of Hungarian descent.”
“But you’re blonde.”
“It’s not unheard of for Magyars to have lighter coloring.”
“Magyars?”
“Hungarians.”
“Ah. It must give you a real sense of completion, knowing your lineage so well. There’s no question of who you are and where you came from. I don’t think I could trace my family line beyond my grandparents.”
“I’d be happy to help you do a little research if you’d ever care to tackle it.”
“You might come to regret that offer,” she teased. “This house, though, it is amazing. All I expected it to be, and more.”
“I’m glad you approve.”
“I can’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t,” she replied, just as her cell phone rang. “Excuse me.” She pulled it from her back pocket and flipped it open, looking at the display before answering. “Yes, Tomes. What?” She was surprised to hear him babbling about wolves. “Don’t worry. I’ll be careful. Besides, I’m with Corin. He’ll see me home.” She smiled at Corin, pointing to the phone. “Yes, I’m with him now.” She couldn’t believe how angry Tomes got at the mention of Corin’s name. “I don’t want to argue with you right now. I’ll see you later,” she cut him off and ended the call.
“Is everything okay?” Corin asked. “I take it Tomes is in a mood.”
“He was letting me know he saw a wolf near the farm. One little animal and he’s ready to confine me to my quarters.”
“ A wolf?”
“Not you too.”
“He’s right, you need to be careful. You shouldn’t be going into the woods alone, especially at night.”
“You two worry too much. Now, enough about the wolf, what do you say to a tour?”
“Are you sure you’re feeling up to it? It’s a big house…more walking.”
“I’m completely rejuvenated. And I’m not about to pass up this opportunity to see it.”
“All right, then. It will be my pleasure to show the place off.”
Corin led her from the living room to a smaller sitting room beyond, where from the clutter, it was easy to see he spent a lot of time.
“How many rooms are there in the house?”
“Including the library and scullery area, there are sixty-two rooms.”
“You must get lost in here.”
“Sometimes I do feel as though I’m wandering an endless maze.” Corin removed his black Stetson and tossed it on a nearby table, reviving his ash-blond hair with a pass of his long fingers.
“Sixty-two rooms…wow! Who does your cleaning? Do you have a housekeeper…use a service?”
“I have someone come in periodically to give the entire place a thorough go over, but otherwise, I maintain it myself. I prefer it that way. Besides, I only have to upkeep the areas I utilize.”
“You expect me to believe that a single man of your means does his own cleaning?”
“I do have skills, Angelique ,” he smiled. “And I don’t use the whole house. With the exception of the library upstairs, I spend most of my time on the main floor, so there’s not an awful lot to contend with. However, there are several rooms I avoid altogether.”
“And what rooms would those be?”
“The kitchen and scullery areas. I’m not much of a cook, I’m afraid.”
“You have to eat.” Angelique giggled, unable to contain her laugh.
His expression told her that he had no idea what, in their conversation, had suddenly amused her.
“Honestly, Corin, who says scullery anymore?” She giggled again, finding herself feeling freer to speak her mind around him. “It makes me think of Cinderella. You know, from the fairytale. She was a scullery maid,” she explained, repositioning several long, dark tendrils of hair behind her ear. “But life’s no fairytale.”
Corin continued with the tour, showing Angelique through the remainder of the first floor. She took in every inch of the place, admiring the décor of mixed eras, a treasure trove of valuables. The fascinating pieces showcased in every room ranged from furniture and art to breathtaking
“But you’re blonde.”
“It’s not unheard of for Magyars to have lighter coloring.”
“Magyars?”
“Hungarians.”
“Ah. It must give you a real sense of completion, knowing your lineage so well. There’s no question of who you are and where you came from. I don’t think I could trace my family line beyond my grandparents.”
“I’d be happy to help you do a little research if you’d ever care to tackle it.”
“You might come to regret that offer,” she teased. “This house, though, it is amazing. All I expected it to be, and more.”
“I’m glad you approve.”
“I can’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t,” she replied, just as her cell phone rang. “Excuse me.” She pulled it from her back pocket and flipped it open, looking at the display before answering. “Yes, Tomes. What?” She was surprised to hear him babbling about wolves. “Don’t worry. I’ll be careful. Besides, I’m with Corin. He’ll see me home.” She smiled at Corin, pointing to the phone. “Yes, I’m with him now.” She couldn’t believe how angry Tomes got at the mention of Corin’s name. “I don’t want to argue with you right now. I’ll see you later,” she cut him off and ended the call.
“Is everything okay?” Corin asked. “I take it Tomes is in a mood.”
“He was letting me know he saw a wolf near the farm. One little animal and he’s ready to confine me to my quarters.”
“ A wolf?”
“Not you too.”
“He’s right, you need to be careful. You shouldn’t be going into the woods alone, especially at night.”
“You two worry too much. Now, enough about the wolf, what do you say to a tour?”
“Are you sure you’re feeling up to it? It’s a big house…more walking.”
“I’m completely rejuvenated. And I’m not about to pass up this opportunity to see it.”
“All right, then. It will be my pleasure to show the place off.”
Corin led her from the living room to a smaller sitting room beyond, where from the clutter, it was easy to see he spent a lot of time.
“How many rooms are there in the house?”
“Including the library and scullery area, there are sixty-two rooms.”
“You must get lost in here.”
“Sometimes I do feel as though I’m wandering an endless maze.” Corin removed his black Stetson and tossed it on a nearby table, reviving his ash-blond hair with a pass of his long fingers.
“Sixty-two rooms…wow! Who does your cleaning? Do you have a housekeeper…use a service?”
“I have someone come in periodically to give the entire place a thorough go over, but otherwise, I maintain it myself. I prefer it that way. Besides, I only have to upkeep the areas I utilize.”
“You expect me to believe that a single man of your means does his own cleaning?”
“I do have skills, Angelique ,” he smiled. “And I don’t use the whole house. With the exception of the library upstairs, I spend most of my time on the main floor, so there’s not an awful lot to contend with. However, there are several rooms I avoid altogether.”
“And what rooms would those be?”
“The kitchen and scullery areas. I’m not much of a cook, I’m afraid.”
“You have to eat.” Angelique giggled, unable to contain her laugh.
His expression told her that he had no idea what, in their conversation, had suddenly amused her.
“Honestly, Corin, who says scullery anymore?” She giggled again, finding herself feeling freer to speak her mind around him. “It makes me think of Cinderella. You know, from the fairytale. She was a scullery maid,” she explained, repositioning several long, dark tendrils of hair behind her ear. “But life’s no fairytale.”
Corin continued with the tour, showing Angelique through the remainder of the first floor. She took in every inch of the place, admiring the décor of mixed eras, a treasure trove of valuables. The fascinating pieces showcased in every room ranged from furniture and art to breathtaking
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