“Well, it seems I have very little choice in the matter, therefore with reservations I agree to the engagement. Although…”
“Pretend engagement,” Goran interrupted.
Hannah took a deep breath, completely ignoring his interruption. “Although, your proposal such as it was is hardly the thing dreams are made of.”
“Don’t go flattering yourself, Hannah. I reiterate, this is a pretend engagement so don’t go imagining yourself in love with me or vice versa. As soon as it’s humanly possible you will be out of this house and back on the train to Oxfordshire. Are you clear on that?”
“Oh absolutely. But can I just say, it’s you who is flattering yourself, Goran Pendragon, because I wouldn’t have you if you came dipped in caramel and chocolate. Have I made myself clear?”
“Indeed.”
Chapter Twelve
It was with some trepidation that Hannah went down to breakfast in the morning. After their conversation of last night Goran had gone to the safe and taken out his grandmother’s engagement ring. It was stunningly beautiful. She gazed down at her finger where the ring rested snugly against her flesh. A square-cut diamond raised on posts of sapphires, it gleamed with prisms of light as she moved her hand.
Stopping on the bottom step she lifted her hand and gazed with a certain amount of melancholy at the ring. If only the engagement was real how would she feel? Ecstatic, by the thought of having him love her unconditionally, to have a home and a family of her own and for once in her life to feel loved, contented and safe.
Stop it, she cautioned herself, stop torturing yourself. One day it may happen, for real for always and for a happy ever after. So for now, just accept this engagement is just another job, nothing emotional, and not forever. And be thankful that at least for the time being you have a roof over your head, you get to spend time with Goran. She cheered slightly. After all, soon it would be Christmas, and miracles did sometimes happen at Christmas—didn’t they?
Taking a deep breath, Hannah reached out and as her hand closed around the brass doorknob she turned it and the door swung wide. They were all there, Goran, Annabel, Ethel and the twins and they looked up as she stepped over the threshold. Goran rose from his seat and with an exclamation of, “Darling,” strode over to where she stood in shocked surprise, and smiling down at her took her hand and raised it to his lips. The soft brush of his mouth against her flesh brought back those pesky butterflies and she quivered uncontrollably.
The clattering of a knife against a plate brought her back to earth as Goran led her to the table and, pulling out her chair, saw her seated before he took his own place at the head of the table.
Picking up her hand again he smiled into her eyes before turning to look at the people seated around the table.
“Goran?” Annabel questioned, her face red. “What’s going on?”
“Patience, Annabel.” He smiled and Hannah watched him in fascination, his smile deepened the colour of his eyes and lit up his face.
“Hannah.” He kissed the ring on her hand. “Hannah and I have discovered we’re in love and have become engaged.”
“What?” Annabel screeched, drowning out Ethel’s ecstatic congratulations.
“You have to be joking? Why you barely know each other and this, this…”
“Careful, Annabel.” Goran growled, staring angrily at her.
“This person is not what you think. Goran I told you what…”
“I know what you told me, Annabel,” Goran interrupted. “But we are in love and nothing else matters.”
“In love.” She laughed scornfully.
“Yes,” he ground. “In love, so I suggest you hold your malicious tongue and accept it. Unfortunately…” He looked towards the window. “The snow is still falling so you can’t leave, so while you are here, you will behave in a civilised manner and congratulate us on our good fortune.”
Pushing back her chair so hard it fell to the floor, Annabel stood up. “You have to be joking.” Making haste for the door she turned back to glare at him. “I don’t know what’s going on here but I for one don’t believe it.” She took a deep breath. “I’ll eat in my room.”
“Well,” Ethel breathed, reaching for more toast. “That was unpleasant.” She looked at Hannah. “Don’t worry about Annabel, my dear, she was always a fiery little thing and I think she is just a wee bit jealous. She always did want what she can’t have. But, anyway, congratulations to you both. Any idea as to when the wedding will be?”
“Thank you, Ethel. No we’ve not thought that far ahead yet have we darling?”
Hannah looked blankly at Goran before she realised the darling he was referring to, was in fact her.
