"Spider-Man. I did raise three boys of my own. "
"Right. " Stella grabbed another suitcase and a cardboard carton. She felt her muscles strain even as Roz carried her load with apparent ease.
"I meant to ask who else lives here, or what other staff you have. "
"It's just David. "
"Oh? He said something about being outnumbered by women before we got here. "
"That's right. It would be David, and me, and the Harper Bride. "
Roz carried the luggage inside and started up the steps with it. "She's our ghost. "
"Your. . . "
"A house this old isn't haunted, it would be a damn shame, I'd think. "
"I guess that's one way to look at it. "
She decided Roz was amusing herself with a little local color for the new kid on the block. Ghosts would add to the family lore. So she dismissed it.
"You can have your run of the west wing. I think the rooms we've earmarked will suit best. I'm in the east wing, and David's rooms are off the kitchen. Everyone has plenty of privacy, which I've always felt is vital to good relations. "
"This is the most beautiful house I've ever seen. "
"It is, isn't it?" Roz stopped a moment, looking out the windows that faced one of her gardens. "It can be damp in the winter, and we're forever calling the plumber, the electrician, someone. But I love every inch of it. Some might think it's a waste for a woman on her own. "
"It's yours. Your family home. "
"Exactly. And it'll stay that way, whatever it takes. You're just down here. Each room opens to the terrace. I'll leave it to you to judge if you need to lock the one in the boys' room. I assumed they'd want to share at this age, especially in a new place. "
"Bull's-eye. " Stella walked into the room behind Roz. "Oh, they'll love this. Lots of room, lots of light. " She laid the carton and the suitcase on one of the twin beds. But antiques. " She ran her fingers over the child-size chest of drawers. "I'm terrified. "
"Furniture's meant to be used. And good pieces respected. "
r />
"Believe me, they'll get the word. " Please, God, don't let them break anything.
"You're next door. The bath connects. " Roz gestured, angled her head. "I thought, at least initially, you'd want to be close. "
"Perfect. " She walked into the bath. The generous claw-foot tub stood on a marble platform in front of the terrace doors. Roman shades could be pulled down for privacy. The toilet sat in a tall cabinet built from yellow pine and had a chain pull - wouldn't the boys get a kick out of that!
Beside the pedestal sink was a brass towel warmer already draped with fluffy sea-green towels.
Through the connecting door, her room was washed with winter light. Rhizomes patterned the oak floor.
A cozy sitting area faced the small white-marble fireplace, with a painting of a garden in full summer bloom above it.
Draped in gauzy white and shell pink, the canopy bed was accented with a generous mountain of silk pillows in dreamy pastels. The bureau with its long oval mirror was gleaming mahogany, as was the charmingly feminine dressing table and the carved armoire.
"I'm starting to feel like Cinderella at the ball. "
"If the shoe fits. " Roz set down the suitcases. "I want you to be comfortable, and your boys to be happy because I'm going to work you very hard. It's a big house, and David will show you through at some point. We won't bump into each other, unless we want to. "
She shoved up the sleeves of her shirt as she looked around. "I'm not a sociable woman, though I do enjoy the company of people I like. I think I'm going to like you. I already like your children. "
She glanced at her watch. "I'm going to grab that hot chocolate - I can't ever resist it - then get to work. "