In Want of a Wife? by Cathy Williams Read Free Book Online

began making it difficult for her to see that Lizzy eventually acknowledged that she might be in a spot of bother.
    Ahead of her, the tiny pinpoints of lights from Crossfeld House at least indicated that she hadn’t been totally disoriented by the blanket of snow. But those small dots of light were alsoa reminder that her marvellous wheels weren’t quite so marvellous after all. And there was no way that she could
walk
the motorbike to Crossfeld; it was too big and too unwieldy.
    Also, after nearly an hour of slow riding, the cold was beginning to worm its way through and under her layers of clothes, finding her tender skin and sinking its teeth in. Another hour and she would be putting her life at risk.
    She pulled out the packed lunch which she had laughed at her mother for providing and gratefully bit into a cheese and pickle sandwich, washing it down with some coffee which had likewise been provided for her, despite her protests.
    Then, with a sigh of defeat, she pulled out her mobile phone and dialled through to her sister.

CHAPTER THREE
    L IZZY watched the headlights of the Range Rover draw closer, searching her out. This wasn’t the tired old four-by-four which had been left by the side of the road. This was a shiny black monster and not much fancy guesswork was needed to figure out who was behind the steering wheel.
    ‘You mustn’t try and walk here!’ Rose had exclaimed in horror when Lizzy had explained the situation to her on the phone. ‘You’ll collapse!’
    ‘I’m not some kind of pathetic Victorian maiden,’ Lizzy had been quick to point out, whilst acknowledging that her sister was right. There was no way she could walk to Crossfeld with the snow coming down in barrels and she was too far from her own house to risk turning back.
    ‘I’m sure Louis wouldn’t mind. He had a new car delivered; it would take him no time at all. Will you be okay waiting?’
    ‘I
could
probably give it another try,’ Lizzy had ventured optimistically, but the suggestion had fallen on deaf ears. Now as she waved to the car, making her presence known, she almost wished that she had pressed a bit harder.
    ‘Are you completely mad?’ Louis swung his long body out of the car, fighting against the brisk wind. ‘What the hell possessed you to pull a stunt like this? Get in the car!’
    Lizzy gritted her teeth together. Unlike the last time, when he had been on the receiving end of
her
help, he was dressed for the weather now. Thick jeans were tucked into black, fur-linedwellies and under the padded waterproof jacket she suspected that there were several layers of clothes. He was a fast learner.
    ‘I can’t leave my bike.’ She folded her arms and stood her ground.
    ‘And that would be because …?’
    ‘It’ll be ruined.’
    ‘Tough. You should have thought of that before you decided to come haring out to Crossfeld House to rescue your sister. Who, by the way, doesn’t need rescuing.’ He flung open the passenger door. ‘I’m giving you to the count of three, and if you’re not in you can bed down here for the night.’
    ‘You wouldn’t dare!’
    ‘If I were you, I wouldn’t put that to the test. I was called out from an important conference call to rescue the damsel in distress. I’m not in the prettiest of moods.’
    Lizzy climbed into the car. She should, of course, thank him for coming out to rescue her, but gratitude stuck in her throat; she stared ahead in stony silence.
    ‘I’m sorry to have interrupted your conference call,’ she eventually managed through stiff lips.
    ‘You’re a lunatic.’
    ‘It’s not the first time I’ve ridden my motorbike in snow.’
    Louis glanced across at her. She was soaking wet, except for her hair, which she had managed to shove underneath the helmet. Not even the leather jacket, the boots and the scarf had protected her against the onslaught of the weather.
    ‘I’m amazed your parents let you out of the house,’ he gritted.
    ‘I’m twenty-three. They