“No not yet, mmm, but we don’t want to leave it too long do we?” Hannah hesitated. “Sweetie.”
It was with some relief Hannah made her way to the study. There was still no power but she could surely make herself useful in some way. It would be best she decided to avoid Annabel at all costs, she hadn’t taken the news of her and Goran’s engagement well, which wasn’t unexpected. However, a vengeful woman wasn’t one to mess with.
Looking up as the door opened she breathed a sigh of relief as Goran entered the room.
“Well, that didn’t go well did it?” She couldn’t resist saying.
“As well as could be expected.”
“But what did it achieve?” She was persistent. “I mean, you wanted this engagement to ensure harmony and if what happened at the breakfast table is your idea of harmony you need a lesson in synchronization.”
Goran glared at her. “When I want your opinion Hannah I’ll ask for it, you are only an employee here after all, don’t think wearing my grandmothers ring gives you any special standing. And if you think back you will recall not only did I want harmony but also I wanted you to act as a barrier between me and Annabel’s amorous intentions. I’m a busy man and I don’t want to spend my time fighting off her attempts to cement our relationship. So object achieved.”
“Well.” Hannah breathed busying herself stacking papers.
The morning seemed to drag, with no power there wasn’t much work Hannah could do although Goran seemed to be scribbling notes at a rate of knots. She pottered, that’s the only way she could describe her tooing and froing, and as she pottered Goran watched scowling.
Finally it was lunch time and giving a sigh of relief she purposely restacked the papers she’d stacked three other times that morning, and giving a bright smile announced that she was going to lunch.
Goran watched her leave the room her hips in the short, tight, black skirt sashaying seductively. Hiding a grin with a scowl as she looked back coyly from the doorway he reined in his libido. She was a beautiful woman and although a real pain, she touched something within him. Her humour in the face of adversity, her stubbiness, and yes even her sassy attitude affected him in a way no woman had before and he—liked it.
Sitting back in his chair he threw his pen onto the desk and gazed into space. When was it she’d got under his skin? No matter what she had done in the past he still wanted her, and not just in bed, he wanted her in his home and in his life. What was that all about?
Trying to put his feelings in some kind of perspective had him failing miserably. He couldn’t define the feelings she stirred in him. Was it just frustration? Friendship? Or something more? No, he wasn’t going to go there. Sighing deeply he rose from his chair. Maybe if he treated her like an old friend the feelings would dissipate? And then again, maybe pigs will fly.
Chapter Thirteen
Lunch was taken in almost silence. Hannah sat apprehensively next to Goran’s empty seat, whilst Annabel glowered across the table at her and Ethel tried desperately to keep her over excited charges in some kind of order.
“So, when are you going to come clean and admit this engagement is a farce?” Annabel ground between clenched teeth.
“Oh come now Annabel.” Ethel stepped in looking surprised. “Anyone can see Hannah and Goran are
made for each other. You can see the love in their eyes.”
Hannah nearly choked on her potato whilst Annabel sneered unattractively into her napkin.
“And anyway why would they pretend to be engaged?” Ethel continued unabashed. “No you’re utterly and completely in love aren’t you, my dear?”
Hannah remained silent not wanting to lie to this lovely old woman and yet unable to tell the truth.
“Hannah?” Ethel looked questionably at her. “That’s right isn’t it?”
Nodding helplessly Hannah quickly brought a smile to her face. “Yes of course, Ethel, I can say with utmost certainty that I love Goran and he, well, he has very strong feelings toward me. Why else would we be engaged?”
“Good, good, I do hate it when people don’t bother with getting married but it seems to be the way these days to be friends with little bits.”
“Little bits? What on earth are you talking about, Mother?” Annabel snapped appearing annoyed.
“You know dear, this modern trend men and woman have of enjoying each other’s company without the responsibility that goes with it. Friends with little bits.”
“Friends with benefits, you fool. Oh Mother, do you even know what it means?”
“Err, no not really my dear, I just assumed that it meant you were friends and spent little bits of your time with each other.”
