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“If you can stay until the weekend, the festival will be in full swing and it’s always a lot of fun.” Alison started to pick up Wendy’s bag, but Will growled and intercepted her. She shook her head and smiled at Wendy. “Would you like to go to your room? I put you in the same one, if that’s all right.”
“That’s perfect. Thank you.”
The pretty room on the second floor had two big windows looking down over the town towards the river, along with a small fireplace and a cozy seating area. It looked just the same as it had on her previous visit except the fall arrangement of gourds and colorful leaves had been replaced by an artful arrangement of evergreen and holly, accented with red ribbon and tiny silver bells.
“Your flowers are always so pretty,” she murmured as Will placed her bag on the rack by the door and Alison joined her by the windows.
“Thanks, but I can’t take credit. My friend Sylvie does them. She’s a dryad and has a natural gift for plants—or at least that’s what I tell myself as an excuse for my lack of talent.”
“It’s not one of my talents either, but I’ve seen enough arrangements to appreciate when they’re well done.” Alison gave her a slightly puzzled look, but Wendy hurried on before she could ask any questions. “Can you recommend somewhere for dinner? Just something simple—I was planning on an early night.”
“If you really mean simple, I have beef stew in the crockpot and there’s more than enough for the three of us.”
“That’s very sweet of you, but I don’t want to intrude on your dinner.”
“Nonsense, we’d be happy to have you join us.”
Will also smiled and nodded his agreement. She hesitated, but it was almost completely dark now and she really didn’t want to go back out in the cold.
“If you’re sure, I’d love to join you.”
“We’re sure. See you in an hour?”
“That would be perfect, thank you.”
After Alison and Will left, she unpacked and pulled out her laptop but for once had no desire to sit down to start writing. Instead, she wandered over to the windows and looked down at the twinkling lights of the town. Midnight Manor was onlya short distance away, but she couldn’t see it from here. Yet it almost felt as if the handsome, brooding owner was out there in the dark looking at her.
Shaking her head at her fanciful imagination, she drew the curtains and went to join Alison. She found her alone in the kitchen, frowning into the crockpot.
“Is something wrong?”
“No, it’s fine, just not as… interesting as I hoped.” Alison gave her a rueful smile. “I did warn you that it would be a simple meal.”
She couldn’t resist going to her side and breathing in the aroma of the stew. She automatically reached for a spoon, then hesitated.
“May I?”
“Go right ahead. I’m good at breakfasts and pastries, but I know my limitations.”
She tasted the stew, then thought for a moment.
“Do you have an orange? And some parsley.”
“I have both, but an orange?”
“Trust me.”
Alison watched curiously as she zested the orange and added the zest and juice to the stew along with a generous handful of parsley, reserving some for the garnish.
“Normally I would add some red wine as well, but it would need to cook for a while to mellow out. What do you think?”
The other woman took a cautious bite then grinned.
“That’s amazing. I thought it would be too sweet, but it’s just a hint of citrus. How did you know to do that?”
Pleased by her enthusiasm, Wendy smiled back.
“It’s based on a French beef stew recipe called daube Provençal.”
