Bella
Azoom meeting? The scary, demon-like specter who had taken me back to his castle on the hill had a zoom meeting to get to?
I cleaned the kitchen as I pondered the enigma that was Stone Preston. I had taken a leave of absence from the diner and the bar, where I worked a few shifts a week. I wouldn’t be missed, as they had enough people needing hours on the rota, though I had no idea if I’d get any hours back when I returned. That stung a little, but who was I kidding? Anyone could waitress and pull pints. I was utterly replaceable. Not like I hadn’t already known that. I couldn’t afford to worry about it. Repaying my dad’s debt had to come first.
After I cleaned the kitchen, I explored the rest of the house. In the light of day, Thorn Hill was beautiful. Stained glass windows were dotted here and there, and period features that would make a Good Living home goddess weep were in every corner. The whole place had the wealthy feel of what I imagined an English manor from a Jane Austen movie would look like. The one thing about it was the gloom, but that was easily fixed. I went around the house, opening windows and pushing open the heavy curtains. The dust was on another level. How could Stone live in it? Most of the rooms seemed untouched as if he lived between his office, kitchen, and bedroom.
How was a man who looked like Stone Preston alone in this big, old house? He couldn’t be hurting for female attention. I mean, he was a little eccentric, with one glove and a gruff exterior that some might find off-putting. Not to mention he was comfortable carrying weapons around with him to threaten people. Who was I kidding, though? That probably wouldn’t put anyone off. It was a tale as old as time. Women were drawn to those wicked bad boys—the fixer-uppers they could never quite mend. My mother had been one of them.
I headed upstairs to my room. The dust in there was itching my nose, and if I was going to be sleeping in there for a while, I had to fix it. I decided that every room in the rambling old estate should be cleaned, one by one. That, plus seeing to Stone’s meals three times a day for a few months, and maybe the debt would be cleared. It was wishful thinking. I’d never earned $10,000 in two months, yet I had to do something. I’d agreed to this, and besides, there was something peaceful about Thorn Hill. It was quiet, and the surrounding gardens were beautiful. The house was stunning but needed a little TLC, and its owner… was intriguing, if not a little intimidating. My life, which was usually muted, or paused at a boring section, was suddenly moving again. I didn’t know how to label everything I was feeling, but I certainly wasn’t bored.
* * *
I endedup unpinning the dusty drapes from my room and dragging them outside. I was surprised to find a swimming pool at the back of the house and a nice clean area to hang the heavy material.
“Does the master know you’re poking about upstairs?”
A voice from behind me made me jump and screech. I whirled around to see an elderly man, white tufts of hair sticking out from under his hat, watching me with narrowed eyes. He was wearing overalls and had green rain boots.
“Jesus Christ! You scared me,” I muttered, clutching my chest. My heart felt overly excitable here at Thorn Hill.
The older man smiled. “Thought I was the ghost, did you?”
“Maybe so. I’m Isabella Moore, but you can call me Bella. I’m working here for a while,” I said, starting across the patio and holding out my hand.
He looked at it like I was playing a joke on him. He wiped his soil-stained palm on his overalls and quickly shook my hand. “I’m Samuel, the gardener.”
“The gardener, eh? I didn’t know there was other staff here. I guess you know where the bodies are buried, right?” I teased.
His face remained blank but curious. He tipped his head to the side. “Moore. Any relation to Alfie Moore?”
“His daughter.” I laughed. “How do you know my dad?”
“He worked here a good long spell. Didn’t he tell you?” Samuel asked.
I blinked at him. “No, he didn’t.” That was odd, wasn’t it? Why wouldn’t my father have told me he used to work for Stone?
“Well, the master let him go after Preston Snr passed. What does he do now? Still getting into trouble?”
I grinned again, but my heart wasn’t in it. “Yeah, he has a talent for it.”
Samuel nodded. “Some people never change,” he said quietly, his tone somber.
I shivered, suddenly feeling cold. “Well, I confess, I’m relieved you’re here. It was a little intimidating coming here to this enormous place with Stone.”
Samuel took me in, his eyes running over me. It wasn’t lascivious. He looked sad more than anything. “Don’t worry about the master. He won’t hurt you.” Samuel’s voice dropped to a murmur as he turned away. “He’s not his father.”
He said the last part so quietly, I couldn’t be sure I’d heard him right.
“It was nice meeting you!” I called to him. Apparently, our conversation was over.
He nodded, waving a hand behind him in farewell. Okay, well, now I saw why Stone felt lonely up here, even with a staff member around. Samuel didn’t seem like the chatty type.