HANNAH CAME AWAKE as she felt a touch on her face. She reached up to rub her forehead and took a deep breath, grimacing at the sudden smell assaulting her nose.
“Ma’am, are you all right?”
Is he talking to me? He has such a nice voice.
“Ma’am?”
“Why are you calling me ma’am?” Hannah opened her eyes and stared up at the man from the painting. “Holy shit, it’s you!”
“I’m sorry?” He frowned. “Have we met?”
“Eh?”
“Have we met before?” he asked. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I don’t recall.”
Hannah shook her head. “No, no, we haven’t met.”
“Let me help you sit up.” The man slipped his arm behind her.
Hannah stared up at him as he steadied her and his strong arms flexed as he lifted her from the ground. Her head barely reached his chest, and she was certain if she touched him, it would be like touching granite. She could feel his strength and took a deep breath, inhaling the smell of leather and horses. Better than any cologne she’d smelled before.
“Christopher?”
Hannah turned her head to find a beautiful young woman inching her way into the barn.
The man frowned. “Gwen, I told you to stay in the gazebo.”
The woman stalled. “Who is that?”
He scowled in Hannah’s direction. “I don’t know who she is.”
Hannah surveyed her surroundings in confusion. “Am I in a barn?”
“Yes, ma’am, you are in my parents’ barn.”
“What am I doing in a barn?”
The man shook his head. “I’m uncertain, ma’am.”
Her eyes swept the space. “How did I get here?”
“What do you remember?”
Wrinkling her brow in thought, Hannah tried to retrace her steps. “I was in my studio and I got locked in the stairwell, so I went upstairs to try and get out. You were there.”
“I was?” His eyes widened. “Did you hit your head?”
Hannah put her fingers to her forehead. She squeezed her eyes shut. “I mean, there was a portrait of a man who looked like you.”
“Strange.” He let out a deep breath. “I’ve never sat for a portrait.”
“I don’t know how I got here, though.” She tried to take a step forward but grew dizzy quickly, her head pounding in protest. She put her fingers to her temples. “Ow.”
The man wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Did you bump your head?”
“I must have. If you could just help me to my car, I’ll be on my way.”
He looked at her strangely. “Ma’am?”
“Why do you keep calling me ma’am?” she snapped, a little irritated with him and the headache at the same time.
He glanced at the woman, who moved closer, with her hand out in greeting. “We didn’t see a horse and cart in the vicinity.”
“Well of course not! We’re in the city. Why would there be a horse and cart in the vicinity?” Hannah sighed. “Unless it’s one of those romantic ones, I suppose.”
“I really do think you may have hit your head, ma’am.”
She glared up at him. “Stop calling me ma’am!”
The woman grinned and quickly covered her mouth with her hand. She moved closer to Hannah, pushing the man out of the way. “Please excuse my brother. My name is Gwendolyn Butler, and this is Christopher. You are in our parents’ barn in St. Leonard.”
“Where’s that?”
“Maryland, ma’am,” Christopher said.
She shot him a dirty look. Turning back to Gwen, Hannah took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself. “I can’t possibly be in Maryland. I was just in Chicago.”
“You have an accent. May I inquire where you’re from?” Gwen asked.
“New Zealand.”
“Is that part of England?” Christopher asked.
“Seriously?” Hannah hissed. “Where am I really? Is Kevin playing a joke on me?”
“Who?”
“He’s here, isn’t he? Kevin!” Hannah peeked her head over one of the stalls. “Come out, you bloody criminal.”
“Who is Kevin, ma’am?”
“You really need to stop calling me ma’am.” Hannah scowled at him over her shoulder. “It’s starting to hack me off.”
“May I ask your name?” Gwen asked.
“Oh, right, sorry. My name is Hannah Nelson.” Hannah reached her hand out in greeting.
“Nice to meet you.” Gwen shook the proffered hand. “May I call you Hannah?”
“You can call me anything as long as it’s not ma’am.” She shot a pointed look in Christopher’s direction. He raised an eyebrow at her but didn’t comment. Hannah looked up at him. “Are you guys going to a fancy-dress party?”
