Chapter 33
Lady Bell stood in the massive doorway wearing gray yoga pants and an oversize ruby-colored sweater, her silver hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun.
“So glad you could join us, but I am truly sorry for the circumstances surrounding your stay.” She smiled broadly as Harper pulled her duffel bag out of the back.
Polly had jumped out of the cart and run up the steps to Lady Bell’s feet.
“Hello. You must be Polly. Go ahead, make yourself at home.” She stood aside as Polly sauntered into the manor.
Harper turned to face Lady Bell. “Thank you for having me, and Polly for that matter.”
“You both are very welcome,” Lady Bell said. “Now come on in. Have you had lunch yet?” Harper shook her head. “I’ll have Nigel show you to your room, and then join us in the kitchen.” She nodded and disappeared into the house.
Harper looked back at Anna, who sat in the cart giving her a curious look. “When will I see you?” Harper asked, trying to keep her tone light.
“I’ll be back after I close the gate and make sure the road is clear. I’ll be around, although maybe not where you’ll be, but I’m sure we’ll run into each other.” Anna’s voice was teasing. Harper felt herself blush again and immediately turned her head.
“Hope so,” she stuttered and turned to the doorway as Anna pulled back out and headed toward the iron gates. She cursed herself silently for either stuttering or blushing in reaction to everything Anna said.
“Hello, Harper,” Nigel said from the entryway.
As Harper entered, she saw what Anna’s “besides” back at the house in the village had been about.
The foyer was currently harboring close to fifteen giant cats of all different colors.
Polly had disappeared into the crowd. When Harper looked to her right, she could see more in the formal dining room, draped over velvet chairs and lounging on the dark wood floor.
“I see I’m not your only visitor,” Harper said with amusement.
“Even I think this is odd,” Nigel said, his expression perplexed. “They started arriving shortly after your last visit, and more every day. It must be the storm.”
“I imagine they’re giving you a bit of extra work,” Harper said as she reached down to stroke the ears of a long-haired ginger cat, who purred in appreciation. Nigel’s unease scraped at the nerves in her stomach, the feeling that something much bigger than she could comprehend was brewing.
“Not as much as you might imagine. They are, surprisingly, very well-behaved house guests.” Nigel looked around the room, a knot in his forehead between his eyes. “Come, let me show you to your rooms.” He turned and started upstairs.
“Rooms?” Harper asked as she followed. “I don’t need much.”
“Nevertheless, you have been given it, Lady Bell’s orders,” Nigel said neutrally.
As they reached the second floor, Harper saw two hallways, one on each side of the stairs, which curved to access a third floor.
Over the landing, stunningly intricate stained-glass windows caught the outside light and made the room glow with gold and red.
Nigel waved Harper to the right and they entered a wide hallway with the same dark wood floors and a sea foam and rose traveler rug down the center.
Nigel stopped at the first set of double doors on the left and opened them with a flourish.
“Here you are. Please take a minute to settle yourself and then join us in the kitchen, it’s just a bit past …”
“The dining room, on the left overtop the wine cellar,” Harper finished, her words involuntary.
She was hit with a sudden wave of dizziness, which passed almost immediately.
The nerves that simmered in her gut intensified.
She could clearly see and feel a memory of walking the hallways, tea tray in hand, flames in oil lamps lighting the way.
“Yes,” Nigel said carefully. “That is precisely where it is.” He regarded Harper for a quick moment. “We will have a bit of lunch.” With that, Nigel turned and disappeared.
Harper nodded absently as she entered the room.
This single room was larger than the entire house in the village.
It was larger than Carli’s loft in Jamaica Plain, it was larger than most places Harper had lived.
A stone fireplace lined the wall to her left, a classic styled cream love seat and recliner chair set in front of it.
The oak four-poster bed was against the opposite wall, the bedding crisp and white, covered with a forest-green duvet.
A picture window lined with bright pillows looked out on the back of the manor, and even from the doorway, Harper could see the grounds stretched clear to the cliff drop.
The walls were lined with embedded bookshelves and held what looked to be an eclectic combination of antique and new books.
Harper saw leather-bound copies of The Complete Works of Shakespeare next to Gone Girl and The Parable of the Sower.
Small sculptures, knickknacks, small paintings, a clear crystal orb, mysterious smoky quartz crystals all dotted the shelves between the books.
A wardrobe that would have made C.S. Lewis swoon sat against the wall near the door.
Harper dropped her bag on the low bench at the foot of the bed, pulling out her toiletry case.
The restroom was smoky marble floors and counters.
There was a grand inground tub akin to a small swimming pool complete with spa jets.
Across from the tub was a glass-encased shower, a single giant brass shower head.
Harper realized she was holding her breath.
She dropped her toiletry case on the marble counter, her face cream and toothbrush feeling entirely inadequate for the surroundings.
The mirror over the sink was framed in brass.
Harper stared at her reflection. She was pale, her eyes wide.
She looked like a child in a very elaborate playhouse.
Her reverie was interrupted by a long-fuzzed black cat in the doorway. It emitted a sort of questioning squeak that made Harper jump.
“Hello. Can you let Polly know where I am?” she asked. The cat turned and sauntered out of the room. Harper shook off the fog that had settled in her brain. She headed back to the hall and down the steps, where Lady Bell and Nigel were waiting.