Hers to Keep (Irresistibly Bound 3)

They returned to the entrance hall and continued through the manor, from the ground floor up. June pointed out various rooms. There was a gym, a home theater, a library, even a lap pool. It was like there was a room for everything.

Finally, they reached a set of white double doors. June stopped before them. “These are Camilla’s rooms. You’re explicitly forbidden to go beyond this point. Camilla likes her privacy.”

Lindsey nodded. “Where is Camilla, by the way?”

“Camilla will be with you when she can,” June said.

What does that mean? But Lindsey could tell by June’s expression that she shouldn’t pry.

“Now, let me show you around outside. There are several gardens on the grounds as well as a swimming pool and tennis courts.” June turned and started back down the hall. “There are stables too, but we haven’t had horses here in years.”

Lindsey glanced at the doors to Camilla’s rooms one last time, then walked away.

It wasn’t until later that evening that Lindsey finally got to test out her bed. It was just as comfy as it looked.

She sank into it and closed her eyes. This was the life. She’d spent the day exploring the manor and the grounds, taking in the beautiful scenery. The old Lindsey would have loved to sketch it. A small part of her wanted to. But she didn’t have her art supplies anyway. She’d also found an overgrown hedge maze, which she’d quickly gotten lost in. When Lindsey had finally gotten out, she’d found a quiet corner in one of the gardens, among sculpted topiaries and marble statues, and called Faith to reassure her that Camilla hadn’t kidnapped her.

Where was Camilla? June hadn’t specified whether Camilla was in the house or not. Lindsey found herself wishing Camilla had been the one to show her around the manor.

Her stomach rumbled. June had served Lindsey lunch after the tour. She hadn’t eaten since then. She was debating whether to call June and ask, when there was a knock on her door.

Camilla? Lindsey leaped up and opened it. But instead of Camilla, she found June.

“Oh,” Lindsey said. “Hi, June.”

“Would you like to come down for dinner?” June asked. “Or, I can bring something up.”

“I’ll come down.” Lindsey paused. “Is Camilla going to be there?”

“Not tonight.”

“Why not? Is everything okay?”

“She’s… indisposed,” June said.

Lindsey frowned. What did she mean by that?

To Lindsey’s surprise, June gave her a reserved, but sympathetic smile. “She’ll be with you when she can. Now, let me take you to the dining room. Finding your way in this house can be difficult at first.”

“Thanks, June,” Lindsey said.

“No need to thank me. Camilla has instructed me to make you feel as at home as possible.”

That was nice of her. But what Lindsey really wanted was to see Camilla.

Where was she?

Chapter Seven

The next morning, Camilla didn’t appear at breakfast. By the afternoon, Lindsey still hadn’t seen her, but she’d glimpsed June carrying a tray of food into Camilla’s quarters after lunch.

Was this normal? Was this how it was going to be? It seemed unlikely that Camilla would pay Lindsey an outrageous amount of money to come live here if she wasn’t going to spend any time with her.

Once again, Lindsey had spent most of the day exploring the grounds and the gardens. As she walked back inside, she almost ran into June.

The housekeeper was carrying a tray laden with tea, coffee, and pastries. “I was just coming to find you, Lindsey. Camilla wants to see you.”

Finally. Lindsey had been starting to feel rejected.