Leaning forward Annabel whispered in Ethel’s ear. The clattering of Ethel’s knife on her plate and her eyes growing wider as a flush stained her soft, wrinkled cheek indicated that she finally understood just what Friends with benefits really meant.
“Oh, oh dear, I’m so sorry, Hannah, please forgive me, of course you’re not one of those women. I’m sure you’re still pure, keeping yourself for the right man. My, what is the world coming to? In my day we didn’t even hold hands let alone anything else. Why, until I was twenty and married I thought just holding hands could get me…” She lowered her voice as she slanted a glance toward the suddenly quiet children. “Pregnant.”
Hannah smothered a laugh in her napkin at Ethel’s dramatically quiet voice.
“Oh stop being so foolish, Mother. For one thing there is no way any woman would think holding hands would get you pregnant because if that was true Hannah would be well and truly knocked up wouldn’t you my dear? Because I’m sure you’ll all agree, if that was really the case, a naked roll in the woods would mean Hannah would now be expecting twins.”
“We’re twins,” a small voice piped up.
“Annabel.” A deep voice thundered from the doorway. “Watch what you’re saying, the children are in the room.”
Ethel, looking a little flustered, dabbed her mouth with her napkin and in a flurry of activity collected the loudly protesting children and with a quick smile all round hastily exited the room.
A childish voice asking if mummy and daddy had been naked in the woods when they were made could still be heard in the silence that followed.
Sitting down, Goran helped himself to coffee and stared angrily at Annabel.
“I’ll thank you to hold your tongue and keep your opinions to yourself in future. What goes on between Hannah and me is none of yours or anyone else business. Have I made myself clear? Because if not, Annabel, I will drag you to the village and put you on the first transport out of here no matter what the weather.”
Nodding sulkily Annabel pushed back her chair. “Can you get one of your servants to trek down to the town to get me some of my favourite soap? God knows if I have to stay in this place I need a little luxury.”
“No one will be going anywhere in the weather Annabel. If you are out of soap I’m sure Mrs Henry will find some for you in the store cupboard.”
“What?” Annabel glared from Goran to Annabel her eyes spitting fire. “Well, this is too much.”
The slamming of the door behind Annabel sounded loud in the silence of the room. Looking at Goran, Hannah was surprised to see a small smile playing around his mouth. He’s enjoying this she thought suppressing her own desire to laugh.
The loss of Annabel and her caustic comments left an empty silent void in the room and except for the shifting of logs in the brightly burning fire there was silence. Not knowing whether to leave or stay where she was, Hannah cleared her throat and plucking up courage began to talk. Hardly allowing Goran to respond to her nonsensical chatter she rambled from one subject to another barely stopping to draw breath. It was only when Goran reached over, cupped her face in his large, strong hands, and covered her lips with his in a masterful kiss that finally Hannah shut up.
Hannah’s stomach churned and a feather light sensation ran over her skin as the kiss deepened. Closing her eyes, her lashes fluttered wildly against her cheeks as she gave herself up into his embrace. Feelings, thoughts, sensations all came crowding in filling her mind and heating her blood. The touch of his hands against her face, the soft yet strong pressure of his lips as they caressed hers, and the flick of his tongue as it explored her mouth.
Her hands clutched at Goran’s shoulders and as her breast heaved she leaned forward wanting more, needing his touch and yet frightened of her own feelings and desires.
Eventually the kiss ended and Hannah gave a small moue of protest.
Smiling gently Goran ran his knuckles tenderly down Hannah’s cheek.
“Take the afternoon off, there’s not much to do until we get some power so there’s no point in sitting staring at the walls.”
“But, what will I do? I mean I’m here to work.”
“Do whatever you want Hannah. As my fiancé you can do what you like. Go for a walk, read, sew or whatever it is you women do in the afternoons.”
