When Dreams Are Made 57Derek could not sleep for the rest of that damned night, and he couldn't shake off the feeling of guilt, anger and bitterness that plagued his thoughts. He spent the first few hours of that morning packing up anything he would need for his trip away, and then he went to the stable and took out Night Walker, fed it himself without another glance in Philip's direction and then he groomed it and rode out to his parents house. He did not spend time there, he stayed long enough to let them know he would be leaving with the rest of his men and Carl first thing tomorrow morning, bid his niece farewell and promised her everything he could to make her let him go. But his mother insisted he should stay for a late lunch, so he did. He could barely eat himself, so he was first to excuse himself from the table, but it was too much to hope that his father would let him off so easily. "Does she know you are leaving tomorrow?" His father asked, referring to Nancy."She knows
Chapter 58Her back hurt too much when she tried to get up for the umpteenth time that morning, Nancy sighed and fell back slowly on the bed. She had spent the whole of yesterday in this room, on this bed, trying to leave the bed and sleeping as much as she could. She ate the little she could from the soup Mitchelle brought her and tried her possible best to sit up for long, rubbing her head to see if it would help clear that headache that was making her head pound like a blacksmith's iron.Yesterday, she tried not to talk about Derek, and even resisted the urge to narrate what had happened to Mitchelle and Rosey. But she tried to push the thought of his ruthless mercilessness towards her from her mind. Somehow, she found herself expecting him each time the door opened, and it was always disappointment she met, because it was either Rosey or Mitchelle at the door, coming to check on her or to bring her food. What was she expecting? That he would come in and apologize for raping her?
Chapter 59The first snow, as Nancy learnt, was long overdue, but the preparations for the coming cold had begun way before Derek and his men left. When the snow finally came, it brought with it a storm that lasted for four days straight. Nancy was thrilled by the way the land was blanketed in dismal white flakes of ice and the frozen lakes, even the water collected in the large drums behind the kitchen were all frozen. But the cold that came with snow was nothing like she had experienced before, but she had to get used to it and also get used to going about in the large animal fur coats that Livi was now tasked with making for everyone.There were still things that needed to be done around the house to prevent possible starvation and preserve whatever food was left to last until the storm subsided. Since a good number of the men had gone off with Derek, there was too much work to do but limited hands, Nancy offered to help the men work. Rosey and Mitchelle protested, but she wouldn't
Chapter 60Daniel would not have taken that remark lightly from anyone else, and certainly not the disregard in Phillip's tone. But unlike his brother, he was not so fond of trouble. He knew old Norman, who served his father, and now his son, was serving Derek. But if any of the rumors he heard were true about these two, and it appeared like that, seeing that the boy did not even add a title to her name, then there was certainly bound to be trouble.Daniel grunted, repressing his humor. "I believe you are not going to let me freeze out here, do you by chance have room for visitors?""Indeed," Nancy mumbled, making her way back to the open door. "Of course there's room. Come.""Finally." Daniel muttered as he went in with her."So why?" Nancy asked, immediately they were in the parlor."Why what?" He asked gruffly. "Oh, the gift and the men. I'm only looking after my brother's property in his absence.""By God!" Nancy cackled. "Since when did the men in your sick family become so thoug
Chapter 61Nancy was in the stable tending the horses, it was where she spent most of the snowy days now since it was the warmest and most important place in the house for her. Each day, after assisting Rosey with the chores and keeping Mitchelle company while Rosey napped, she would hurry down to the stable to care for the horses and chat lazily with Phil, who was now accustomed to her presence. Beside her, Victory lay close to her feet, chewing noisily on a straw that Nancy threw in her direction occasionally. Phil was out to fetch the woods he had m started cutting up to fix a spot on the stable fence where the storm had left in ruins.That afternoon, Naya came around the stable in the guise of bringing Phil's lunch. She drove Nancy mad with her insistent chattering about things that she could barely keep her mind on. Nancy only waited patiently for Phil to return so she could head back to the main house, but unfortunately, that did not happen until almost later in the evening when
Chapter 62The man was panting by the time he caught up with the heavily armed and unsmiling group of men who stood by the foot of the hill, apparently waiting for him. One of them regarded him with intent eyes that he struggled to ascertain. but all he could see in those eyes were anger and a distant sadness. He needed no telling that this was the leader of the small group of soldiers before him, but he had to admit that this one was a handsome devil, even more handsome than the blonde one who had captured him the night before. “What do I do with you now, fellow?” The unsmiling leader asked in a slow drawl. The man stuttered, “I promise I am not your enemy, killing me will not help you in anyway, sir.” “You may be right, but you were caught in the enemy’s territory. And you were trespassing the night before. Convince me that you are not a spy and I will spare your life.” The man gulped, this man in front of him was not joking and he certainly was not mincing words when he said he
Chapter 63 Scarlett’s patience was running thin by the minute as she waited by the hallway. The house was quiet, nearly everyone was sound asleep, but she had to wait down here for her only ally if she was going to succeed with her plans without running into one of those lousy maids.“Lady Scarlet.” She smiled, “Finally. You do know it is not good to keep a lady waiting, don’t you?” He bent his head and nodded his answer, “I’m sorry, I had to make sure nobody saw me since you said you wanted to be discreet.” “And you were right to do that, all is forgiven.” Scarlett said easily as she led him out the front door, “We need to talk.” “We can do that here.” “No we can’t, it is a sensitive topic. What did you say your name was again?” “Philip. Phillip Norman, My Lady.” “Scarlett, if you may, Philly boy. Come with me.” Phillip followed the lady out of the main house, how she had managed to remain there without Nancy throwing her out was still a mystery to him. The maid who delivers
Chapter 64 “I swear I heard the front door open.” “That is absurd, I didn’t hear it. And I know you didn’t, Rosey. Your hormones are beginning to take over your every sense.” “Then don’t you think that means I can hear things you don’t?” Rosey asked in a sudden twirl of interest.“No. I think it means you will believe you hear things or smell things when actually you don’t. Or when you are not supposed to.” Mitchelle said and waved her hand towards Rosey in dismissal. “I will go with the other option; when I’m not supposed to, thank you. Because I trust my senses, I did hear the front door open. Are you sure no one returned late last night?” “Nobody did.” Mitchelle answered tiredly.They were in the kitchen that morning, Rosey was separating the shaft from some wild fronts she had had a servant pick for her that morning, courtesy of her cravings. Mitchelle was preparing breakfast, and occasionally staring a large portion of broth on the dying fire by the hearth. Nancy sat at the