“Pardon me?”
“Sorry, I mean a costume party?”
Gwen frowned. “Costume party?”
“Yes, you’re dressed in period clothing.”
Christopher glanced at his sister. “Period clothing?”
A chill went up Hannah’s spine, and she didn’t think it was solely from the cold. Growing increasingly nervous, she gathered her coat closer and wrapped her arms around her waist. “Are you really going to repeat everything I say? Look, if you’d just take me back to my studio, I’ll be on my way.”
“Are you a painter?”
A groan escaped through her gritted teeth. “What’s with the twenty questions? No, I am not a painter. I’m a dancer.” She turned to Gwen. “Please, would you help me get home?”
“Hannah, I’m uncertain what to tell you. There are no neighbors for several miles, and the closest city is Washington D.C.”
Hannah started to laugh a little hysterically. “Please take me home. I don’t know who you are or what you have in mind, but I just want to go home.”
Gwen rushed to her side and laid her hand on Hannah’s arm. “Hannah, no one here will harm you. I think you might be a bit confused. Perhaps because of a bump on your head?”
“I’m perfectly lucid, and I want to go home.” Hannah turned to walk out of the barn. She didn’t get far.
Christopher caught up to her. “Miss Nelson, you really shouldn’t travel alone.”
“If you people would just take me home, I wouldn’t be traveling alone, now would I?” she snapped.
Gwen held her hand out. “Why don’t we go up to the house and we’ll have Nanny prepare some tea? It’s late, and there’s really nothing we can do now, so I’ll loan you some clothes and we can figure everything out in the morning.”
“Who is Nanny?”
“She’s our maid,” Gwen said, quite matter-of-factly.
Of course they have a maid.
Deciding that a hot cup of tea would probably hit the spot and get her warmed up for a later escape, Hannah nodded her head slowly and let Gwen lead her up to the house. As they made their way toward the back porch, Hannah’s eyes widened.
If the back is any indication, then “house” is a huge understatement. This is a freakin’ mansion. I wonder what the front looks like. Probably like one of Sophie’s old plantation homes she was so obsessed with.
Hannah’s thoughts shifted to her missing friends. She and Emma used to call Sophie “Scarlett” when she went into history lesson mode. She was a wealth of information about things that almost no one really needed to know.
Hannah stumbled slightly as they stepped onto the porch and Christopher grabbed her elbow to steady her. She smiled up at him in thanks as he led her into a spacious kitchen. He held a chair for her and once she sat, she met Nanny, a large black woman, who prepared and served the tea.
“Chris, you might want to tell Daddy and Mama what’s going on,” Gwen suggested.
With a slight frown, he went off to do Gwen’s bidding, and Hannah took a few minutes to look around the kitchen. Several candles and oil lamps were lit, but she saw no evidence of overhead lighting. She looked in each corner of the room and noticed there were no electrical outlets, no phone, nothing to indicate modern plumbing or even modern life. Just a large fireplace, with a couple of bulky iron hooks inside, where a black pot hung.
Where am I?
Before she could find out the answer, an older woman bustled into the kitchen. She had dark red hair, slightly graying throughout and pulled into a bun at the nape of her neck. She was also dressed strangely. “Gwennie?”
“Yes, Mama.”
“Christopher said you found a young lady in the barn.”
“That would be me,” Hannah muttered under her breath as she raised her hand.
“Yes, Mama. Hannah had an accident and found her way to the stables.”
“My word!” the woman exclaimed, hands flying to her chest before she sat down and placed her hand on Hannah’s arm. “What happened?”
“I’m not entirely certain, ma’am,” Hannah whispered.
“Well, dear, you are welcome to stay as long as you need to. We’ll have a guest room prepared for you and Gwen will give you some of her clothing.”
“Thank you.” Hannah kept her questions to herself, overwhelmed with the consequences of the potential answers. She was uncertain if she’d stumbled upon a possible Amish sect or some other religious conservative group.
“No thanks necessary, dear. You enjoy your tea and rest. You might have a head injury. Perhaps we should get the doctor.”