Momentarily at a loss for words she stared at him as he rose from the table and left the room. What era did he think they were living in? This wasn’t Pride and Prejudice where young woman painted or picked wild flowers or made hats, this was 2014 and women worked! Looking confusedly around, she bit her lip. What was she to do with the afternoon? It was no good offering to look after the children as they would be having their nap along with their Grandmother, and she had no intention of risking meeting Annabel in the lounge or drawing room so, she’d go out. The snow was easing off and as long as she wrapped up warm she’d have a good two hours of daylight, time enough to explore the woods.
The woods were beautiful and the freshly fallen snow made them even more magical. The sun shone weakly through the trees making a dappling effect on the white ground.
The crunching of the crisp snow under her feet sounded loud in the quiet wood, and Hannah was enchanted by the faint birdsong of a pair of robins as they hopped happily from branch to branch. The whole scene had a picturesque Christmas card feel to it and in spite of herself and her worries she smiled contentedly.
Time passed and Hannah became lost in the magical wonderland of the woods and her thoughts. Sitting on a nearby log she reached into her pack and pulled out the flask Mrs Henry had thoughtfully given her. Sipping the hot chocolate she looked around, dusk was beginning to fall, she had been out longer than she thought. Quickly finishing her drink, she tipped the dregs onto the snow watching as the dark of the chocolate marred the purity of the snow. Pulling on her red woollen mittens she snatched up her bag and doing an about turn made her way back toward the house, it wouldn’t do to be lost in the woods at night.
Making haste, Hannah stumbled along in the rapidly growing dark. Falling to her knees for the umpteenth time she bemoaned the fact that she’d put style over common sense and wore her fashionably high leather boots instead of wellingtons and thick socks. The wind came out of nowhere tossing her hair around her head like the snakes of medusa and she was freezing. Spending too long gazing romantically at the timeless countryside had taken its toll on her fingers and toes. The moon came out as the first flakes of snow began to fall. Groaning silently she hurried as best she could, slipping and sliding through ever-growing mountains of snow. The howling wind blocked out all sound and the swirling, eddying of the snow danc
ing in the air obscured her vision. And it was with reluctance she finally had to admit she was hopelessly lost.
Trudging on she reassured herself that if she kept going along the same path she would eventually see the lights of Pendragon. An edifice of gargantuan proportions Pendragon’s lights would be sure to radiate for some distance like the illumination from the lamps and lenses of a lighthouse extending across the vast ocean.
The moon coming out from behind a cloud suddenly halted her imputes. Without being aware of it she’d gone off her original path and was now standing at the edge of the cliff, the noise from the waves now obliterating the wailing of the wind. Her breath caught in her throat and her heart missed a beat before thumping heavily in her chest. If the moon hadn’t at that moment and become manifest she would surely have gone over the edge of the cliff. Clutching blindly at a small sapling yielding against the force of nature she took a few steps back and momentarily closed her eyes. Which way to go? Feeling very near to tears she turned to go back the way she had come when the snapping of a branch alerted her to the presence of another living being.
“Who’s there?” She quivered nervously, amazed at how shaky her voice was.
Listening, she cocked her head to one side attempting to distinguish the sounds.
“Hello,” she cried again her voice stronger this time.
However, only the crashing of the waves and the howling of the wind responded to her nervous enquiry.
Taking one last look at the angry sea she released her death grip on the sapling and in that moment she felt something hit her back.
Screaming in sudden terror she clutched wildly at the sapling but her feet slipped and teetering momentarily she toppled over the edge of the cliff.
Chapter Fourteen
Panic stricken and with everything appearing as if it was being played out in slow motion Hannah clutched blindly at the air trying in desperation to grab anything that would stop her headlong plummet to the cold sea below. Her stomach churned and fear dried her mouth, the wind rushed past her head tearing at her hair and freezing her cheeks. Knowing with a surety that this was her last few minutes of life she felt somehow empty, calm almost accepting, and tears filled her eyes. Resigned as to her fate Hannah had a fleeting thought of Goran before her body hit something hard and the breath left her body in a whoosh. Ready for the cold waters to close over her head she lifted an arm ready to strike for the surface, she’d be damned if she was going to die this day.
Christmas at Pendragon (BookStrand Publishing Romance) Page 7
