Corina laughed though her skin tightened with chills. She gripped the key against her palm. “A sign? What kind of sign?”
“That it’s yours, Corina. Just believe.”
She froze, rooted where she stood. Did this woman know about Stephen? How? “Adelaide, what’s going on here?”
“Quite loverly, isn’t it?” Adelaide cradled her arms at her waist, smiling as she glanced around the room, quite pleased with it all.
“Quite.” Corina crossed the room, taking it in. The outside wall was a large single-paned window, like the one in the lobby, that framed a breathtaking view of Cathedral City and the River Conour. “It’s beautiful.”
“Think you’d like to stay?” Adelaide’s eyes twinkled.
Corina regarded the strange couple. “I’m not quite sure what to make of you two or this place. Is this some sort of movie stunt? What’s going on here?”
“Movie stunt?” Adelaide patted her hand to her chest. “Mercy no, lass.”
“Then what is all of this?”
“Ahem.” The man of the place stood in the doorway, Corina’s bags in hand. “Where do ye want these?”
“Brill, I’m so sorry. Just put them by the door. I’ll arrange them later.” She took the roller board from him and tucked it in next to a walnut cabinet.
“Yes,” Adelaide beamed. “You will do nicely. You are the one.”
“The one?”
Adelaide’s eyes sparked with a glint that set Corina’s spirit on fire. “Anyway, as you see, here’s your bed.” She patted the massive mattress covered with a cream-and-brown quilt. “It’s made for dreaming, I say.” She moved about the room. “Here’s your sitting corner.” She switched on what looked like an authentic Tiffany lamp. “And the loo is just down this jaunty little corridor.”
Corina followed Adelaide around the bedroom wall into a bathroom haven. Tile and granite with a sunken whirlpool bath, a vanity, a shower with gold fixtures, all washed in the morning light sinking in through a large skylight.
“I don’t know what to say.” About any of it. The inn, Adelaide, her kingdom talk, and the friendship she felt with the odd couple. Corina inspected the porcelain sink, running her hand along the smooth, slate-colored granite.
“Say nothing but that you’ll stay.” Adelaide patted the cabinet’s smooth drawers. “Here are your towels and linens. We’ll leave you to get settled. If you need me, just tug on this here.” She pointed to the thick damask pull next to her bed. “One Old World thing we hung on to. We thought you’d like it.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. Isn’t everything to your liking? The colors, the furniture?”
Corina scanned the room. Very much so. All pieces she’d select. In fact, she’d debated purchasing a cabinet just like the one with the towels and linens. “Why won’t you answer my questions about what’s going on here?”
“My dear girl.” Adelaide grabbed Corina’s hands. “You have just flown all the way from Georgia. We have plenty of time to talk.”
“See, that’s what I mean. How do you know that?”
“My sweets, ’tis me job. Now, take your rest.” She motioned for Brill to start down the stairs. “We’ll bring up tea and cakes, leaving them outside the door. When you hear a knock, you’ll know we was here.”
“Wait! Hold on.” Corina retrieved her purse from the bottom of the luggage pile, digging for her wallet. “Tip. I need to give you a tip.” She offered two ten-pound notes to Adelaide. “One for you and one for Brill. Thank you so much. You’re a life saver.”
Adelaide shoved the money back at Corina. “Keep it. We’ve no use for it.”
“No use for money?” Corina shoved the money at the crazy old woman. “Who on earth doesn’t need money?”
“Folk who are not of this earth.”
“Huh?” The word came as a dull reflex. A weak challenge from her soul to something Corina knew to be true in her spirit. This moment contained something from the Divine.
Adelaide’s soft footsteps echoed down the stairwell as Corina sank through the light of the Tiffany lamp onto the chaise lounge, money still in hand. She was confused but oddly at peace.
While this place made no sense, Corinaknewshe was supposed to be here. Not by her intellect but by her heart. Otherwise, she’d be out of here in a Georgia Bull Dog minute.