“No!” Hannah gasped and then realized she’d reacted a bit harshly so changed her tone. “Sorry. I have a slight headache, but I don’t think I’ll need a doctor.”
Mrs. Butler pursed her lips but gave a slight nod. “All right, dear. You get a good night’s sleep and if you’re still in pain in the morning, I’ll send for him.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” Hannah forced a smile.
Gwen peeled off her gloves and then pulled the pins from her hat as Nanny poured Hannah another cup of tea. Gwen’s quick smile and gentle way put Hannah at ease, but then her mind turned to the possibility that perhaps Gwen might not be here of her own free will.
As Gwen removed her coat, Hannah was taken aback by the young woman’s appearance. Full-figured and tall, Gwen had dark green eyes similar to her brother’s, and flawless skin. Her chestnut hair, parted in the middle and pulled into a simple chignon, shone under the candlelight. Hannah slipped a lock of her own hair behind her ear, suddenly embarrassed by how she must look.
“Hannah?” Gwen sat across from her and patted her hand. “You’re safe here.”
“Thank you.” Hannah needed to buy some time and figure out where she was so she could get out of here. She looked up when “the painting” chose that moment to walk in the room. Hannah’s stomach did a somersault. He stared at her as though looking for something deep inside of her.
He is beyond gorgeous. The painter didn’t truly capture his size or strength.
She berated herself slightly, needing to get a grip on her thoughts, needing to stay focused on two vital questions.
How am I going to get out of the house, and where am I going to go?
Not a particular fan of horses, she’d never learned to ride, so she’d probably have to walk. Emma and Sophie had taken Hannah to visit their horses occasionally, and the only thing she had discovered was that they were big and kind of scary. Stealing one and riding off into the sunset was hardly an option for her. Hannah lowered her head and stared into her tea.
* * *
Christopher watched Miss Nelson closely, noticing her mind working frantically behind her glorious hazel eyes, and wondered where she’d come from. Really. She was exquisite. Petite, barely reaching his chest, she had dark glossy hair that framed an oval face. A liberal smattering of freckles covered her nose and swept up in a smile over her cheeks.
He knew she was frightened and confused, but she also appeared to be plotting something, and that intrigued him. She didn’t seem the least bit impressed with him, which only reiterated the fact that Gwen was wrong about his effect on women. In fact, Hannah seemed irritated by him.
“Christopher, please ask Nanny to make up one of the guest rooms,” his mother said, interrupting his thoughts.
He fisted his hand in his pocket, a little chagrined that he had to leave Miss Nelson again. However, he would never let his mother know that he was drawn to this beautiful girl and wanted to explore that a little more. “Yes, Mama.” He returned within minutes. “The staff is preparing the south room for you, ma’am.”
“Thank you.”
Christopher caught her frown. She was obviously annoyed with his use of address.
Miss Nelson took a sip of tea, and then she lowered her cup with a shaky hand. “I’m quite tired. Would it be all right if I went to bed?”
“Of course, dear,” Mrs. Butler said. “Gwen will show you the way. In the morning we’ll help you find your way home.”
“Thank you.”
* * *
Gwen led her up the stairs and down a long hallway.
Fabulous. No easy escape.
Gwen opened the last door on the left and Hannah walked into a spacious bedroom. A large fireplace on the south wall glowed in welcome, and sconces had been lit, creating a peaceful warmth to the room.
“Will this be acceptable?” Gwen asked.
“Sorry?”
“The room? Is it acceptable?”
Hannah nodded. “Oh, yes, it’s beautiful, Gwen. Thank you.”
Gwen smiled. “I’ll return shortly with a nightgown for you.”
Hannah explored quickly while Gwen was out of the room. Two windows on the west wall appeared to open onto some form of a roof.
At least I know which way is north. It’s a starting point.
Closing her eyes, Hannah tried to remember what she saw when she first walked up to the house. She realized her room sat over the kitchen. Taking a deep breath, she visualized her trip from the barn to the house. They walked under a large porch and, if she remembered correctly, a makeshift trellis. If she could climb out onto the porch, she might make it to the trellis and then she could escape.
