Especially since the other woman—Liz, still posted like an eerily attentive doorman—is watching us like we’re a soap opera she’s already been spoiled for.
Iris pulls back, but not without latching onto my hands like she owns them now. Her grip is deceptively tight.
“You’re a little early, and I haven’t quite finished my work,” she says, as if I’m an employee who showed up before my scheduled shift. “Come wait for me at the front desk. I just need ten minutes.”
I subtly try to reclaim my fingers, but nope. Grandma’s apparently been doing pushups and power-lifting over the years.
“I see you brought a friend,” she says, finally releasing me once we stop in front of a mahogany desk with shelves and keys on the wall behind it.
There’s a sharp little twitch in her mouth when she glances at Archie, who I can see glaring at her from the corner of my eye, with all the fury his four-pound body can muster.
“How… nice,” she adds, like she just stepped in something mildly offensive.
I give her a tight smile. “He’s harmless. Practically dead at this point, so I can’t really leave him alone.”
Archie chooses that moment to snort and dig his claws into my collarbone.Subtle, dude.
Iris lets out a sound that might be a laugh—or a sneeze, it’s unclear. “Well, let’s hope that doesn’t happen today. The dead are terribly unhelpful when it comes to paperwork.”
I mean, so are ferrets, but I don’t point that out.
She gestures toward a stool behind the reception desk. “Have a seat, dear. I hate to disappear on you, but this can’t be avoided. I’ll be back faster than a ghost in the moonlight. But do stay right here. Certain areas around here… Let’s just say strangers don’t do well wandering about. And we wouldn’t want you getting misplaced before we get to thefunpart.” Her smile stretches, just a hair past the border of creepy. “Right?”
“Yeah. Right.” I won’t have any time to go exploring anyway. I’ll be too busy sitting here wondering who the hell this kooky woman is, and how I could possibly bemisplaced.
“Good. I’ll be back in ten.” Iris pats my head like I’m five, then she nods at Liz, who follows her without another word.
As the echo of their steps fade down the corridor I already plan to avoid, I let myself take a closer look around in an attempt to distract myself.
The lobby is eccentric. Floor-to-ceiling windows stretch across one side, framed by thick velvet drapes indeep forest green. The chandelier above me is a nightmare of twisted iron and crystal, casting distorted reflections on the black marble floor. Antique furniture sits arranged in cozy clusters that look like they’ve never once been touched, one grouping in front of a large stone fireplace that only has embers left in it.
There’s a smell of old wood, though I don’t see any logs, and cloves—warm, almost nostalgic if not for the underlying scent of something a little too metallic.
Behind the desk, the wall is lined with pigeonholes and old brass keys, like this place hasn’t heard of digital locks. A collection of dusty books and even dustier guest ledgers sits stacked near a massive landline phone that looks like it could summon the dead.
Archie peeks out from my hair with narrowed eyes.
“Yeah, I know,” I murmur, scratching behind his ear. “This place givesvillain vacation homeenergy.”
I roll my shoulders and settle onto the stool. One minute in, and I’m already bored.
There are cabinets beneath the desk, so I decide to be nosy. The first one is toiletries, but not just shampoo and conditioner. No, there are candles, matches, bottles of dried plants I can’t identify, and…nope. I close the door when I see liquid with floating objects. I don’t need to know what kind of crap they keep here.
Though that doesn’t stop me from opening the next one. This has white towels and a stack of folded robes. Each one black cotton with an embroidered NS on the front. Phew. I move toward the third to find snacks and bottles of alcohol.
Chocolate sounds good after my long drive, but ashrill sound makes me jump before I can grab something and sends me tumbling, landing on the hard floor thanks to my hunched position.
I guess that’s what I get for snooping.
When I get up, it’s the ancient phone ringing so loudly that I’m sure the entire manor can hear it. I sit back on the stool and realize Archie isn’t on my shoulder any longer. Panic sets in as my eyes search for him, doing my best not to get a headache from the blaring noise that’s more like a fire alarm than a phone.
It quiets just as I finally spot Archie, wiggling his furry butt toward the door. I knew I should have made him stay in the car.
I move to go take him back, but the phone starts up again, and it’s just so damn loud that I can’t ignore it any longer.
With a sigh, I reach over and lift the receiver. “Hel?—”
“You took long enough. Where’s the hospitality, Iris?” The voice on the other end is male. Deep. Sharp. British maybe? Hard to tell under the impatience. “My mini bar is still busted, and I need my whiskey to sleep,” he adds sharply. “Unless you want me inviting a siren in, I’d suggest you get to Room Four. Now.”
