Read Online The Fire's Center by Shannon Farrell - Free Book Online
Authors: Shannon Farrell
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hand to help her down, but still being drowsy, and with the rather heavy rain now falling, her small booted foot slipped on the metal step. Lucien caught her just in time before she fell.
Lucien held her close for a fraction of a second before asking, "Are you all right, Riona?"
Then he allowed her to slide down the length of him until her feet were squarely on the ground once more.
"I’m fine, really," she reassured him hastily. But all the same he kept one arm around Riona as he guided her up the slippery outside stairs, and into the warm foyer of the hotel.
"It’s freezing underfoot," he observed to Riona with a shiver, before turning his attention to the landlord waiting behind the desk.
"Yes, you and your lovely wife made it just in time." The elderly man beamed at them both. "It looks like we’re in for some snow. "
Lucien was about to open his mouth to protest at the man’s assumption, when the landlord said, "I’ll get the fire going up in your room, and if you’ll just hand your things over to Sam, he will take them up."
"I’m sorry, sir, there's some mistake. This young lady isn’t my wife, she’s my niece," Lucien suddenly found himself inventing on the spur of the moment.
Riona quashed the startled glance she was about to shoot in Lucien’s direction, and merely smiled demurely
"Sorry, young miss, my mistake." The man beamed without a moment’s hesitation. "But surely a lovely young thing like her must have a husband by now," he laughed, as he ordered their cases to be brought up to two adjoining rooms on the second floor, and asked if they wished to have tea in the parlour before going up, as the rooms weren’t quite ready.
"Er, that would be very nice, so long as you first show us where we can wash."
"There’s a small room under the stairs," the landlord replied, taking their cloaks, and indicating the way for Riona.
She looked hesitantly at Lucien, who merely nodded and said, "You go first, my dear. I’ll wait for you here," and proceeded to give orders for baths and the evening meal and breakfast the following morning, without so much as a second glance in her direction.
Honestly, he could be so moody, she reflected as she scrubbed her face and hands vigorously, and then tidied her hair. After all, it was an honest mistake on the part of the landlord.
But of course, to be mistaken for her husband or lover could never be anything other than repellent to a man of his class, she concluded a trifle angrily as she put the finish touches to her coiffure, and stepped back out into the foyer.
Lucien escorted her to the table nearest the fire, and after seating her, said, "I shall be back in a moment, my dear."
While he washed, she discussed the various choices on the bill of fare with the serving maid, and in the end decided she would have tea and toast.
But when Lucien arrived a few moments later, he insisted on adding some slices of meat pie, and several scones to her order.
When the girl had gone to inform the kitchen of their desires, Lucien answered Riona’s questioning glance with, "Well, after all, you had no luncheon, and supper won’t be until about nine. You might as well have something substantial now, and then go upstairs to rest."
"I’m not at all sleepy after that nap in the coach. You don’t have anything to read, do you?"
"On some boring old medical books, but I am sure we can find some newspapers here."
"All the same I would like to have a look at one of your books, if you don’t mind," Riona said sincerely.
"Not at all." Inwardly, he wondered what she would make of them, but decided to humor her.
When the tea arrived, she poured, and added the milk and sugar as he specified.
"Just a drop, and one lump, thank you," he requested.
Riona handed him the steaming cup, and their fingers met at the rim.
Lucien looked to see if she were embarrassed by the
Lucien held her close for a fraction of a second before asking, "Are you all right, Riona?"
Then he allowed her to slide down the length of him until her feet were squarely on the ground once more.
"I’m fine, really," she reassured him hastily. But all the same he kept one arm around Riona as he guided her up the slippery outside stairs, and into the warm foyer of the hotel.
"It’s freezing underfoot," he observed to Riona with a shiver, before turning his attention to the landlord waiting behind the desk.
"Yes, you and your lovely wife made it just in time." The elderly man beamed at them both. "It looks like we’re in for some snow. "
Lucien was about to open his mouth to protest at the man’s assumption, when the landlord said, "I’ll get the fire going up in your room, and if you’ll just hand your things over to Sam, he will take them up."
"I’m sorry, sir, there's some mistake. This young lady isn’t my wife, she’s my niece," Lucien suddenly found himself inventing on the spur of the moment.
Riona quashed the startled glance she was about to shoot in Lucien’s direction, and merely smiled demurely
"Sorry, young miss, my mistake." The man beamed without a moment’s hesitation. "But surely a lovely young thing like her must have a husband by now," he laughed, as he ordered their cases to be brought up to two adjoining rooms on the second floor, and asked if they wished to have tea in the parlour before going up, as the rooms weren’t quite ready.
"Er, that would be very nice, so long as you first show us where we can wash."
"There’s a small room under the stairs," the landlord replied, taking their cloaks, and indicating the way for Riona.
She looked hesitantly at Lucien, who merely nodded and said, "You go first, my dear. I’ll wait for you here," and proceeded to give orders for baths and the evening meal and breakfast the following morning, without so much as a second glance in her direction.
Honestly, he could be so moody, she reflected as she scrubbed her face and hands vigorously, and then tidied her hair. After all, it was an honest mistake on the part of the landlord.
But of course, to be mistaken for her husband or lover could never be anything other than repellent to a man of his class, she concluded a trifle angrily as she put the finish touches to her coiffure, and stepped back out into the foyer.
Lucien escorted her to the table nearest the fire, and after seating her, said, "I shall be back in a moment, my dear."
While he washed, she discussed the various choices on the bill of fare with the serving maid, and in the end decided she would have tea and toast.
But when Lucien arrived a few moments later, he insisted on adding some slices of meat pie, and several scones to her order.
When the girl had gone to inform the kitchen of their desires, Lucien answered Riona’s questioning glance with, "Well, after all, you had no luncheon, and supper won’t be until about nine. You might as well have something substantial now, and then go upstairs to rest."
"I’m not at all sleepy after that nap in the coach. You don’t have anything to read, do you?"
"On some boring old medical books, but I am sure we can find some newspapers here."
"All the same I would like to have a look at one of your books, if you don’t mind," Riona said sincerely.
"Not at all." Inwardly, he wondered what she would make of them, but decided to humor her.
When the tea arrived, she poured, and added the milk and sugar as he specified.
"Just a drop, and one lump, thank you," he requested.
Riona handed him the steaming cup, and their fingers met at the rim.
Lucien looked to see if she were embarrassed by the
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