The size of the room did not compare to Luke’s, but the living room and dining room of the family homestead combined would make up the square footage. The furniture and decorations had a more delicate touch to them, and fresh flowers filled several vases placed throughout the space.
One of the fancy dressers had a gold and brown marbled top with gold-painted ornamentation plastered all over the rich wood with an intricate inlay design over the entire surface.
Pulling out one of the drawers to test its make, I bent down to inspect the piece. “The design, I think, is French. Based on the notches on the inside, I’d say handmade rather than manufactured. And since we’re in a castle, I would bet it’s an original, but I’m not exactly sure from which century.”
“That would be eighteenth century, miss. And you have a wonderful eye.” Enzo ushered me further into the room.
“It’s the family business,” I said with pride. “We deal in a lot of antiques, although I would imagine I’ve only seen replicas and not the real thing.”
“Then maybe when you have a moment to yourself, you might allow me to take you on a tour to show you some of the really good stuff,” he offered. “The family has lived here so long that they have forgotten to appreciate the quality of the pieces they’ve acquired over so many years.”
“They’ve forgotten what makes a house a home,” I said. “It’s the choices in people and the furniture and decorations.”
“Precisely.” Enzo pointed at an adjoining room. “The lavatory is through there. And your closet will be the next door over.”
I snorted. “What, I don’t get a dressing room?”
“If you would prefer I find better accommodations for you—”
“No, no!” I interrupted, a little embarrassed. “It was a joke. This will be more than enough for me.”
He offered me a smile. “Then I will leave you to it. Tonight’s event should start in about an hour. I hope that will give you enough time to prepare.”
The knot in my stomach twisted into the size of a boulder. “I’ll be ready,” I managed in a weak voice.
Enzo turned to leave but paused. He approached me and took my hand in his. “Remember what you told Master Luca. Present yourself as you wish to be seen and you will have the advantage.” With yet another bow, he left me alone.
I pulled my purse off my shoulder and looked for a place to put it. All of the furniture seemed too nice, and I’d hate for my first act inside the castle to be one that caused any scratches on the fancy pristine wood.
Choosing the door that opened into the closet, I found another room too large to believe. My suitcase sat against the far wall, and when I checked it, I found it empty of its contents. On one side of the closet, my clothes hung from a short rack with the few shoes I packed lying underneath.
On the opposite wall, all of the clothes Luke and I had picked out together in Rome hung in a color-coordinated row. Except there were pieces there I’d never seen. Shoes I had never tried on rested on a built-in rack off to the side.
Feeling a little overwhelmed, I backed out of the room of a closet, my hands gripping over my stomach. “How in the world did I ever think I was going to survive this?” I moaned out loud.
“By holding your head up high, trying your best not to stand out too much, and living by the motto that you’ll have to fake it till you make it,” a smooth female voice answered me.
I jumped, startled by the intrusion. “Holy hexes, you scared me.”
The regal woman smiled, her fangs glistening. “You will really need to work on your peripheral vision. We vampires can move about without making noise, and it’s a good rule of thumb not to be caught unawares by any of us.”
Knowing she could sense my pounding heartbeat, I took a few deep breaths to calm down. The extra moment gave me a second to figure out who I might be talking to, but with so little information to go on, I had no clue.
“I’m sorry, where are my manners.” I wiped my clammy hand on my dress and stuck it out. “I’m Ruby Mae.”
She shook hands with me with a light grip. “I am used to such salutations, but you must refrain from doing the same with the lady of the manor. No need to stand out more than you already will.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “Who are you?”
“My apologies. I thought you might recognize my voice since we spoke on the phone together.” With a slight bob of her head in a show of respect, she addressed me again. “I am Lady Eveline de la Roche. I have traveled all the way from Honeysuckle Hollow at the behest of your friend Charli to help you.”
Chapter Nine
Lady Eveline laced the corset of my dress a little tighter and I gasped.
“Good fashion comes at a price sometimes,” she said, tugging a little harder.
I struggled to breathe. “But if it kills me, will it be worth it?”
“Well, let’s see.” She escorted me out of the closet and planted me in front of another ostentatious mirror. “I think the dark purple was the right choice. It accents the color of your hair. And the cut of the dress shows off your comely figure well.”
I stared at the woman glancing back at me with wide eyes and a bow of a mouth twisted into the shape of an O. She didn’t appear like any version of me I’d ever seen. The side slit up the left leg went so high that I blushed.
“I don’t know if I can pull this off,” I admitted.
“You most certainly can, and you
