Christmas at Draycott Abbey Read Online Free PDF Page A

Ian, Marston. Meet me by the back stables. Bring blankets. But before you do, check the library. Make certain there are no blankets or any sign of activity in that room. Nothing at all . Do you understand me?” There was no time to explain. Ian knew that the abbey’s impeccably trained butler would miss no detail.
    “I understand. Blankets. At the rear stables. But the room first.”
    “That’s right. There may be men coming up the drive. They may not even use the drive. They may walk. Do not open the door. Let no one inside. Be sure that all the security is operational.” Ian’s gaze leaped to the gravel drive as a car cruised over the hill from the Rye road. “A car just turned from the coast road. It must be Izzy Teague. He was expected tonight. Let him in, but no one else, Marston.”
    “Understood.” The abbey’s butler sounded as if they had been discussing flower arrangements for the next market fair.
    Ian rang off and started toward the stables, drawing his jacket closer around the woman in his arms. He watched the car race along the moat, lights flashing through the rain.
    And yet….
    Some instinct made him pull back into the shadows beside the bridge. He dug out his cell phone again, keyed in a new number.
    “Acme Pizza. Deliveries in twenty minutes or your money back.”
    At any other time Ian might have smiled. But not now. “Teague, where are you?”
    “Just outside Winchelsea. It’s this damn storm.” Izzy’s voice was curt. “Power lines are down and there’s flooding everywhere.”
    “So you’re not at the abbey?” Ian’s eyes narrowed on the racing black car.
    “No. Ten minutes—maybe fifteen.”
    “Someone else just arrived. Black car, probably an Audi. Can’t make out the plates. I doubt that he’s come to taste the Christmas punch,” Ian said grimly.
    “Watch your back,” Izzy Teague said flatly. “I’ll make it in ten.”
    The line went dead.

Pain woke her.
    Dimly Clair saw lights overhead, moving dizzily. She shuddered, her wet skin frozen and half numb.
    She moved restlessly and felt an arm grip her shoulder.
    “So you’re finally waking up. I’m glad for it. You took a fair soaking outside in the moat. Ian is taking care of everything, and I will have you tucked up before a fire with warm blankets in no time. Then maybe you would like something to eat? A nice broth with some Earl Grey tea? Perhaps my very special blueberry scones?”
    Heaven, Clair thought. When was the last time she’d had a proper meal? When was the last time they had fed her more than dry bread?
    She cleared her raw throat, blinking at the gray haired man in the black suit. “Who—who are you?”
    “I would be Marston, ma’am. I am the butler here at Draycott Abbey.”
    Butler.
    Draycott Abbey.
    Clair began to remember now. As the first memories returned, so did her urgent need to contact the police. “I have to make a call. The local police first. Please, help me. If you can drive me—or let me use your phone—“
    “Of course. Let’s get you tucked in first. We’re having a storm right now, so driving anywhere will be difficult, but I’m certain that Ian will help you arrange a phone call, as soon as he’s free.”
    Clair rubbed her throbbing forehead, feeling dry blood stick to her fingers. “It can’t wait. They will be meeting before Christmas. I—I have to contact the inspector in London.”
    She began to twist, but the old butler patted her shoulder calmly. “Don’t worry yourself. Everything will be fine. You will be safe here.”
    “No. I have to go. They will be coming after me—“
    The butler shook his head. “I’m afraid you won’t be able to drive anywhere, not tonight. The temperature has dropped, and we are bracing for an ice storm before morning. The police have warned everyone off the streets.”
    Clair closed her eyes, trying to think. She had hoped the storm would be her friend, concealing her tracks. Now she saw it would be her worst enemy.
    She blinked