Chapter 13
THIRTEEN
The Hawthorne Hotel took up an entire block and the red brick exterior really was stunning.
Dora had decided to try and look elegant in a simple black dress and her Doc Marten boots.
She felt her jaw drop as Sephy pushed open the glazed doors into the reception area.
Classical music was playing; there was a beautiful flower arrangement that was full centre, of fiery orange blooms which were perfect for the Halloween season.
The sofas and armchairs looked so comfortable that Dora had a sudden urge to throw herself onto one and offer to wait for Sephy down here.
A beautiful, blonde-haired woman walked out of an office tucked away next to The Tavern, which was a stunning, oak-panelled bar and dining room. Sephy held her arms wide open.
‘KrisTina, it’s so good to see you. It’s been too long.’
KrisTina smiled and hugged Sephy back. ‘It really has, what have you been up to, Sephy? How’s the shop in all this Halloween madness?’
‘Crazy, but in the best way. How’s London? How old is he now, twelve?’
‘Thirteen.’
‘Already?’
KrisTina laughed. ‘Already, have you come to dine with us?’
Sephy shook her head. ‘Unfortunately not, although I will make reservations for when Lenny is back in town. This is my niece, Dora, we have been summoned.’
KrisTina arched an eyebrow. ‘Oh dear. I hope your meeting goes well. Clara stormed in earlier in a whirlwind as usual, looking very solemn.’ She turned to Dora. ‘Nice to meet you, Dora, you look just like your aunts.’
Dora liked that compliment because her aunts were the most beautiful women she knew. ‘Thank you.’
‘Make sure Sephy brings you for dinner or maybe breakfast in Nathaniel’s. We serve the best breakfast in town.’
Dora turned to Sephy. ‘Why have we not been before?’
Sephy clapped her hands and laughed. ‘My bad, dear, I will rectify that tomorrow. Lovely to see you, KrisTina, give London a squeeze from me.’
Sephy led Dora to the stunning gold elevators, between the two elevator doors was a beautiful gold letter box. The doors of one elevator opened and they stepped aside to let out a couple with two Golden Retrievers.
Once they were inside and alone, Dora whispered, ‘I feel sick.’
‘Honey, don’t be getting yourself all worked up. Have you got your black tourmaline in your pocket and the tiger’s eye I gave you?’
Dora nodded.
‘Good, then we’ll be fine because mine are stuffed down my bra, so we are well protected.’
‘I thought you said it was nothing to worry about?’
Sephy shrugged. ‘Technically it shouldn’t be, but you can never have too much protection, dear.’
The doors opened on the sixth floor and Sephy exited first. ‘You know this floor is supposed to be haunted, but I stayed on the fifth floor once and let me tell you that was definitely haunted.’
‘How?’
‘I don’t know how, but as I lay in bed, I felt someone gently stroking my back and turned around expecting it to be my then lover. He was in the bathroom, showering and nowhere near to me.’
Dora stared at her with wide eyes. ‘Were you not scared?’
‘No, it was a gentle soul. I think they were trying to tell me something that I was foolish not to listen to.’
‘What could a ghost possibly tell you by stroking your back?’
‘That the guy in the shower was a lying, double crossing cheat who had a wife back home and three kids.’
Dora laughed. ‘Sephy.’
Sephy shrugged. ‘Not my finest moment, but you know I would never have gone there if he’d been honest with me in the first place. Boy I’ve had some losers in my years, but he was the worst of them. I’ve steered clear of men ever since.’
She was striding down the corridor towards a door in the middle. Dora hurried to keep up with her. Pausing outside she reached out for Dora’s hand and squeezed it gently. Then knocked three times and twisted the brass door knob, to step inside. Dora sucked in a deep breath and followed.