It was too crazy to be real.
Across the courtyard, Corbin opened a smaller wooden door with intricate swirling hinges on the wall of the inner Norman keep, and led me into a small antechamber screened with wooden walls where I removed my shoes and lined them up alongside several pairs of scuffed boots and sneakers.
Corbin picked up my backpack and I followed him into an enormous square entrance hall. A stone staircase swooped up from just in front of the door, flanked by a stunning carved balustrade. My socks scuffed across more uneven flagstones. Every single spare surface of wall was covered with gilded portraits, animal heads, or swords and shields.
Corbin pointed up at the ceiling. I expected to see an ornate chandelier, but instead there was a large hole, revealing a glimpse at the painted ceiling of the walkway above.
“See that?” Corbin grinned. “That’s an original feature of the Norman keep. If the enemy managed to breach this inner door, the defenders could pour boiling water or pitch down on them.”
I shuddered. That was kind of grisly. “Don’t tell me this whole castle is riddled with Norman booby traps.”
“Not too many. We don’t exactly get marauding Vikings attacking these days,” he said. “Unless you count Arthur.”
“Who?”
Corbin grinned. “Another of your tenants. You’ll understand when you meet him in a second. The castle has been a defensive structure much longer than it’s been a residence, so I like that these features help us to remember its history—” his face broke into this sheepish smile that made my heart skip a beat. “Sorry if I’m boring you. I’ve lived here my whole life, and I’m fascinated by the history of Briarwood House. I help with the tours, which is how we keep the place running without selling ourselves on the streets.”
“And you’re also a medical miracle worker.” I held out my arm so Corbin could see how smooth the skin was. “My sister said you knew just what to do, and I don’t have any burns or scars.”
His smile could melt the ice caps. “I’m not a doctor, but I’m good at looking after people.”
That didn’t seem like a good enough answer, but I decided to leave it for now.
“Your parents knew my mother,” I said.
Corbin nodded. “You must have so many questions, and I promise to answer them all for you. But you’ve got to get inside the door first. Come on, the others are chuffed to meet you.”
Chuffed? What is this, a Mary Poppins movie? Do people really talk like this?
He led me through an arched doorway at the side of the entrance hall, down a short passage of more screens lit with glowing wrought-iron sconces. We emerged into an enormous room. Ceiling beams crisscrossed above my head, hiding a roof gable that was so high I couldn’t even see the apex. The walls were covered with a lime wash that had faded in places, revealing patches of bare stone beneath. Tapestries depicting battles and naked dancing sprites hung from every corner, and more swords hung from the walls and beams, and were even slotted through the wrought-iron chandeliers.
A fireplace that was taller than I was stood at one end, with overstuffed couches and beanbag chairs arranged around it. Above the fireplace was an impressive TV screen, with several gaming consoles and controllers strewn across the mat in a tangle of cords.
My eyes were so busy drinking in the splendor of the room that I didn’t even notice the three figures lounging on the couches and talking in low voices until Corbin yelled out, “Look who’s here!”
Three faces whipped around, and my eyes darted between them, not sure where to look first.
There was somuchto take in.
First of all, like Corbin, they were all fuckinggorgeous. I’m talking male model, bodybuilding champions, romance novel cover levels of hotness, and that was with their clotheson.
One hot tenant in my castle was good luck, butfourof them? My stomach fluttered. It was like some crazy hedonistic fairy tale.
What the hell have I got myself into?
For another thing, they were all grinning at me with beautiful, genuine smiles. They didn’t look as though they thought I was some naive girl from the sticks who they could corrupt, or some horrible landlord who would make their lives hell. Instead, my first impression was of friendliness and… perhaps something more.
Or maybe that was just my own sad, lonely hope fluttering in my chest.
Empathy and kindness lurked in their eyes, and I got the sense that they knew what had happened to me back in the States. The press had been all over it, so anyone who searched my name would’ve been able to stream mobile phone footage of the accident.
Somehow, just occupying the same space as them made my breath come a little easier. A weight I didn’t even realize I’d been holding slipped from my shoulders, and the tiniest amount of pressure was released from my chest.
I took a step toward them, and for the first time since the fair and all the tragedy that followed, a smile tugged at the corners of my mouth.
I felt…something.
Maybe this whole living in a castle with four hot strangers thing would be exactly what I needed.
