Free To Tempt A Rogue by Adrienne Basso Page A

suddenly feeling.
    â€™Tis just the excitement and relief of the journey finally coming to an end, Harriet told herself. And a natural uncertainty over beginning my new life in such a strange, forboding place.
    Kate’s prediction that the castle was abandoned took on greater merit as the coach rumbled over an ancient drawbridge and came to rest in an open courtyard. There was not a soul in sight, but Harriet reasoned the dreadful weather would keep anyone with good sense warmly tucked inside.
    Since she had been unable to give a specific day or time for her arrival, Harriet knew she had no cause to be concerned over a lack of greeting. Yet one would think at least one person in the household would be aware of the sudden appearance of a strange coach and come to investigate. With its remote location, it was doubtful there were many unexpected visitors to this castle.
    Harriet lowered the glass on the window, thrust her head partly out and yelled up to the coachman. “Kate and I will go in the front door. You and Rogers bring the carriage around back. Those poor horses are so tired they will most likely lead you to the stable on their own.”
    Though she would have preferred the groom to knock at the door and announce their presence, Harriet decided she needed to be practical. She reasoned her driver would require assistance with the weary team and, given the lack of activity or sign of any servants, the man would probably be left to perform these tasks himself.
    The coachman edged the bulky carriage as close to the front entrance as space would allow. Harriet hastily buttoned her pelisse all the way to her throat, then with a commanding nod at Kate and an admonishment to follow closely, Harriet stepped down from the carriage.
    The biting wind and pelting rain hit her full force, nearly knocking her to the ground. Harriet took a deep breath, her nostrils filling with the heavy scent of cold and rain. She forced herself to ignore the discomfort she felt at the high-pitched keening screech the wind made as it whistled around the stonework of the castle, as she prepared to make a dash for the entrance.
    Dragging the edges of her woolen cloak more tightly around her, Harriet dipped her head, shielded her eyes and raced toward the curving stone stairs that swept up to the imposing front door. Behind her, she heard Kate squeal and felt the older woman grasp on to her cloak, as if fearing she would be lost. Dragging the maid along behind her, Harriet pushed and fought her way through the forceful wind gusts, eventually reaching the top of the stairs.
    There was no protective portico or overhang to shield them from the elements. Torrents of freezing rain poured mercilessly over the brims of their quickly soaked bonnets. Harriet could feel the cold, wet raindrops slide beneath her collar and run down the back of her neck.
    Never in her life had she longed so much to be warm and dry. A quick glance at Kate’s sour expression confirmed that the maid shared the feeling. With an impatient huff Harriet lifted the heavy iron ring and banged it loudly against the door.
    The dull sound echoed through the stone walls on the other side. It was an eerie, empty noise that triggered a shiver down Harriet’s spine. Then all went still and silent.
    â€œI told you it was abandoned,” Kate shouted miserably. “We’d best go around back and try to find the others. If the coachman’s found a stable we can take shelter there until morning. If we stand out in the cold any longer, we’ll catch our deaths.”
    â€œThis castle is not abandoned,” Harriet insisted. Wet, frustrated and more than a bit annoyed, she wrapped each of her stiff gloved fingers around the icy cold ring, lifted it high above her head and brought it down six times in rapid succession.
    This time her knocking was greeted with a furious barking that began in the distant recesses of the manor, but grew ominously closer with each low howl.