With that the door closed.
Before I could take a step away to look around, the locking mechanism clicked, echoing in the otherwise silent room. My head began to shake from side to side as my hands trembled. Without taking in any more of the room, I turned, seizing the doorknob and twisting.
The fact that it didn’t move wasn’t a surprise. My overreaction to that realization was. Immediately, I balled my fingers to fists and began to pound on the solid twelve-foot door. “Ian,” I yelled. “Ian.”
It didn’t take long before the lock clicked again and the doorknob moved.
“Miss North.”
“Don’t do that.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I tried to regulate my breathing. “I don’t like locked doors.”
“Ma’am, I’ll be right outside the door—or another guard will. Mr. Ramses wants—”
“He wants me to stay here, for now.” I hoped the last part of the sentence was correct.
“Yes.”
“I will. I won’t even go onto the balcony...if there is one.”
Ian’s forehead furrowed. “The lock is to keep you safe.”
“Who would break in to Mr. Ramses’s home?” When Ian didn’t answer, I went on. “And if someone did, would they get past you?” My new guard’s lips came together in a straight line. “You may keep it shut, just don’t lock it...please.”
“Rest, Miss North. I’ll be outside the door.”
“The door will remain unlocked?”
Ian nodded.
I hadn’t won the war. There was a guard stationed on the other side of the door with strict instructions not to allow me to leave; nevertheless, as the door closed and the lock wasn’t engaged, it felt like maybe I’d won a battle.
Kicking off my high heels, I relished the plush softness of the large rug that surrounded the large canopy bed as I ran my hand over the heavy material of the canopy. The floral rose pattern matched that of the bedspread and drapes. Thick and luxurious, the fabric’s pattern reminded me of those seen in mansions of yesteryear. The walls were white and textured, with dark wooden trim. Even the ceiling was coffered with ornate wood trim, creating multiple boxes at least fourteen feet above.
The furniture appeared vintage. The posts upon the canopy bed and the headboard were made of cherry, heavy and solid. The armoire Ian had mentioned was two-tone, reminding me of furniture my grandparents had when I was young. Everything was clean and spotless. I ran my hand over the top of the bedside stand.
It wasn’t as if this suite were forgotten and covered in dust.
Had my arrival been anticipated?
Once I made my way around the main bedroom, I stopped at the armoire, finding the small refrigerator I’d been promised. Though I was no longer hungry, I reached for a bottle of water, and twisted the top open. The cap made the clicking sound.
After taking a long drink, I resumed my exploration.
Opening doors and flipping switches, I found all Ian had mentioned. Beyond the large bedroom was an exercise room. Though there were multiple pieces of high-quality modern workout equipment and an open space for yoga or exercising, the room was relatively small. I looked up at the large overhead fans.
The bathroom attached to the bedroom made up for the small exercise room. The surfaces glistened with marble tile and shiny faucets with sparkling handles. There was a large glass shower with multiple showerheads and a submerged tub big enough for two. Plush towels hung on the heated racks, and besides the mirror over the vanity, there was also a makeup table with extra lights. When I opened the drawers of the makeup table, I found a variety of cosmetics with brand names I recognized and others I’d only heard about.
That discovery led me back to the bedroom. While the drawers in the dressers were empty, the closet wasn’t. It was sparsely filled. To one side was a robe and long satin nightgown. Feeling the soft fabric, I shook my head. This wasn’t like any nightwear I usually wore. I was more of a boyshorts and camisole wearer. On the other racks were a few tops and a variety of skirts not unlike the one I was wearing, and various other items of casual wear. The shoe rack contained slippers, exercise shoes, and a pair of studded flip-flops.
A quick check verified that everything was my size.
My last place to search was what Ian called the office or sitting room. Opening the door, I was met with the aroma of leather and paper. Closing my eyes, I recognized them as the scents of a library, a place I loved as a child. My focus went to the floor-to-ceiling wooden built-in bookcase filling one wall. With fourteen-foot ceilings, there was even a sliding ladder much like Belle had inBeauty and the Beast.
With all that had happened, the familiarity of the books called to me.
I ran my fingertips over the spines as I read the titles of classics as well as contemporary women’s literature, romance, and psychological thrillers. Many of the titles and authors I’d read, others I had on my TBR, and others were new to me. Pulling a familiar classic from the shelf, I opened the cover and inhaled the scent. There were two drapery-covered windows. Near one was a desk. Near the other window was an overstuffed chaise.
The large bathtub came to mind, but sometime over the last few minutes, a sweeping sense of fatigue had come over me. Reaching for a soft throw over the lounge chair, I curled my legs beneath me as I settled on the soft long chair. With it being nighttime and no sunlight trying to escape around the heavy drapes, I switched on a reading lamp, turned the page to the first chapter, and began to read.