But where to?
“Here you are, Hannah. I hope this will fit.” Gwen entered the room, interrupting her thoughts.
“I’m sure it will be fine.” Hannah yawned for effect.
“Well, I’ll let you turn in. If you need anything, my room is two doors down.”
“Thank you, Gwen.”
“My pleasure,” Gwen said and then closed the door behind her.
Dragging her bag from her shoulder, Hannah opened it and pulled out her cell phone. She powered it up, relieved to see the logo flash on the screen. However, no bars. Not even part of one showed on the display.
Just how far out in the wop-wops am I? I should have switched carriers months ago.
With a scowl, she turned the phone off and slipped it into her back pocket. She sat down on the bed with a frustrated sigh. She intended to wait until the house quieted but didn’t know how long that would take.
Twenty minutes passed, and although she didn’t hear any movement in the house, Hannah wasn’t sure if that meant everyone was asleep. She made her way to the door, poked her head into the hallway, and noticed the sconces were still lit. She decided she probably shouldn’t risk it.
She quietly closed the door and began to pace. Her fire had finally died down, so she blew out the lamps and waited for complete darkness. It took almost an hour, and by then she was growing sleepy. If she didn’t go now, she would lose her nerve. With one last look around the room, she put her coat and gloves back on and wrapped the scarf around her neck. Securing her bag over her shoulder, she slowly pushed the window up, grateful it didn’t stick. Throwing her leg over the windowsill, she climbed out onto the roof and crawled to the edge.
Trellis! Yes! Okay, I can climb this and be off.
Her immediate plan was to travel north, certain she would find someone with a car or perhaps even flag down a cab. She went back and closed the bedroom window quietly and then made her way back to the trellis. The snow on the roof had frozen and it crunched under her feet as she crept over the roof.
Reaching the edge, she lay down on her stomach and wiggled, feet first, over the side. She felt her foot hit the first rung of the trellis. It seemed strong enough to hold her, so she kept going. She was deathly afraid of heights, and it seemed a long way down, but if she kept her eyes on the sky, she should be fine.
“Oh, God,” she whispered as her heart raced. Taking a deep breath, Hannah stepped down, then stepped again. Knowing she must be almost at the bottom, but not wanting to look, she closed her eyes tight and stepped again. All of a sudden, she felt large, strong hands grasp her hips. She squealed as she was pulled off the trellis, rather inelegantly, into the arms of the painting.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Christopher growled. “You could have been hurt.”
* * *
When he’d heard the scraping noise on the roof, Christopher knew Miss Nelson was going to try something stupid, but his heart lodged in his throat as he watched her back down the unsecured trellis. It took every ounce of patience for him to wait for her to reach the bottom rather than to climb the lattice and collect her.
“Put me down,” she ordered.
“Not until you tell me what you were doing.”
“I was going to try and find my way home!” She pushed at his chest with a groan. “What else would I be doing? Now put me down.”
Christopher stared at the beauty in his arms.
“Please. Let me go,” she whispered.
He gently set her on her feet but didn’t release her completely. He kept an arm around her waist as he watched her eyes dart everywhere, obviously looking for a place to escape to. “You could have been hurt, Miss Nelson.”
She dropped her head but didn’t comment.
“Ma’am?” He slowly lowered his hand from her waist and crossed his arms.
She bolted.
Christopher swore. “Come back here!” he yelled, and gave chase.
She got a good half-mile before he even started closing in on her.
“Miss Nelson!” he yelled again.
* * *
Looking frantically around, Hannah saw nothing other than snow and trees. She didn’t know which way to turn next. A white canvas surrounded her, and she had no idea in which direction she even headed. She reached for her cell phone, flipped it open, and held it up as she continued to run from the house. No signal.
Shit! Have they got cell phone blockers out here?
Realizing she was stuck, she stopped suddenly, kicked at the ground in frustration, and then sank down on the snow. Wrapping her arms tightly around her knees, she burst into tears. She was tired, she was cold, and she didn’t know where the hell she was.