Page 24 of The Devil’s Lair

Even then, I went back and forth until I realized accepting help isn’t the same as giving up control. Marcus would tell me I was useless, weak, and nothing without him. I see now that it was all a play to exert his power over me. Tobias has been kind, gentle, and patient, everything Marcus didn’t know how to be.

I’m going into this with my eyes wide open. I’ve weighed the risks, and I’m making an informed decision for myself and for Isla. It’s not like it’ll only be Tobias and me there. His entire family live at Oakleigh, plus staff. I’m not on my own.

Despite that, though, my stomach’s in knots as the car Tobias sent for us winds its way through massive wrought iron gates with tighter security than Buckingham Palace. It takes seven minutes driving to get from the imposing front gates of the Oakleigh estate to the house itself. Seven whole minutes in a car that wasn’t exactly trundling along.

Wealth on this scale makes the La Salles look like paupers. It’s massive. Overwhelming. Scary.

The car rolls to a stop, and before I can reach for the door handle, it’s opened for me. I have a feeling a lot of things magically happen with this family. Or maybe it’s just Tobias who makes the magic happen.

For her comfort, and mine, I hold tightly to Isla’s hand. A man in his early sixties, dressed in a smart suit, with gray flecks in his thinning hair, greets us at the door with a reassuring smile. Tobias’s father, maybe?

“Mrs. La Salle. Welcome to Oakleigh.”

“That’s Alan,” Tobias says, appearing on my left. “My father’s butler.”

Good Lord, an honest-to-goodness butler. What world have I been thrust into?

I hold Isla tighter, tugging her close to my side. A younger man hurries past us. He pops the boot and takes out the suitcase I’d packed to run from Felicity’s custody threat.

“I thought it was your father,” I whisper to Tobias.

“I asked my family to give you some space.” He motions to the entranceway. “Once you’ve had time to settle in, I’ll introduce you to everyone.”

That feels… like something I’ll be happy to avoid. Permanently. Once again, doubts raise their head. I’ve let a stranger into my life, and now I’m in his domain. At his mercy. Have I put us in more danger than the danger I was running from?

I peek up at Tobias, and the momentary panic fades. He’s a stranger, yet he’s also been nothing but kind to me. He’s on my side against Felicity and Preston, and that counts for a lot with options as limited as mine. It’s hard to admit that I can’t fight my in-laws alone. I have no money, no assets, no contacts. Without Tobias stepping in to help me, Isla is as good as lost to me.

I refuse to let that happen.

Sure, I’m out of my depth, but I can cope with some mild discomfort if it means staving off a custody battle. Felicity won’t give up easily. I’m hopeful a family such as the De Vils has a broad reach.

The opulence that greets me when I step inside unhinges my jaw. How do they get to those chandeliers to clean them? Even a ladder wouldn’t reach, the ceiling is so high. Perhaps they have to put up scaffolding. They’re spotless, so someone must clean them. Ahead of me, a sweeping staircase leads to the upper levels, and the wooden floor had to have cost a fortune to lay. Not that someone with a house this big needs to worry about such things.

“It’s a lot to take in, I know.”

“It’s… I have no words.”

“I’ll have Alan laminate a map.” Tobias winks.

“Mrs. La Salle’s and Miss Isla’s rooms are ready, sir.”

“Thank you, Alan.” Tobias cocks his head. “Follow me.”

I glance down to check on Isla. She’s glued to my side, sucking her thumb. This is a lot to absorb for both of us. We’ll be fine. We will. Besides, it’s only for a week or two. Long enough for Tobias’s lawyer to do what’s necessary to get Felicity off my back, but not long enough for this to become the norm. I’m sure I can still be his assistant without actually living here. If the job offer is still open, that is.

I squeeze Isla’s hand. “Do you want me to carry you?”

She shakes her head. We begin the slow walk upstairs, but I don’t hurry her. Tobias matches our pace, chatting about the history of Oakleigh and how long it’s been in the family. Which, by the way, is centuries. Paintings of people and landscapes in fancy gold frames line the walls along the second floor. Eventually, Tobias stops outside a door with intricate carvings etched into the wood.

“This is you.” He opens it, then motions for Isla and me to enter. Tentatively, I step over the threshold. Inside is a living room with a comfy couch and two armchairs organized around a glass coffee table. There’s a TV affixed to the wall and a small bookcase crammed with what looks like children’s books in the corner. There’s also a toy chest overflowing with the kinds of toys a child Isla’s age would love.

“Your bedroom is through there, and there’s an adjoining bathroom, too. I asked the staff to put Isla’s bed in your room. I thought you would both be more comfortable sleeping in the same room.” He shrugs. “Strange house, strange people.”

Isla’s hand slips from mine, and she races over to the toy chest.

“Isla, no,” I say as she plucks out a toy. “They don’t belong to you.”

“It’s okay. They’re hers.”