Corina hesitated. Follow or flee? Follow or flee!
Adelaide paused on the first step. “Are you coming?”
Follow.“Y–yes, yes I’m coming.”With faith.
As they climbed the stairs, Adelaide ran a narrative. “Like I said, the Manor was built by King Stephen I, for his true love.”
“Magdalena?” After brushing up on her history, Corina had high expectations for Hollywood’s depiction of the larger-than-life King Stephen I and his queen.
“Oh yes. Weren’t they the greatest of loves? Together they built the House of Stratton, established this kingdom. Oh, such was a trying time for the newly independent nation, but Stephen I and Magdalena loved well through—”
“Excuse me? What did you say? Loved well?”
“Yes, they knew how to love well. Magdalena was the woman who won the king’s heart.” Adelaide prattled on without answering, pausing on the third-story landing, breathing deeply. “She fought in King Stephen’s army against Henry VIII. Their love was the foundation of the new kingdom. Such a gift, such love.” Her blue eyes peered through Corina. “Don’t you agree?”
“I–I suppose I do.” Why did this woman speak as if she knew something?
Adelaide smiled down at her. “It’s important to know history.”
“Ladies, these burdens don’t get any lighter standing here listening to you gab.” Brill huffed and gruffed, but the tender old man would never blow down anyone’s house.
“Hold your horses, Brill. We’re going.” Gathering her wind and her skirt, Adelaide bounded up the steps, the gold medallion rocking from side to side, the keys in her pocket jangling.
Corina followed, rounding the narrow curved staircase to the next landing. “I’m looking forward to the film’s portrayal of Magdalena.” Come to think of it, the first queen would make a great sidebar to go along with her premier piece, and this woman seemed to be somewhat of an expert.
“Oh, they won’t do her justice. You can’t contain a woman like Magdalena on a movie screen. Such a beauty, she was, very much like you.” Adelaide glanced back at Corina. “Dark hair, olive skin, eyes like amber stones. Independent. Brave, taking up her brother’s sword when he was killed in the serf war.” Adelaide paused on the fourth-floor landing for a deep breath, her eyes glossing over with a faraway gaze. “Oh how King Stephen loved her. Enough to defy his privy council. He wanted her at their table but his generals did not. She was too strong for those men. It was Stephen’s first test at loving well.”
Adelaide pressed on to the fifth-floor landing, the old wide board steps creaking.
“Test? What do you mean?”
“Could he be king and servant?” Adelaide raised her finger. “’Tis the number one rule in the kingdom.”
“In Brighton?”
“Inthekingdom. To rule one must serve.”
Corina stuttered her next step. What was she talking about?Thekingdom.
“Get along, lassie. Me arms are tired.” Brill gently bumped her shoulder, and Corina stumbled along the dark passage under a low, exposed-beam ceiling.
“Hold yer horses, Brill. I’m a-telling her about the kingdom.”
“Are we talking that already?” Brill adjusted the suitcases in his grip. “You said to let the girl rest.”
“I see, today you decide to listen to me and quote meself backtomeself.” Adelaide led the way down a narrow corridor toward a wooden door while Brill grumbled in his chest and Corina snickered softly.
What a hoot, these two. How she got picked for this adventure she’d never know, but she made a mental note to keep an eye out for hidden mikes and cameras, and take notes for yet another story to go along with the movie review and premier story.
At the door, Adelaide worked a key into the lock and twisted the knob, exposing a grand, sprawling room that ran the length of the inn.
Corina hesitated, peering inside before going in. It was beautiful, inviting, and despite the icicles of trepidation about this place, the kindness of Adelaide and Brill stoked the furnace of peace growing in her spirit.
She hadn’t known what to expect of a room here, given the condition of the Manor, but the space was exquisite, state of the art, with an open, vaulted ceiling, cream-colored, textured walls, and polished, gleaming hardwood floors.
A fragrance hovered and Corina breathed it in, filling her lungs.
As Corina passed into the room, Adelaide handed her the key. “You won’t need it, but I pass it along as a sign.”
