Autumn Leaves at Mill Grange by Jenny Kane (the little red hen ebook .txt) 📗

the idea of the doorway, of the piece of wood that was going to have to close if he was going to get into bed with the woman he loved. He had been in the house before, and so he could do it again. Each time it would be easier. He knew that was true. It just didn’t feel true.

Be brave, Sam.

Dylan’s eager voice echoed in his ears as, inhaling and exhaling, Sam closed the door.

‘Sam?’ Tina couldn’t stop her smile from widening, but she felt concerned nonetheless. ‘Were you going to ask me to open the window?’

‘Yes. No… Later maybe.’

‘Okay.’ She stroked his face. ‘What did you want to ask me then, if it wasn’t to see if I’d sleep with the window open?’

With his pulse rate increasing, and not entirely because he was inside, Sam abruptly dropped to one knee.

‘Tina Martin, will you marry me? And open the window?’

Epilogue

October 5th

Mill Grange was ready for its first full-paying guests at three-thirty in the afternoon. At four o’clock, a taxi bearing the first visitor rolled up the drive. The four men and two women then all arrived within half an hour of each other.

After a flurry of welcomes and introductions from Sam and Tom in the driveway, suitcases had been taken inside, and bedrooms allocated. Acting as self-imposed guide, and chatting happily about his previous experience at Mill Grange, Woody was in his element. Directing the guests to the drawing room, now free of festive decoration, he expounded the virtues of Mabel’s cooking. A claim underlined by the delicious scent of beef casserole and dumplings wafting through the open kitchen door.

Helen and Tom passed around slices of lemon cake and offered tea and coffee, as the newcomers slowly relaxed into each other’s company.

Five minutes later, Shaun, Thea and Tina joined them, ready to deliver an introductory talk about what their guests could expect over the next five days.

Joining her fiancée, as he appeared on the outside of the open window, Tina leant close and whispered into Sam’s ear. ‘This is it! Are you ready?’

With an almost imperceptible nod, Sam cleared his throat as Tina smiled at their friends – Thea, Helen, Tom and Shaun – and tapped the side of her cup with a teaspoon.

Every eye in the room turned towards the window as, with his mug of tea raised high, Sam announced, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby declare that the Mill Grange retreat is now officially open!’

Acknowledgements

Writing has been a joy, and I’d like to thank a few of the The writing of Autumn Leaves at Mill Grange came hot on the heels of writing Midsummer Dreams at Mill Grange. It was wonderful to be able to continue the tale of Thea, Shaun, Tina, Sam and their companions. I’d like to thank a few people who accompanied me along the way.

First, the team at Aria (Head of Zeus), especially Rhea, Vicky and Holly; for all their help and support.

Also, to my agent Kiran; for her gentle guidance and sound good sense.

To the Nicholson family, in particular Tammy, who welcome me (along with many of our Imagine students), to Northmoor House in Exmoor each October, for an annual writing retreat. Northmoor

House on Exmoor is a place of unending inspiration, which forms the backdrop for Mill Grange.

Last, but not least, to my family and friends, whose love had encouragement have kept me writing this series, and many others.

About the Author

From the comfort of her cafe corner in Mid Devon, award winning author JENNY KANE wrote the contemporary women’s fiction and romance novels, Autumn Leaves at Mill Grange (Aria, 2020) Midsummer Dreams at Mill Grange (Aria, 2020), A Cornish Escape (2nd edition, HeadlineAccent, 2020), A Cornish Wedding (2nd edition, HeadlineAccent, 2020), Romancing Robin Hood (2nd edition, Littwitz Press, 2018), Another Glass of Champagne (Accent Press, 2016), Jenny Kane’s Christmas Collection (Accent, 2016), and Another Cup of Coffee (Accent Press, 2013).

Under the pen name, Jennifer Ash, Jenny has also written The Folville Chronicles (The Outlaw’s Ransom, The Winter Outlaw, Edward’s Outlaw - published by Littwitz Press), The Power of Three (Spiteful Puppet, 2020) and The Meeting Place (Spiteful Puppet, 2019). She also created four audio scripts for ITV’s popular 1980’s television show, Robin of Sherwood. The Waterford Boy, Mathilda’s Legacy, The Baron’s Daughter and The Meeting Place were released by Spiteful Puppet.

Jenny Kane is the writer in residence for Tiverton Costa in Devon. She also co-runs the creative writing business, Imagine.

All of Jenny Kane’s and Jennifer Ash’s news can be found at www.jennykane.co.uk

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Jennifer Ash https://www.facebook.com/jenniferashhistorical/

Jenny Kane https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011235488766

Imagine www.imaginecreativewriting.co.uk

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