The Inn at Netherfield Green Read online

  New York advertising executive Lauren Montgomery loses her job, inherits an inn, and moves to England—all in the span of a week. It’s not how her career, or her life, is supposed to unfold. But necessity is the mother of invention and Lauren has a new plan. She’s going to spruce up the inn, turn the attached pub into a hot spot, sell it for a killing, and start her own advertising agency.

  Gin distiller Camden Crawley has a soft spot for the Rose & Crown, the pub where her parents and grandparents got engaged. But the opinionated new owner who wants to turn it into some trendy bed and bar? Not so much. The last thing she wants to do is stick her nose in, but that might be her best chance to save a place she holds dear. And boosting her new line of gin wouldn’t hurt either.

  It’s one thing to give in on the cocktail menu. But the very inconvenient, very mutual, attraction? That’s another matter entirely.

  What Reviewers Say About Aurora Rey’s Work

  Recipe for Love

  “So here’s a few things that always get me excited when Aurora Rey publishes a new book. …Firstly, I am guaranteed a hot butch with a sensitive side, this alone is a massive tick. Secondly, I am guaranteed to throw any diet out the window because the books always have the most delectable descriptions of food that I immediately go on the hunt for—this time it was a BLT with a difference. And lastly, hot sex scenes that personally have added to my fantasy list throughout the years! This book did not disappoint in any of those areas.”—Les Rêveur

  Autumn’s Light—Lambda Literary Award Finalist

  “Aurora Rey has a knack for writing characters you care about and she never gives us the same pairing twice. Each character is always unique and fully fleshed out. Most of her pairings are butch/femme and her diversity in butch rep is so appreciated. This goes to prove the butch characters do not need to be one dimensional, nor do they all need to be rugged. Rey writes romances in which you can happily immerse yourself. They are gentle romances which are character driven.”—The Lesbian Review

  “Aurora Rey is by far one of my favourite authors. She writes books that just get me. …Her winning formula is Butch women who fall for strong femmes. I just love it. Another triumph from the pen of Aurora Rey. 5 stars.”—Les Rêveur

  “This is a beautiful romance. I loved the flow of the story, loved the characters including the secondary ones, and especially loved the setting of Provincetown, Massachusetts.”—Rainbow Reflections

  “[Autumn’s Light] was another fun addition to a great series.”—Danielle Kimerer, Librarian (Nevins Memorial Library, Massachusetts)

  “Aurora Rey has shown a mastery of evoking setting and this is especially evident in her Cape End romances set in Provincetown. I have loved this entire series…”—Kitty Kat’s Book Review Blog

  Spring’s Wake

  “The third standalone in Aurora Rey’s Cape End series, Spring’s Wake, features a feel-good romance that would make a perfect beach read. The Provincetown B&B setting is richly painted, feeling both indulgent and cozy.”—RT Book Reviews

  “Spring’s Wake has shot to number one in my age-gap romance favorites shelf.”—Les Rêveur

  “The Ptown setting was idyllic and the supporting cast of characters from the previous books made it feel welcoming and homey. The love story was slow and perfectly timed, with a fair amount of heat. I loved it and hope that this isn’t the last from this particular series.”—Kitty Kat’s Book Review Blog

  “Spring’s Wake by Aurora Rey is charming. This is the third story in Aurora Rey’s Cape End romance series and every book gets better. Her stories are never the same twice and yet each one has a uniquely her flavour. The character work is strong and I find it exciting to see what she comes up with next.”—The Lesbian Review

  Summer’s Cove

  “As expected in a small-town romance, Summer’s Cove evokes a sunny, light-hearted atmosphere that matches its beach setting. …Emerson’s shy pursuit of Darcy is sure to endear readers to her, though some may be put off during the moments Darcy winds tightly to the point of rigidity. Darcy desires romance yet is unwilling to disrupt her son’s life to have it, and you feel for Emerson when she endeavors to show how there’s room in her heart for a family.”—RT Book Reviews

  “From the moment the characters met I was gripped and couldn’t wait for the moment that it all made sense to them both and they would finally go for it. Once again, Aurora Rey writes some of the steamiest sex scenes I have read whilst being able to keep the romance going. I really think this could be one of my favorite series and can’t wait to see what comes next. Keep ’em coming, Aurora.”—Les Rêveur

  Crescent City Confidential—Lambda Literary Award Finalist

  “This book blew my socks off. …[Crescent City Confidential] ticks all the boxes I’ve started to expect from Aurora Rey. It is written very well and the characters are extremely well developed; I felt like I was getting to know new friends and my excitement grew with every finished chapter.”—Les Rêveur

  “This book will make you want to visit New Orleans if you have never been. I enjoy descriptive writing and Rey does a really wonderful job of creating the setting. You actually feel like you know the place.”—Amanda’s Reviews

