Page 49

Henry cleared his throat before speaking. “Would you like me to make an appointment for you? I’m sure he’d be willing to come here for a short stay. Conn told me your work prevents you from having much personal time.”

Straight-faced at last, I shrugged and smiled. “Conn is not wrong. We do have work lulls, but right now, that’s not the case.”

Henry glanced at Gale and then back at me. “Are you satisfied with what we’ve done?”

Chuckling, I waved at the chair. “That chair is the best furniture experience of my entire life. And the house looks beautiful. Are these all yer personal things?”

Henry nodded. “They’re from our businesses They’ve been in storage.”

“Not storage exactly,” Gale said, joining our conversation.

I grinned at her mild correction. “They look like they belong here.”

“They were the furnishings for a hotel in Boston that we sold. The new owner wanted to get rid of all the beautiful pieces we’d collected.”

Just as I was ready to ask if they were hoteliers, Henry jumped in to explain. “Those working for us are members of our caste. Every few hundred years, we allow a new caste to spin off with one of our properties. Connlander visits them regularly. He typically combines those visits with his liaisons.”

“Henry, be discreet. Aran doesn’t need to know the details of Conn’s paramours.”

“Paramours,” I said as I giggled at the term. “Ya aren’t telling me anything I don’t know. I’ve been with Conn many times when he’s picked up women. Why do ya think he chooses to look like me? No one ever thinks we’re anything but siblings.”

“I suppose that will change now that he’s settled down with one woman again.”

I chuckled. “I seriously hope so for his sake. He’s promised fidelity to a magickal who casts demons out for a living.”

I smiled as I sipped my wonderful tea. “I don’t keep Conn on a leash, so he’ll do whatever he thinks best. He honors our contract and comes when I call. That’s all I have a right to expect. I’m an only child and he’s been passing himself off as my brother for a couple of decades. It hasn’t felt like playing pretend for a long time. I consider him family.”

Gale smiled softly and sighed. “You are nothing like the others.”

Henry instantly turned to Gale. “She is like Cermait.”

“Well, yes,” Gale agreed. “Aran is a bit like him.”

Henry turned to face me fully. “Beauty should not be divorced from comfort. Even though you appreciate the beauty, Gale and I can tell you are uncomfortable with it. I propose that we connect your bedroom to the room adjoining it. We will turn that end of the wing into your private living quarters with furnishings you choose for yourself. At least part of this residence should be a true sanctuary for you. I hope in time you will make use of all the spaces. This property is quite remarkable for what you paid for it.”

I blew out a breath as I looked at both of them. “Conn, Mulan, and I bought this place as an investment. I’d love a smaller space of my own but I wouldn’t want to do anything to jeopardize our resell value.”

Henry shook his head. “It could only benefit the next owners to have a first-floor master suite with a cozy sitting room. It will add to the value of this house.”

I smiled. “If that’s true, then I’d love to take yer suggestion.”

Henry held up a hand. “I’ll take care of all the details about re-appropriating the space. When I finish, all you will have to do is choose your furniture.”

“Thank you. Since we’re being honest here, Henry, I’m also not comfortable being taken care of so much. Please know that any lack of gratitude I might show is just me feeling overwhelmed by yer generosity.”

“Why would someone taking care of you make you uncomfortable?” Gale asked.

“I guess it’s because all this lavish living is so foreign to me. I’m a simple woman. Gale looks like she belongs here more than I do. More often than not, I’m wearing boots covered in blood or some other disgusting body fluid. I’m in constant need of medical care. Elegance is not part of my DNA makeup.”

Henry pondered me the way a scientist ponders a strange, new idea. I could see in his gaze the moment he made some sort of decision. “Perhaps there’s a way we can look at this house as a mutually beneficial business venture instead of as a museum or hotel.”

I held out my mug when Gale offered me a refill. I even took the cookie she handed me.

Was I being set up? Would I even know if I was?

Though small, the cookie was very good and I ate it in three bites.

“Are you always so mistrustful?” Gale asked with no venom at all. “It’s tea and cookies, Aran. If I wanted to poison you, I would be far more discreet.”