Linn Halton - A Cottage in the Country - Escape to the cosiest little cottage in the country

LINN B. HALTON

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First published in Great Britain by Harper Impulse 2015

Copyright © Linn B Halton 2015

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Cover layout design © HarperColl‌insPublishers Ltd 2015

Cover design by HarperColl‌insPublishers Ltd

Linn B Halton asserts the moral right

to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue record for this book is

available from the British Library

This novel is entirely a work of fiction.

The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are

the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to

actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is

entirely coincidental.

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and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.

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Digital eFirst: Automatically produced by Atomik ePublisher from Easypress.

Ebook Edition © May 2015 ISBN: 9780008146917

Version 2016-11-16

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

MADDIE

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

LEWIS

CHAPTER 3

MADDIE

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

LEWIS

CHAPTER 9

MADDIE

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

LEWIS

CHAPTER 16

MADDIE

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 22

CHAPTER 23

LEWIS

CHAPTER 24

MADDIE

CHAPTER 25

CHAPTER 26

CHAPTER 27

CHAPTER 28

LEWIS

CHAPTER 29

MADDIE

CHAPTER 30

CHAPTER 31

LEWIS

CHAPTER 32

MADDIE

CHAPTER 33

CHAPTER 34

CHAPTER 35

CHAPTER 36

LEWIS

CHAPTER 37

MADDIE

CHAPTER 38

CHAPTER 39

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Linn B. Halton

About HarperImpulse

About the Publisher

The queue of traffic inches forward slowly as I glance at the clock on the dashboard for what seems like the millionth time. Ahead of me someone honks their horn in sheer exasperation. The farmer seems completely oblivious as he slowly rounds up the stragglers to rejoin his large flock of sheep. If I wasn't so stressed, I'd probably enjoy this quaint little scene that's a million miles away from the bustle of city life. However, I'm nearly fifteen minutes late for an appointment to view my dream cottage, which has literally just come on the market. Life without a love interest is going to be simpler, I've decided; no more having to pander to the whims of a man, and at least bricks and mortar can't break your heart.

I'm the first to view and if I don't get there before the next couple arrive, well, I simply can't let that happen. The truth is that cottages in my price range are few and far between. I glance at the property details lying on the passenger seat and grit my teeth. Ramming the gear stick into reverse I edge back a little, sending the driver behind me into panic mode. He's safe enough – I'm sure there are inches to spare. It's not exactly a three-point turn, but after a series of manoeuvres I finally manage to turn the car around and leave the queue of traffic behind. My satnav goddess kindly informs me that in two hundred yards I should turn around, even when I explain to her, very politely, that I have to find another route.

"Drive two hundred yards and turn around," she reiterates for the third time.

"But I need you to recalculate and find me another route," I plead. She ignores my request, so I stab my finger at the screen while trying to negotiate the narrow country lane.

"Take a left and turn around," her perfect and calm voice fills the car.

"Please, just recalculate and find me another route before I have a total meltdown!" I'm mortified to hear my own voice sounding worryingly unhinged, but it does the trick.

"Recalculating. Drive fifty yards and take a right turn."

I adjust the air-conditioning and reposition the vents until a waft of deliciously cold air sweeps over my flushed and perspiring face. The lane becomes even narrower and steeper, branches flicking against the sides of the car as I speed along as fast as I dare. If I meet someone coming towards me now there is nowhere to go. I have to drop down into second gear as the gradient increases rather suddenly. I wonder if I'm being punished by my satnav goddess for ignoring her instructions. Is this the alternative route from hell and this is how she exacts revenge when someone chooses to ignore her instructions? I had no idea that there were lanes as narrow as this, the hedges either side are barely clearing my wing mirrors. It's bordering on claustrophobic and hard to believe this is going to lead anywhere, other than into a field. I must be lost.

"In one hundred yards turn left into Forge Hill and your destination is on the left."

Unexpectedly, the lane begins to open out again as I approach the top of the hill and take the turning.

"In seventy-five yards your destination is located on the left."

"I find that hard to…" The words die on my lips as I round the corner and am surprised to see a small collection of farm buildings and cottages. As I continue on past a rather sharp bend, the view suddenly opens up as the hillside falls away. There, in front of me, is my chocolate-box cottage.

"Your destination is on the left," my satnav goddess confirms and I respond politely.

"Thank you, thank you and thank you!" A wave of excitement grips me as I pull onto the short drive in front of a rather quirky-looking garage.

Stepping out of the car, I immediately spot an older woman walking towards me. Well, I say older, she's about my age.

"I'm very sorry I'm late," I extend my hand. "I'm Madeleine Brooks." We shake and exchange smiles.

"Sarah Manning. Lovely to meet you. Glad you were able to find it. We have back-to-back viewings this afternoon, but the next couple has phoned in to say they're lost and are running late, so it's not a problem. Have you come far?"

"Only thirty miles, but I've been in the car for well over an hour. I managed to get held up by a flock of sheep," I laugh.

"Ah, country living. It's a different pace of life the minute you get away from the city. If you're looking for peace and tranquility this is it."

As I follow Sarah along the winding footpath that takes us from the road down to the cottage, I can't take my eyes off the view. The valley unfolds gently in front of us, belying any true sense of height or distance. The lower level of the cottage nestles back against an outcrop of rust-coloured rock, with a canopy of leafy-green forest high above it, creating a perfect backdrop. Every window in this property faces out onto the panoramic view. It sweeps down to what looks like a stream in the distance and then across to the other side of the valley. It is, quite simply, breathtaking.