  “Crescent City Confidential pulled me into the wonderful sights, sounds and smells of New Orleans. I was totally captivated by the city and the story of mystery writer Sam and her growing love for the place and for a certain lady. …It was slow burning but romantic and sexy too. A mystery thrown into the mix really piqued my interest.”—Kitty Kat’s Book Review Blog

  “Crescent City Confidential is a sweet romance with a hint of thriller thrown in for good measure.”—The Lesbian Review

  Built to Last

  “Rey’s frothy contemporary romance brings two women together to restore an ancient farmhouse in Ithaca, N.Y. …[T]he women totally click in bed, as well as when they’re poring over paint chips, and readers will enjoy finding out whether love conquers all.”—Publishers Weekly

  “Built to Last by Aurora Rey is a contemporary lesbian romance novel and a very sweet summer read. I love, love, love the way Ms. Rey writes bedroom scenes and I’m not talking about how she describes the furniture.”—The Lesbian Review

  Winter’s Harbor

  “This is the story of Lia and Alex and the beautifully romantic and sexy tale of a winter in Provincetown, a seaside holiday haven. A collection of interesting characters, well-fleshed out, as well as a gorgeous setting make for a great read.”—Inked Rainbow Reads

  “Winter’s Harbor is a charming story. It is a sweet, gentle romance with just enough angst to keep you turning the pages. …I adore Rey’s characters and the picture she paints of Provincetown was lovely.”—The Lesbian Review

  “One of my all time favourite Lesbian romance novels and probably the most reread book on my Kindle. …Absolutely love this debut novel by Aurora Rey and couldn’t put the book down from the moment the main protagonists meet. Winter’s Harbor was written beautifully and it was full of heart. Unequivocally 5 stars.”—Les Rêveur

  The Inn at Netherfield Green

  Brought to you by

  eBooks from Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com

  eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

  Please respect the rights of the author and do not file share.

  The Inn at Netherfield Green

  © 2019 By Aurora Rey. All Rights Reserved.

  ISBN 13: 978-1-63555-446-5

  This Electronic Original Is Published By

  Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  P.O. Box 249

  Valley Falls, NY 121
85

  First Edition: October 2019

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

  Credits

  Editors: Ashley Tillman and Cindy Cresap

  Production Design: Susan Ramundo

  Cover Design By Tammy Seidick

  By the Author

  Cape End Romances:

  Winter’s Harbor

  Summer’s Cove

  Spring’s Wake

  Autumn’s Light

  Built to Last

  Crescent City Confidential

  Lead Counsel (Novella in The Boss of Her collection)

  Recipe for Love: A Farm-to-Table Romance

  The Inn at Netherfield Green

  Acknowledgments

  I’ve been an Anglophile since I discovered Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters in high school. Loving all things British only grew when I became an English major in college. London is special, but there’s something about the English countryside that calls to me. It’s like where I live now, only the cottages are older and there are a lot more sheep. Writing this book is my homage to a special place, fueled in part by a magical ten days in England with some of my favorite folks (I’m looking at you, WEGs!). I’m grateful for those friendships and the others I’ve been lucky enough to build with the amazing writers and editors at Bold Strokes Books.

  Special thanks to my expert on all things British, the delightful Eden Darry, and my beta reader extraordinaire, Leigh Hayes. To my word count and writing process buddies—Maggie Cummings, Erin Zak, Carsen Taite, and Georgia Beers—thank you for all the processing, motivation, and occasional flashes of inspiration. Thanks to the whole team at Bold Strokes Books, most especially Ashley Bartlett. Your feedback makes me slightly cooler, way smarter, and an all-around better human.

  Finally, thank you to everyone who has given me the gift of buying and reading my books, and for the kind words and encouragement along the way. You’ve given me more joy than you know.

  Dedication

  For Mitch

  My favorite Anglophile

  Chapter One

  Lauren’s head spun, making her queasy. This could not be happening. Her eyes darted around the room as she searched for cameras or some other sign she was the butt of a cosmically terrible practical joke. There were no cameras, no Ashton Kutcher lurking behind the furniture. But there were two security guards, each holding a box. “I—”

  “Ms. Montgomery, I would encourage you not to make a scene.” Eric, her boss, looked at her with something that resembled regret. Like he knew this was bullshit but didn’t have the balls to do something about it.

  It was not only bullshit, it was probably a setup. On the heels of that revelation came the realization of exactly who stood to gain by setting her up. Betrayal twisted her stomach as anger pulsed through her veins. Lauren closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath. She wouldn’t vindicate herself by yelling or throwing things or having herself forcibly removed from the building. Although every fiber of her being told her to fight back, this wasn’t the way to do it. No, causing a scene now would make her look desperate. Desperation was a sign of weakness. She was not weak.

  She moved to take the boxes, but Eric lifted a hand. “They will escort you down.”

