edward he had one stop to make first. One that did not involve his guards or his meddlesome brothers. For if he was caught…
CHAPTER 6
Ashley had finished congratulatingherself on keeping left when she came upon a scene straight out of a chocolate-induced nightmare.
On her right, a monkey swung from the trees. To the left, a zebra ran through the field, and was that…? It couldn’t be. Oh yes it was: a tiger ran in front of the car and bounded after the zebra. Tires squealed as she slammed on the brakes, coming to a stop inches from a deep ditch. Fingers crossed, she hoped the zebra would get away.
Up ahead lay an overturned truck. People were running around checking the remaining cages and looking helplessly up at the monkey. Too stunned to laugh, she slowed down as a policeman motioned her to stop.
