Read Online Secret Of The Manor by Taylin Clavelli - Free Book Online
Authors: Taylin Clavelli
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Bruadar and added it to the tray. He balanced the platter on the arm of the chair and sat, then added a glug to both mugs, along with a dose of honey.
Warren looked at the brew suspiciously before taking a sip. Alcohol wasn’t his breakfast tipple, but given the circumstances he didn’t question it. The liqueur, made with honey and sloes, made the tea sweeter and smoother than he expected it to be; fruity, with a bite that hit the back of his throat. It was nice, and something he’d try again, but he still preferred his tea straight in the morning.
Warren waited in silence as Carl mulled his words. The heat of the tea and alcohol warmed his stomach, making him sleepy. He settled his mug on the floor and rested his eyes while he waited for Carl’s verdict.
He drifted off.
Warren woke to the sound of voices and the smell of bacon, eggs, and toast. As alluring as the aroma was, he felt snug and warm and didn’t want to move. He cracked open a sleep-crusted eye to see pillows and a comforter tucked around him.
His loud yawn alerted the company to his state of awareness.
“Morning, pumpkin. That’s good timing. Want a cuppa tea and some breakfast?”
Warren looked up to see Carl’s wife looking at him with a smile. Eileen, like Carl, was no youngster. Years of working the stables and the outdoor life kept her trim, and her long, greying hair was bundled like hay in a net at the base of her neck. Her lips were thin from age, but her brown eyes were framed with laughter lines. She was the one people preferred to talk to at the stables. “Breakfast sounds great; thank you. But I’ll have a straight cuppa this time, please.”
Eileen looked away. “Carl!” she admonished. “You didn’t. On an empty stomach, too.”
Warren was too comfortable to see Carl’s reaction, although he suspected it was one of embarrassed admission or a pulled face.
“Anyway, you get yourself changed, and breakfast, with regular tea,” Eileen shot Carl another dirty look, “will be ready in a jiffy.”
The moment Warren moved he realised how stiff he’d become. The full effects of his fall racked his body. Every muscle ached, and he felt as though he’d run a marathon without prior training. He forced himself up and to the bathroom, where he took care of the essentials.
He returned, dressed for day, and sat at his table, where Eileen took care of him. “Tuck in, luv, and take your time. Don’t you worry none about Argo. He’s been fed, had his stable cleaned, and is turned out in the paddock. He’s happy enough.”
Warren reached over, snagged Eileen’s hand, and placed a kiss on her knuckles. “Thank you. You’re an angel.”
Eileen beamed. “Any time, luv.”
Everything seemed so homely and surreal. The family feeling had been creeping up on them for a while, and Warren took the time to wallow in the sense of belonging. It made him feel warmer inside than the earlier laced tea—which Eileen still shot a scowl at Carl for.
Carl ignored his wife and stuffed a bacon-and-egg-filled corner of fried bread in his mouth. “How you feeling?” he mumbled.
Warren heartily tucked into his food. He swallowed a few mouthfuls before answering, “Stiff, but functional, thanks. Shoulder’s still sore, though. The tingling’s gone, and I can move it well enough from the elbow. Above that, we’ll see as the day goes on.”
The hairs on the back of Warren’s neck raised as he sensed a change in the atmosphere. He looked at Carl and Eileen, who only glanced at each other, not him. Warren knew that Carl and Eileen had no secrets between them. At least no secrets that remained as such for any length of time. It was a fact they were proud of, and one they promoted as the reason they’d been married for forty years. That, the looks, and the fact that Eileen was at his cottage strongly suggested Carl had told her everything about his jousting adventure.
Warren knew the time for ignoring the events of last night was at an end. He
Warren looked at the brew suspiciously before taking a sip. Alcohol wasn’t his breakfast tipple, but given the circumstances he didn’t question it. The liqueur, made with honey and sloes, made the tea sweeter and smoother than he expected it to be; fruity, with a bite that hit the back of his throat. It was nice, and something he’d try again, but he still preferred his tea straight in the morning.
Warren waited in silence as Carl mulled his words. The heat of the tea and alcohol warmed his stomach, making him sleepy. He settled his mug on the floor and rested his eyes while he waited for Carl’s verdict.
He drifted off.
Warren woke to the sound of voices and the smell of bacon, eggs, and toast. As alluring as the aroma was, he felt snug and warm and didn’t want to move. He cracked open a sleep-crusted eye to see pillows and a comforter tucked around him.
His loud yawn alerted the company to his state of awareness.
“Morning, pumpkin. That’s good timing. Want a cuppa tea and some breakfast?”
Warren looked up to see Carl’s wife looking at him with a smile. Eileen, like Carl, was no youngster. Years of working the stables and the outdoor life kept her trim, and her long, greying hair was bundled like hay in a net at the base of her neck. Her lips were thin from age, but her brown eyes were framed with laughter lines. She was the one people preferred to talk to at the stables. “Breakfast sounds great; thank you. But I’ll have a straight cuppa this time, please.”
Eileen looked away. “Carl!” she admonished. “You didn’t. On an empty stomach, too.”
Warren was too comfortable to see Carl’s reaction, although he suspected it was one of embarrassed admission or a pulled face.
“Anyway, you get yourself changed, and breakfast, with regular tea,” Eileen shot Carl another dirty look, “will be ready in a jiffy.”
The moment Warren moved he realised how stiff he’d become. The full effects of his fall racked his body. Every muscle ached, and he felt as though he’d run a marathon without prior training. He forced himself up and to the bathroom, where he took care of the essentials.
He returned, dressed for day, and sat at his table, where Eileen took care of him. “Tuck in, luv, and take your time. Don’t you worry none about Argo. He’s been fed, had his stable cleaned, and is turned out in the paddock. He’s happy enough.”
Warren reached over, snagged Eileen’s hand, and placed a kiss on her knuckles. “Thank you. You’re an angel.”
Eileen beamed. “Any time, luv.”
Everything seemed so homely and surreal. The family feeling had been creeping up on them for a while, and Warren took the time to wallow in the sense of belonging. It made him feel warmer inside than the earlier laced tea—which Eileen still shot a scowl at Carl for.
Carl ignored his wife and stuffed a bacon-and-egg-filled corner of fried bread in his mouth. “How you feeling?” he mumbled.
Warren heartily tucked into his food. He swallowed a few mouthfuls before answering, “Stiff, but functional, thanks. Shoulder’s still sore, though. The tingling’s gone, and I can move it well enough from the elbow. Above that, we’ll see as the day goes on.”
The hairs on the back of Warren’s neck raised as he sensed a change in the atmosphere. He looked at Carl and Eileen, who only glanced at each other, not him. Warren knew that Carl and Eileen had no secrets between them. At least no secrets that remained as such for any length of time. It was a fact they were proud of, and one they promoted as the reason they’d been married for forty years. That, the looks, and the fact that Eileen was at his cottage strongly suggested Carl had told her everything about his jousting adventure.
Warren knew the time for ignoring the events of last night was at an end. He
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