Cold Gold Read Free

most men of his ilk, a valet or someone in the household took care of his domestic arrangements. Had Min been looking after him? And if not Min, then who? Serena feared the answer but she had to know.
    A knock on the door stopped her from investigating further.
    “Come in,” she called.
    Min entered the room carrying a steaming kettle in one hand, and a water jug in the other.
    “Missus Lucy say if you need bath, must book time tomorrow. Bath house always busy.”
    “Thank you, Min. That will be something to consider. When my luggage arrives will you please see that it is sent straight up?”
    “Yes, Missee.” Min turned to go but Serena stopped her.
    “Did you look after my husband, Min? His things are so tidy.”
    Min nodded her head. “He good man, Missee.”
    “Yes,” Serena said softly. Regardless of what had transpired between them that she could not deny. “He is indeed a good man.”
    Min left and Serena removed her jacket and opened the neck of her blouse. She poured hot water into the bowl on the washstand and swirled it around to cool it a little before splashing it over her face and neck. She would have preferred a bath, but this would have to do. At least she could rearrange her hair after having it crushed under her hat for so long.
    She pulled out her pins and let her long locks loose, ran her fingers through them and shook her head. Drat. The valise containing her brush and other toiletries had yet to be delivered. She picked up Randolph’s silver-backed brush from the washstand and drew the bristles through the strands of her hair, enjoying the comfort in using something belonging to him. She continued to brush with half closed eyes, counting the strokes as she did so. When she reached one hundred she straightened up, tossed her hair back and twisted and pinned and tweaked it into the popular Gibson-girl style.
    Re-buttoning her blouse, Serena considered donning her jacket but thought she may just be warm enough with the waistcoat that completed her outfit. She would have liked a total change of clothes and, as it had only been a short walk to the Eldorado, she expected that her luggage would have been delivered by now. Crossing to the window, she pulled the lace curtain aside. A veranda wrapped around the second storey of the hotel and she had to stand on tiptoe to see across it into the street.
    It reminded her of Kalgoorlie, in Australia, only then Randolph had been beside her. She had complained bitterly at their dry-as-dust surroundings but Randolph had laughed and kissed the top of her head, reminding her that he had warned her of what to expect. But to spend another year alone when he left for Cold Creek? No, she would not accept that.
    If only Randolph’s arm s were around her now, she thought, and sighed as she rested her head against the frosty window pane. Movement in the street below caught her eye. She recognized Joe’s lanky frame jumping down from a carrier’s cart just pulling up outside the hotel.
    Between them, Joe and the driver unloaded her luggage. In moments her things were being brought in and set where she indicated on the floor. She glanced at the wall clock and saw she still had time to change for dinner. Not sure that she could face food, she knew she needed to be sensible and eat what she could. If Randolph didn’t return, she might not be eating at all.
    But did people dress for dinner in Cold Creek? She opened the trunk and removed her favorite off-the-shoulder evening gown. In truth, the outfit she wore would be much warmer. With a sigh she draped the gown over the lid of the trunk. Unpacking, she decided, could wait until after dinner.
    She left her room and walked along the shadowy corridor , thankful for the dim glow of the electric lighting. As she descended the stairs to the lobby, Lucy Vanderberg emerged from a door further down the hallway beyond the reception desk.
    “Ah, Lady Buxton,” Lucy said. “The dining room is back here. Please come this