Page 27 of Taming Grumpy Dr. Beast

“Thank you.” I wasn’t so sure of that.

“You’re welcome, dear. And please, call me Angela. This Ms. Ketill thing makes me feel old.”

“Then please, call me Lily.” I smiled at her. “Would you like to join me? There looks to be plenty for both of us.”

“I’ve already eaten, but if you don’t mind the company, I’d love a cup of tea before I retire for the night.”

We sat and chatted while I ate.

Not able to help myself, I asked. “So, is there a Mrs. Beast?”

Angela looked stricken for a second before her features smoothed out into a gentle smile. “Jaxon’s personal life isn’t any of my business.”

“I’m sorry that was wildly inappropriate of me to ask.” I smoothed my hand over the table not looking at Angela.

She placed her hand on top of mine. “You didn’t say anything wrong.”

“Thank you,” I said gratefully. “Tell me about your time here.”

Angela released my hand, and after a sip of tea, regaled me with stories about Jaxon’s grandfather and the scrapes Jaxon got into as a teen. She had me laughing before long and wishing I could’ve seen Jaxon at that age.

The night was turning out to be far more pleasant than I’d anticipated. Maybe I wasn’t as alone here as I feared.

Chapter Eight

Lily

Ihummed to myselfas I walked down the halls of the house heading toward the kitchen. This place was massive. At this point I was keeping a running total of all the lefts and rights I needed to take to get back to my room.

It felt like Pemberley, the fictional country estate owned by Darcy, in the novelPride and Prejudice. I should be in heaven, but the aching sense of dread at possibly getting caught in my lie kept me from fully enjoying it. And on top of that, I missed home. I’d tried reading after dinner to relax, but it did nothing to help me sleep. Most nights I fell asleep with a book on my face, but I was still wide awake at midnight. My thoughts constantly strayed to Dad—hoping my absence wouldn’t be too confusing for him.

Maybe a cup of tea will help.

The faint glow of lights met me when I rounded the next corner and came upon the kitchen. I stopped short just outside the doorway. Being a guest, I wasn’t sure how well my new employer would take to me roaming the halls at night.

Not hearing anything, I slipped inside. The light above the stove had been left on, leaving the rest of the room in darkness. I headed toward the gleaming stainless steel six burner stove, noticing the stark white cabinetry that reached the ceiling, and the pristine marble counter that matched.