Nine Steps to Sara by Lisa Olsen Read Free Book Online

him, but to her surprise, he shook his head.
    “No, it’s not.”
    “Huh?” she blinked.
    “You’re not you anymore, don’t you see?  The moment you came here, you became the Dowager Lady Darling.”
    Sara didn’t like the sound of that title one bit.  “Ugh, you make it sound like I’m eighty years old.”
    “Age hasn’t anything to do with it; you must try to start thinking of yourself as an institution not a person.”
    “That’s ridiculous, I’m still a person.  I’m still plain old me, same as I was before I came here.”
    “I find that hard to believe, my Lady.”  The little half smile was back and her brows rose in puzzlement.
    “What, that I haven’t changed?”
    “That you’ve ever been plain.”
    She realized he was still holding her hand, and she tugged it free, not wanting to give him the wrong idea.  He was cute, but she so wasn’t in the market for even a fling, especially not in a close knit community.  “I ah, I thought I’d steal one of the bikes I saw leaning against the kitchen door and ride into the village for a bit,” she said suddenly, not quite sure where the idea came from.
    “It’s not stealing if you own everything visible to the naked eye, though, is it?”
    “Not everything ,” she grumbled, starting to think the class thing was going to get into the way of every decent conversation she’d have for the next twenty years. 
    “Are you certain you wouldn’t rather ride in comfort?” he patted the top of the Mercedes.
    “No, I think the exercise will do me good after being cooped up for the past few days,” she shook her head.  Maybe Jack and Joanie would want to come too, and then Mrs. Poole wouldn’t have to get so worried about them getting hurt exploring the house.
    “ S eeing as how you’re not in need of my services, I’ll take myself off then, shall I?” he gave a brief nod, picking up his polishing cloths. 
    “I guess so,” she hesitated, “unless … I don’t suppose you’d like to play tour guide for the afternoon?”  Apart from following the road, she had no idea how to find the village.  “I could pay you, of course; whatever you were going to earn for playing at chauffeuring.”
    “I wouldn’t dream of it, my Lady.  I’d be happy to oblige, just give me half a tick to wash up,” he grinned.
    “Only if you call me Sara,” she returned stubbornly.  “It’s Will, isn’t it?  When it’s just the two of us, I mean.  That’d be alright, wouldn’t it?”
    “Too right,” he nodded.  “I’m honored that your L adyship remembered my name,” Will smirked, but then stepped closer, his smile softening.  “I’d like nothing better, Sara, than to spend the afternoon showing you my corner of the world.”
    Sara’s lips quirked into a lopsided grin; that sounded a whole lot more fun than checking out the local village…  “ G reat,” she nodded, stomach tightening when she realized she might be in over her head.  “I’ll go get my friend, Joanie and see if Jack wants to come too.”
    Something that might have been disappointment passed over his features, but it was gone in an instant, replaced by the neutral smile.  “By all means, bring them along.  Though I recommend the car if young Jack’s to come.  We haven’t got a bicycle of his size here at the house.”
    “Oh, I hadn’t thought of that.”  The roads were too bumpy for Jack to ride on the handlebars and she didn’t have a helmet for him; not the best example to set.  “Well then, I guess you’ll have to pinch hit as a chauffeur after all,” she smiled, pushing away from the car.  “I’ll be back in a jiffy, I’m sure they’re as eager to explore the village as I am.”
    “And I’ll be waiting,” Will nodded, his eyes following her inside.
     
    * * *
     
    The village of Darlington was everything she’d pictured in a remote, English community.  A jumble of picturesque shops and pubs all squashed on top of each other along the main road