An Excerpt from Cotillion Christmas Spirits
containing "A Spirit of Christmas Forgiveness"
by Carolynn Carey
Suddenly the snow changed from large and fluffy flakes to tiny bits of half-ice, half-snow that stung Anna’s face. At the same time, the moon disappeared behind a cloud and a bank of heavy fog rolled in.
She ducked her head in hopes of avoiding the stinging bits of sleet and veered toward the side of the lane where she hoped to find some protection under the overhanging branches of the encroaching forest.
She’d barely taken two steps when an arm suddenly appeared from out of the fog and someone’s hand grasped her upper arm. A voice, muffled but clearly masculine, stated, “There you are! Good grief, girl. Don’t you know better than to go out on a night like this?”
Her heart suddenly hammering, Anna attempted to pull out of the man’s grasp but his hold merely tightened. “Be still, will you?” His voice was gruff. “I’m going to toss you up on my horse and get you out of this weather.”
Anna had opened her mouth to object when the fellow released her arm, only to grasp her around the waist. Before she could protest, she was being lifted up and rather unceremoniously plopped onto the back of a horse.
Her objection became a grunt of surprise, which turned into a squeal of dismay when the man swung himself up behind her. His arms came around her and he pulled her close against his chest. For the first time in her life, Anna felt the sensation of a male body pressed against hers and the experience warmed her in places she would not have expected.
Confused, she inhaled deeply and her nostrils were filled with his fragrance, a fragrance that reminded her of evergreens and earthy woodland soil.
Giving her head a tiny shake in an attempt to clear it, she at last found her voice. “Sir? What do you think you’re about? Let me down this instant.”
“After what I’ve gone through to find you, lass? I think not.”
“I don’t know who you were looking for, sir, but you’ve found the wrong person. I myself was out looking for a man.”
“Rather blatant about admitting it, aren’t you? Unfortunately, it appears you found a snowstorm before you found your beau. He’ll have to make do without your services tonight because I’ve gone to too much trouble to allow you to freeze to death now. I’m taking you with me. We’ll see about getting you back home as soon as this insane weather permits.”
Pure indignation led to Anna’s gasp. “I don’t need you to take me home. I’m perfectly capable of finding my way home by myself. Just let me down.”
The man ignored her order. Instead, he pulled on the reins to turn his horse around in the lane and started off in the opposite direction from Anna’s home. They passed the abandoned gatehouse, barely visible through the fog, but the man continued down the lane. It was then Anna realized who had abducted her and where he was taking her.
For there was only one man in the neighborhood who would behave with such arrogance and only one estate that lay within riding distance down this lane.
She was undoubtedly in the clutches of the wicked Earl of Ashington and he was taking her to Ashworth, his remote country house. Anna bit down on her lip and closed her eyes, praying she’d find a way out of this horrible fix she’d somehow gotten herself into.
Copyright © Carolynn Carey.
This excerpt is copyrighted material.
It may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the permission of the author, Carolynn Carey.
