British Black Sheep - Lauren Smith Page 0,26

been full of fire and life. But after four years, things had gone cold. They didn’t fight, but maybe that was the problem. Neither of them had cared enough to fight about anything anymore.

She’d come to believe that maybe love didn’t exist in the way she’d always thought of as a girl. Lust faded over time. Passion burned out. So, what was left? Would anything ever be left for her with another man? Was she doomed never to know what others seemed to when it came to happy relationships?

You won’t see him again. Everything will be fine. You’ll go back to Rhode Island and forget everything.

But she wouldn’t forget.

As the SUV’s tires ground over a snowy gravel drive, Brie glimpsed the tall proud edifice of Merryvale Court. The snow clouds had vanished, allowing bright winter sun to reflect off the white lawns.

“We’re here,” the driver announced, looking at Brie in the rearview mirror.

“It’s beautiful,” Brie said as the car stopped in the driveway.

“If you love it now, just wait till the spring. Everything is full of color then.”

Brie removed a small notebook from her purse and began jotting down notes about the building’s high silhouette on the sloping hill and the way a wooded path around the left of the house seemed to be guarded by the tallest cedar trees she’d ever seen.

The things those trees must have seen. She could imagine them two hundred years before, the trees’ trunks thin, their stature small. Children’s hands running about the trunks as they played games. The call of a horn and the thrill of a fox hunt…

A hundred years ago, the convalescing soldiers from the Great War would have looked upon their green boughs and dreamt of the days before trenches and the fog of war.

These trees had witnessed history. They had lived through night bombings and sweltering summers to the bitterest dry winters. They were a testament to the house and the family who lived within. What would these trees witness in the centuries to come?

The tall walnut wood front doors of Merryvale Court opened, and a couple emerged. Brie assumed it was the Earl of Merryvale and his wife. The Earl, Byron Halston, was over six feet tall, with dark hair and soft brown eyes. He was handsome and refined, but his smile promised warmth and kindness. Julia, Brie’s official client, was a golden-haired beauty, tall and slender with glowing, ageless skin. There was something about her that tugged at Brie’s memory.

“Brie, my dear.” Julia separated from Byron to embrace her as though they were already old friends.

“It’s so nice to meet you in person.” Brie tried not to gush in excitement.

“I feel the same. Byron, come join us.” She waved her husband over.

“My lord,” Brie nodded, feeling like she should curtsy.

“Byron, please,” he corrected. “We aren’t too terribly formal these days, are we?” He gave his wife an almost bashful grin.

“Only during certain social engagements,” Julia laughed and linked her arm through Brie’s. “Come inside and let me show you around. Then we’ll have tea.”

Brie stepped into the Court’s entry hall and gasped. Glowing garlands decorated with silver, red, and green ornaments draped the rails of the grand staircase. A massive Christmas tree was in the room just beyond.

“That’s the salon. It’s the largest and tallest room,” Julia explained. Brie tipped her head back to stare up at the massive and perfectly-decorated tree.

Candles were scattered throughout the house and clusters of poinsettias graced various tables. Holly trimmed the tops of every doorway. It was an indoor winter wonderland. Brief half expected to see it start snowing inside, such was the magic of this place.

“This is so beautiful. Do you mind if I take a few pictures? I don’t want to miss any details.”

“Not at all.” Julia looked proudly around the salon.

Brie dug her phone out of her purse and started taking pictures.

“Look out!” someone yelled. A moment later, a herd of panting beasts rushed into the room. Brie’s legs were knocked out from under her. She waved her arms wildly as she gasped and started to fall, only to stop in mid-air. A pair of strong arms had caught her and helped get her standing straight. She turned to thank whoever had caught her and gasped.

“Well, hello there.” He grinned and her knees wobbled.

It was another devilishly handsome British man. What is in the water here?

“Hi,” Brie murmured in a daze at the brilliance of his charming smile.

“Oh heavens, Morgan, don’t let the dogs do that!” Julia exclaimed.

“Morgan?