Page 13 of Eternal Devotion

“Would they want their stories passed along from one generation to the next?”

“Don’t we all?”

“I suppose.”

Echoes of the past were everywhere, and the longer we stayed in this wreck of a room, the more uncomfortable I became.

“Should we continue?”

“Of course.” A sad smile turned the corner of his mouth. “I apologize. My question unsettled you.”

“Not at all. I’ve got the worst case of the heebie-jeebies, is all.”

His smile grew. “The house frightens you?”

“No.” The word came out far too defensive, and I laughed at myself. “Okay, a little, but come on. Look at this place. It’s creepy.”

“It’s charming.”

“It’s really not.”

Our gazes locked, and a lick of warmth stole my chill.

“Alas, I shan’t make you suffer. Lead the way, Mr. Elowen.”

“‘Alas?’”

“What?”

“Who says that?”

“What’s wrong with alas?”

“Nothing.” We shared another shy smile and awkward laugh before continuing the tour.

We spent another hour exploring the vast mansion and all her rooms: a salon, a grand dining room, a drawing room, a proper library, a smoking room, and another Mordecai called a conservatory, but I didn’t understand what that was meant to be. We discovered old servants’ quarters and hidden staircases.

By the time we returned to the lower level, we had seen all there was to see, or so I thought. Entering the kitchen via a servant’s hallway and scullery, we discovered another door. Assuming it was a pantry, I gave a tug, but it was locked.

“Oh. Hang on. I have another key. I was wondering what it was for.”

I dug the ring from my pocket but knew at once none of them would work. The fixture on the wooden door was not newly replaced like the one on the main entrance or the gate chain. It was antique, perhaps as old as the house itself.

Regardless, I tried each of them in turn to no avail.

Frowning, I wiggled the knob. “Shit. I’ll have to ask my boss if there were other keys. I don’t know where this door leads.” I opened the folder of paperwork and paged through the floor plan. “Oh. There’s a cellar.”

I stared at the door, perplexed. “I wonder why it’s locked.”

“I’m not concerned.”

“Well, I apologize. I’ll sort it out and get you a key, or if worse comes to worst, I’ll send a locksmith to open it for you.”

“I’m not bothered, Mr. Elowen. No need to trouble yourself. I can sort it out.”

“Okay. Well, I guess that ends our tour.” I tapped the folder. “A few signatures and I can get out of your hair. Are you sure you don’t want to find somewhere else to stay tonight? I’d be happy to recommend some places in the city.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I’m a bit of a night owl, so I don’t anticipate sleeping.”