Chapter Four
Holding tightly to Oliver’s cloak, Allegra followed as he walked them slowly along the passage, ancient boards creaking beneath their feet. The light grew stronger and more comforting, as she could see a fair-sized room appearing out of the gloom.
A parlour, perhaps? There were some chairs and a couch, both of which had seen better days, but the small tables scattered around were free of dust, as was the long sideboard along one wall.
In the fireplace, a tiny fire flickered, and with a sigh of relief she let go of Oliver’s cloak and hurried to the hearth. “Firewood,” she whispered. “Thank God.”
“Wait, let me do that. You’ll tear your gloves.”
Blinking, she stepped back, quite unprepared for this show of gentlemanly manners.
Letting him retrieve a log or two and fan the weak flames, she carefully examined a nearby chair.
Since it had no holes, she prayed it was mouse-free and sat, sighing with relief as she eased her feet from her soaked boots and rubbed them, trying to warm her icy toes.
Oliver took off his cloak and carefully laid it over the back of another larger chair. “It should heat up in here shortly, I believe.”
“Are we likely to burn the place down?” She looked at the elderly fireplace and the carpet in front of it, which bore the signs of age.
“I sincerely hope not,” he snorted. “That would not do at all.” He poked at the logs with one of the andirons and nodded as a larger flame shot up and a few satisfying crackles began to emerge. “There. I think we’ve got a chance of thawing ourselves out a bit.”
“Did you check the damper?”
“God, woman, I’m not an idiot. Of course I did.”
A gust of wind rattled the house and a puff of smoke emerged into the room.
Oliver narrowed his eyes. “Not a word.” He leaned toward the fireplace and jiggled the metal handle protruding from the bricks on one side. The smoke returned to the chimney, and the blaze picked up its pace.
“Lovely,” Allegra said sweetly.
Oliver glared at her.
“Well, my feet are mostly dry, and warming up a bit now.” She stared at her toes.
“Perhaps I’ll put my boots near the fire and warm those up as well.
” She opened her large bag. “Luckily, I have slippers in here.” She pulled out a pair of maroon velvet shoes.
“Susan made me keep these. She took some gowns, but these didn’t fit.
” To her delight, they were both warm and dry.
“How charming.” The wry tone of his voice amused her.
“Sorry. I have nothing for gentlemen in here.”
He shook his head. “No matter. My boots were made for real life, not tittupping around elegant carriages, and walking the short distance to the latest ball.”
“How fortunate.” Her tone matched his in wry amusement.
“Now, since we are indoors, and this is allegedly the Craddock Inn – though I venture to point out it seems absolutely empty of either an innkeeper or guests – perhaps we should explore a little and see if we can locate this thing you have been promised?”
He nodded. “If, as I presume, you are politely expressing your wish to be back in London at the earliest possible moment, I cannot but endorse your suggestion.”
“Very well.” She rose. “Let’s take a look at the rest of this place and find out if anyone is here. Although one would assume that the sound of people entering would have summoned a resident, or at the very least a servant.”
Casting a last glance at the fire, Oliver followed her out of the parlour and through a doorway that opened onto another passage. Directly across from them, Allegra saw the gleam of metal.
“Aha. I believe this would be the kitchen.” She looked around. “Have you seen any more candles anywhere? Lights would be helpful…”
They both looked up at the bare ceiling, then she moved. “Oooh. A sconce. And yes, candles here.” She glanced at him. “Can you reach?”
“I think so.” He closed the distance between them and stood on tiptoe, his height allowing his fingers to scrabble at the half-burned candle. “Got it.”
Briefly, Allegra just breathed in, inhaling his scent. Something masculine, sandalwood perhaps, mixed with a faint whiff of damp wool and leather. It was him. Oliver’s particular fragrance. And she’d never forgotten it.
“Are you all right?”
She opened her eyes, realising that she’d closed them sometime during that odd moment. “Yes, of course. I’m just happy we have found ourselves a source of light.”
“As am I. Let me light this and we’ll see what’s in that kitchen. If, in fact, that’s what it is.” He hurried back into the parlour and lit his prize with a taper from the fire. “Now. Let’s take a look around.”
Much happier with some halfway decent illumination, since the ones in the hall were already sputtering down low, Allegra nodded and led the way further into what was indeed the kitchen. It was surprisingly clean, but obviously hadn’t been used in quite some time.
Tentatively, she tried the little pump over the sink, giving a tiny crow of laughter when water flowed freely.
“Well, I will confess to a great deal of surprise,” she grinned.
“One would have imagined the entire system rusted to pieces or frozen, but look…a lovely clear stream.” She looked around. “Now if we only had some tea…”
Oliver rolled his eyes. “Lest you forget, we’re not here to visit, make tea, or otherwise entertain ourselves, you know.”
“I fully comprehend that fact, sir, as do my still-cold toes.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “However, a cup of tea would not go amiss at this moment, and it seems unlikely that anyone else is about to provide us with one.”
He subsided. “Let’s look around a little more.”
“All right.” She agreed gracefully, knowing she’d made her point. It would be unfair to hold Oliver fully responsible for this unusual situation, she knew. But…that strange carriage had stopped for her, and he was in it. There had to be some connection she’d yet to uncover.
“Oh, look. This is close to being treasure.” Oliver’s hand went to the top of a cupboard over her head and returned clasping several more unused candles.
“Now we can leave one in here and use another to find our way around.” He carefully lit a another and dripped some wax onto an old metal plate, standing their original light near the sink.