  Lauren turned and walked straight to the elevators, past the conference room where she’d nailed a pitch just two days before, past the reception desk with the KesslerAldridge logo hanging behind it. She held her shoulders back and her chin high, but refused to make eye contact with anyone she passed. Part of her wanted to know if her colleagues’ stares were curiosity or condemnation, but looking wasn’t worth the threat to her composure. She was holding on to that by the thinnest of threads and couldn’t risk losing it.

  The ride to the lobby passed in a blur. The next thing she knew, she was sitting in the back of a cab, a box on her lap and another one next to her. The butterfly orchid that had been a gift from her father for landing the Starbridge account poked out of the box in her lap, its blossom broken off in all the jostling. Something about the sad, flowerless stem broke something in her. Tears welled up. She blinked furiously, reining herself in with the pathetic image of smeared mascara and a runny nose.

  She just needed to get home, to the quiet and privacy of her apartment. She could fall apart there, and then figure out what the hell she was going to do.

  Two blocks shy of her building, her phone buzzed. She fished it from her purse, almost too afraid to look. It wasn’t a call though, or even a text. It was a calendar alert. She had the meeting with the attorney about her great-uncle’s estate in fifteen minutes. Fuck.

  The cab pulled up to her address and the driver turned to look at her. “You need a hand unloading?”

  “Yes. And actually, we’re just dropping them off. I need to go back downtown.”

  He gave her a funny look but didn’t argue. Why would he? He wasn’t likely to pick up a return fare in her neighborhood at ten in the morning. “You got it.”

  She hefted the box in her lap and got out, not waiting to ensure the cabbie followed. Seeing her approach, Nevin opened the door and held it. If he was surprised to find her returning from work an hour after leaving, he didn’t show it. He offered her a nod and his usual smile. “Good morning, Ms. Montgomery.”

  “Good morning, Nevin. Would you see these two boxes make it to my apartment? Right inside the door is fine. I’m running to a meeting.”

  “Of course, Ms. Montgomery.”

  She handed him one box and gestured for the cabbie to set the other on the counter of Nevin’s desk. “Thank you.”

  Back in the cab, she gave the address of the law firm and then closed her eyes for a moment. She had no desire to keep this meeting, but hopefully it would be quick. And maybe Uncle Albert had left her a giant pile of money that would make her care less about her entire career going up in a conflagration of false accusations. Yes, it was far-fetched, but she’d have said the same thing about getting fired a couple of hours ago.

  Twenty minutes later, she found herself shaking the hand of a nervous-looking lawyer and apologizing for running late. Mr. Brightwater pushed up his glasses and shook his head. “It’s no trouble, ma’am.”

  If she wasn’t having the shittiest day of her life, she might find him entertaining. But since she was, she wanted to get this over with and get on with it already. “So, how does this work? I must confess I’ve never inherited anything before.”

  “If you’ll take a seat, I’ll walk you through the provisions of the will and answer any questions you may have.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Mr. Brightwater started talking. It took more effort than she cared to admit to remain focused. She caught no surviving children and something about his favorite niece, then realized she was the niece. Even though she’d met him maybe half a dozen times in her life. All his worldly possessions. The Inn at Netherfield Green. Rose & Crown pub. Derbyshire.

  For the second time that day, her head spun.

  Eventually, he stopped talking and Lauren just stared. Surely, she’d misheard him. “A pub? As in public house, as in bar.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He pushed his glasses up for at least the tenth time. Did she intimidate him or did he always have that nervous energy? “It’s also an inn with twelve rooms.”

  She shook her head. Officially the strangest meeting she’d ever had, which given her morning, was saying a lot. “What am I supposed to do with an inn?”

  “Well, Ms. Montgomery, you own it, so you may do whatever you’d like with it.”

  She owned an inn. And a pub. In England. From a great-uncle she’d met a handful of times. Insane. “Including sell it?”

  He frowned. “There’s nothi
ng in the will that would prohibit it, once you’ve taken possession.”

  Maybe this wouldn’t be all bad. Sure, inheriting money would have been a lot easier, but if she could sell it quick for even three or four hundred grand, her nest egg would almost double in size. That would give her time to hire a lawyer and strategize her next move. Like suing KesslerAldridge for an obscene amount of money and vindicating herself and her reputation. And making Philip suffer, because did she ever want him to suffer.

  Mr. Brightwater cleared his throat. Clearly, she’d gotten ahead of herself. She refocused her attention on the task at hand. “And when can I take possession?”

  “As early as next week. You do need to be physically present, however. That is one of the stipulations.”

  She could handle a few days in the UK. A couple of nights in London, some shopping, a quick jaunt to Derbyshire. Wherever the hell that was. “Perfect. I’ll arrange travel and let you know the details. Will you be handling that side of things as well?”

  For the first time since the meeting started, Mr. Brightwater seemed to relax. “No, Ms. Montgomery. I’m based here in the US. There will be a local solicitor to manage that end. I’ll be happy to give you her contact information. I believe she helped your uncle create his will.”