Read Online Matronly Duties by Melissa Kendall - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Melissa Kendall
Ads: Link
dead in my tracks.
“Are you all right?” Howard asks, concern etched on his face.
“I don’t think I can go back in there,” I say in a pitifully weak voice.
“It will be okay. I promise I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.” He tugs my hand, trying to move me. When I refuse, he says, “It’s safe, I promise.”
“How can you be certain?”
“Because I’ve lived my whole life here.”
The calm tone of his voice and the smile on his face should be reassuring, but I can’t shake the feeling that if I go inside something bad will happen.
“But . . .”
He grabs my hand and pulls me forward until we’re barely a hair’s breadth apart. “Bethanie, I can take care of you. I’ve taken care of you so far, haven’t I?”
I nod but still don’t move. “I can’t.”
“Please,” he says, squeezing my hand as I try to move away. “You will be safe. On my honour, I swear.”
This near to him, I can feel the heat of his body. I want to close the gap between us and sink into his warmth. I look into his eyes and feel the tension drain from my body. Something in his expression tells me I can trust him, that he really won’t let anyone hurt me. He smiles and gives my hand another tug, and this time I follow.
Entering the catacombs brings back memories of the previous day’s terror. A shudder works its way down my spine. Howard pulls me close and puts an arm around my shoulders, guiding me safely through the passages.
We are in the catacombs for a little while before we walk through an exit on the bedrock side, opposite the city. I am shocked to see a tunnel system open up before us.
“What is this?”
“They’re natural caverns in the earth’s crust. Not many people left know they are here.”
The fact that no one knows where we are, and that they’re not aware these tunnels exist, makes me pause.
“How do you know about them?” I ask, my curiosity warring with my fear.
“I stumbled upon them by accident. I have always loved coming to the catacombs when I need a bit of peace and quiet. When I discovered this entrance, I couldn’t help but explore.”
I can understand that. Up until now, I had never really thought about what existed outside the edges of the city. To know there is more is extremely exciting.
Howard grabs a torch from the backpack he brought with us. Then he pulls out some clothes.
“What are they for?”
“It’s going to get quite cold the further we venture along. These are hemp knit jumpers and scarves. They’ll keep you warm.” His eyes light up as he tosses one of the jumpers my way.
Sliding it on, it doesn’t take long to realise he’s given me one of his jumpers. The sleeves are long, and it looks like a dress the way it falls above my knees.
He grabs my right hand and folds the sleeve up. “Sorry, Mum doesn’t have any of this type of clothing.”
Once my right hand is visible out the end of the sleeve, he grabs my left and does the same thing. The urge to sniff the jumper hits me out of nowhere. The aroma is that of soap powder and something else I can’t quite put my finger on.
“There you go. Hands free.” He grabs a scarf and wraps it around my neck, finishing up with a kiss to the cheek. “Snug as a bug.”
My cheeks heat, the warmth spreading all the way down my chest.
He takes my hand and leads me through the tunnel entrance with a lightness in his step I’ve not seen before.
I immediately recall the conversation I had with Rhonda earlier and can’t help but wonder if this is the sensation she was talking about. I chastise myself for being so silly. It can’t possibly be what she was talking about, because Howard and I are not in love. We barely even know one another.
Casting my silly thoughts aside, I concentrate on our surroundings. It takes a little while for my eyes to adjust to the minimal lighting, but when they do, the sight that greets me is amazing. With just the small amount of light from the torch, it looks like a
“Are you all right?” Howard asks, concern etched on his face.
“I don’t think I can go back in there,” I say in a pitifully weak voice.
“It will be okay. I promise I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.” He tugs my hand, trying to move me. When I refuse, he says, “It’s safe, I promise.”
“How can you be certain?”
“Because I’ve lived my whole life here.”
The calm tone of his voice and the smile on his face should be reassuring, but I can’t shake the feeling that if I go inside something bad will happen.
“But . . .”
He grabs my hand and pulls me forward until we’re barely a hair’s breadth apart. “Bethanie, I can take care of you. I’ve taken care of you so far, haven’t I?”
I nod but still don’t move. “I can’t.”
“Please,” he says, squeezing my hand as I try to move away. “You will be safe. On my honour, I swear.”
This near to him, I can feel the heat of his body. I want to close the gap between us and sink into his warmth. I look into his eyes and feel the tension drain from my body. Something in his expression tells me I can trust him, that he really won’t let anyone hurt me. He smiles and gives my hand another tug, and this time I follow.
Entering the catacombs brings back memories of the previous day’s terror. A shudder works its way down my spine. Howard pulls me close and puts an arm around my shoulders, guiding me safely through the passages.
We are in the catacombs for a little while before we walk through an exit on the bedrock side, opposite the city. I am shocked to see a tunnel system open up before us.
“What is this?”
“They’re natural caverns in the earth’s crust. Not many people left know they are here.”
The fact that no one knows where we are, and that they’re not aware these tunnels exist, makes me pause.
“How do you know about them?” I ask, my curiosity warring with my fear.
“I stumbled upon them by accident. I have always loved coming to the catacombs when I need a bit of peace and quiet. When I discovered this entrance, I couldn’t help but explore.”
I can understand that. Up until now, I had never really thought about what existed outside the edges of the city. To know there is more is extremely exciting.
Howard grabs a torch from the backpack he brought with us. Then he pulls out some clothes.
“What are they for?”
“It’s going to get quite cold the further we venture along. These are hemp knit jumpers and scarves. They’ll keep you warm.” His eyes light up as he tosses one of the jumpers my way.
Sliding it on, it doesn’t take long to realise he’s given me one of his jumpers. The sleeves are long, and it looks like a dress the way it falls above my knees.
He grabs my right hand and folds the sleeve up. “Sorry, Mum doesn’t have any of this type of clothing.”
Once my right hand is visible out the end of the sleeve, he grabs my left and does the same thing. The urge to sniff the jumper hits me out of nowhere. The aroma is that of soap powder and something else I can’t quite put my finger on.
“There you go. Hands free.” He grabs a scarf and wraps it around my neck, finishing up with a kiss to the cheek. “Snug as a bug.”
My cheeks heat, the warmth spreading all the way down my chest.
He takes my hand and leads me through the tunnel entrance with a lightness in his step I’ve not seen before.
I immediately recall the conversation I had with Rhonda earlier and can’t help but wonder if this is the sensation she was talking about. I chastise myself for being so silly. It can’t possibly be what she was talking about, because Howard and I are not in love. We barely even know one another.
Casting my silly thoughts aside, I concentrate on our surroundings. It takes a little while for my eyes to adjust to the minimal lighting, but when they do, the sight that greets me is amazing. With just the small amount of light from the torch, it looks like a
Similar Books
