Escaping The Beast: A Darkhills Romance (The Darkhills Series Book 2) by Elizabeth Greene (young adult books to read TXT) 📕

“Two weeks is not long enough.”  Lucian shook his head.

“Yes, sweetheart, I think that’s a little unreasonable. Lord Nightingale, is being very generous. I think we’d be stupid to become overconfident, not that I don’t think we won’t get the money in time.” Her father pitched in.

Katherine refused to look at him, the less input her father had in the negotiation, the better.

“One month.” She haggled, keeping her eyes firmly on Lucian’s.

“I have stated three.” He replied in a calm and patient tone.

“And I have stated two weeks, but have already acquiesced and offered longer. One month, Lord Nightingale.”

“Two months, Miss. Daxton and you agree to dine with me each night.”

That threw her. Why on earth would he include such a ridiculous condition? He was likely just trying to rattle her.

“The food here really is great, baby doll. Real haute cuisine.” Her father urged, clearly he just wanted her to accept the deal so he could high tail it out of there.

“I’m not big on fine dining, Lord Nightingale. Two months and I eat my meals in peace.”

The first hint of emotion showed on the man’s face. His lips twitching upwards in amusement for the briefest of moments before it was gone.

“Two months, it is. I accept your other terms, Miss. Daxton with the addition that you are permitted to make further reasonable requests during your time here, which I shall give all due consideration.”

He leaned forward and took her hand in a firm grasp and shook it briefly to confirm the deal. The same tingle of awareness sparked across her skin at the contact, but he released her hand before she could spend any longer thinking about it.

“Mr. Daxton, leave us now. You have two months, see to it that you return within that time.”

“Right you are, Lord Nightingale, I won’t let you down.” Her father practically bounced where he stood.

“Miss. Daxton, do you wish to bid farewell to your father?”

Her father bounded forward and pulled her in for a tight hug. One that she did not return. She remained stiff as a board, her eyes still fixed on Lord Nightingale who was watching them like a hawk.

“Hey now, Kitty-Kat, no need to look so sour. You think this hasn’t been hard enough on your old man, already?”

He released her from the uncomfortable embrace and stroked her hair back behind one of her ears. It took every ounce of her willpower not to slap his hand away. She chose to remain stoic and silent instead.

“This is only temporary, OK. I’ll get the money. I promise, baby doll, I pinky promise.” He held up his little finger to her as he used to when she was a kid. She’d learned young, however, that his pinky promises meant jack shit.

She ignored his offering, wanting him gone from her sight.

“Lord Nightingale, would you be so kind as to show me to my room?”

With a nod, he stood and stepped down from the dais to stand before her. He was tall. Taller than her in her skyscraper stilettos. She wasn’t sure why she noticed such an insignificant thing, but she had nonetheless. What’s more, she was pleased with it.

Katherine took his firm arm when he offered it and focused on putting one foot in front of the other. He led her slowly across the hall towards the main doors where she had entered.

“Oh erm, just one other thing, baby doll.” Her father’s voice called out to her.

Lord Nightingale paused, forcing her to listen to what her despicable father wanted.

“Don’t suppose I could get the keys off you for the car? Mine was returned to the depot a while ago and I don’t know how long it’ll take me to walk to the nearest town in this weather and-”

Katherine silently released herself from Lucian’s guiding arm to retrieve the set of keys.

“Oh thata girl, Kitty, you always have taken care of your old man.”

She held out her hand and dropped the keys onto the floor, refusing to turn to look at him. Without another moment of hesitation, she took Lord Nightingale’s arm once more.

“My room, if you please, Lord Nightingale.”

“Of course.” He uttered quietly beside her.

Katherine kept her eyes focused straight ahead of her, and allowed herself to be led away. If she hadn’t been keeping up appearances, she would have stormed out of the room. Instead, she walked calmly behind her host, or prison guard she supposed, following him up a tightly wound spiral staircase and out onto a long carpeted balustrade, where she took his offered arm once more. They passed several closed doors in silence, Katherine kept her eyes forward, resigning herself to her situation. The sound of the main doors to the mansion closing firmly shut, indicated that her father had gone. Her shoulders relaxed and she let out a small breath of relief. Her escort noticed and from the corner of her eye, she saw him turn his head to observe her.

“You are my guest here, Miss. Daxton. Please do not be concerned. You will be completely safe, you have my word.” His words were softly spoken and the gentleness in them was enough to make tears well behind her eyes.

Damn it, hold it together.

She couldn’t trust herself to say a word in return.

He stopped by a set of deep mahogany doors and stepped inside, quickly flicking a switch and illuminating the elegant room within. It really was the most luxurious room that she had ever set foot in.

The room was decorated in light creams and golds, a huge four-poster bed stood proudly against one wall. Opposite was a beautifully ornate fireplace with a gilded mirror placed above it. A chaise lounge was sprawled in front of the gently glowing fire, practically beckoning her to lie down upon it. To the side was a small console table with a vase filled with the most beautiful white roses in full bloom, their heady scent filling the air. Either side of the fireplace were two sets of open doors. One