“Excellent,” grinned Allegra. “Let’s explore a little more.”
Oliver couldn’t help chuckling. “You sound as though you’re enjoying this,” he commented.
“It is an unusual adventure, you have to admit.” She nodded. “And, to be very honest, much more to my liking than an early dinner and then a trip down to Twelve Trees, a place that redefines the word stuffy.”
“I have to agree. So let’s see what else is here.” He held out his hand towards her.
She took it as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Thrilled to his eyebrows, Oliver managed not to smile but casually led them further into this apparently abandoned inn, aware of the softness of her palm and its warmth against his.
There wasn’t much to see, after the kitchens and the parlour, a small snug – empty of everything but a rather dilapidated chair that was missing one arm – and a corner room containing a variety of kegs, which probably acted as a cellar.
It was very cold in there, too cold for him to tap any of them and see if there was anything worth drinking inside.
He shut that door tightly as they shivered and retreated.
A stairwell led from the end of the hall, and they paused at the foot.
“Do we dare?” Allegra asked thoughtfully. “I worry about the flooring if we go up.”
He held the candle high. “I see a lot of dust, but no obvious flaws in the woodwork…”
She shrugged. “I’m game if you are.”
He anticipated her comment. “I’ll go first.” Nobly he stepped up, putting his weight tentatively on the tread.
“I won’t argue.” He wasn’t sure if she snickered, but it sounded distinctly like amusement in her tone.
When nothing happened but the odd creak, the two of them braved the staircase, arriving at the landing above without incident.
“Well.” She looked around. “Several guest rooms, I would imagine?”
Oliver nodded and pushed open the first door, leaning in with his candle held high. “Not much to see.”
She came close and peered past him, filling his nostrils with her light scent, and seriously distracting him.
“Musty,” she sniffed. “Not surprising, but still. Not a place I’d care to spend the night. Not without a good cleaning.”
“I expect most of them are the same,” he commented as they walked on. The last room had a door that was larger than the others. “This must be the best chamber in the house. There’s invariably one. Terribly overpriced, too, in my experience.”
“But you’ve always taken it anyway,” she chuckled. “They make these rooms for people like you.”
He glanced at her, eyebrow raised. “And you take the musty ones, do you?”
Her cheeks coloured. “All right. Fair enough.” She looked at the wood and the carved handles. “Are we going to risk a peek?”
He let her comment go, even though it had rankled for a few moments. “If you wish.” He pushed the door wide and they walked in.
Then stopped dead.
The room was beautiful.
“I don’t…” she choked out the words.
“I don’t either,” he whispered, his gaze taking in the sheen of silk fabric hanging from the ceiling above the bed.
Covered in dark red blankets, with pillows white as the snow falling outside, it looked as if it had been freshly made up that morning.
The four posts glowed in the light of their candle, and there wasn’t a lick of dust anywhere he could see.
“Oliver, what the devil does this mean?” Her hand tightened around his. “Why should there be one perfect room in an inn where everything else is covered with grime and showing neglect?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know, Ally, I truly don’t.” His nickname for her slipped out as he gripped her hand in his turn. “This is…beyond anything I ever expected, that’s for sure.”
“Look. A branch of candles. We should probably…” she pointed.
“Yes, we should.” He led her over to the side of the bed and carefully lit the wicks, amazed as the light filled the room. The curtains were drawn, there was water in the pitcher…all was in order, as if waiting for guests.
The bed itself was huge, and Oliver found himself suddenly very aware of the woman beside him, holding his hand.
They were alone. Completely alone. For one blinding moment he could see himself tumbling onto that lush surface and taking Allegra with him.
Her body would be warm, her skin soft against his…
She swayed against him, breathing quickly, and his arm automatically went around her shoulders. “Are you all right?” He looked down at her.
Her eyes were wide open, pupils dark and shining, reflecting the candlelight in their velvet depths. “I…I don’t quite know…” She licked her lips and stared at his mouth, a sensual invitation that he wanted so much to answer with one of his own.
“Ally,” he whispered, tightening his grip. “Ally…”
She shivered. “What’s happening, Oliver?”
He pulled himself from the edge with difficulty, clearing his throat and dragging his gaze from her face. “I’m not sure. Perhaps we should go back downstairs.”
She seemed to straighten as well. “Er, yes. Yes, I think we should.” She looked around once more. “Nothing else to see here. No snuffbox, that’s for sure.”
Recalled to the original reason they were there, he frowned. “Yes, you’re quite right. I’m growing somewhat irritated by all these confusing things. Let’s see if the fire is still going in the parlour and work out what we can do, and whether we can find a way back to town.”
Suiting words to action, they left the master chamber and returned cautiously down the stairs to see a glow coming from the parlour.
“Oh good. Looks like the fire is burning. Let’s hope the room will have warmed up.”
Allegra slid from his side and walked alone toward the door, leaving Oliver feeling somewhat bereft.
It was strange, he thought as he followed her.
This woman had irritated him, intrigued him, and refused him, seriously damaging his feelings.
And yet here he was, a few years later, still intrigued and still irritated by her.
Of course, since they were in the middle of some odd adventure, he shouldn’t be placing any confidence in his emotions right now. He must remain aloof and detached. Otherwise, with that sumptuous bedroom upstairs…well, who knew what might happen?
On that thought, he followed her into the parlour, completely unaware that there was a slight grin curving his lips.