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Inside, I picked up my bag from the floor and dumped the contents on my bed. Mom had packed three pairs of pants—two were jeans. A sweater, a favorite sweatshirt of mine, a long-sleeved tee, and a pajama set were also included along with the requisite undergarments. Outside of that, there was a bundle of cash, not green in color. I assumed it was the local currency. I put it beside my passport before I reached the last item. It appeared I wasn’t without resources. It was a cell phone.
It was mine, of course, but had only ever been for emergencies. It wasn’t like I had need to call someone. I switched it on now only to find I had no signal, which meant no calls or access to the internet.
I tossed it back down on the bed and ran a hand through my hair. Where was I to go? The obvious answer was home. But Mom wouldn’t have sent me here if home was safe.
Having turned my head, trying to figure out my next move, I spotted a bathroom to the right of a hearth that lacked fire. Just nearly out of sight, I caught the hint of a freestanding tub.
“Would you like a bath?” the maid asked.
I nearly jumped out of my skin and panted fast as I caught my breath.
“Sorry, miss. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
I shook my head as if it was no bother. “A bath would be lovely,” I said.
She floated in that direction, and I took the time to reorganize my bag, considering I was expected to leave with haste in the morning.
I had just tucked my passport into the sole zippered interior pocket I hadn’t yet inspected when the maid returned. “Your bath is ready, miss.”
“What is your name?” I asked.
She glanced around like I shouldn’t be talking to her until finally she met my eye again. “Fiona, miss.”
“Thank you, Fiona. I’m Elin.”
She bowed her head. “Yes, miss.”
I sighed, unwilling to fight her on calling me by my given name. If I couldn’t figure something out, I wouldn’t be here long enough for it to matter.
Tired and needing to think, I headed for the bath. A quick turn revealed that Fiona had once again disappeared. That gave me the liberty to remove my clothes. I stepped into the piping-hot water with relief. I sank down until only my head was above water as I worked out a plan.
For a girl who hadn’t been outside the confines of my house, much less my city, I was calm. Then again, I’d lived through the stories of others. Whether it was watching people out on the streets or on the TV, reality version or fiction, I’d lived a thousand lives, and this was just another of them.
Part of me still wanted to believe this was just a bad dream I’d wake from at some point. A pinch on my arm reminded me that I was very much present in a strange land in an even stranger castle.
In a castle and in a room fit for a princess. That warmed my childhood heart. I’d dreamed of being swept away by a prince. Instead, I had a grumpy man—or beast—who wanted me out as soon as possible. I groaned and let myself sink under the water.
By the time I unsubmerged myself, I grabbed the towel conveniently on a hook nearby. I stood in the cool water a second before stepping out onto the fur rug. Like a real fur, skinned-from-an-animal rug. I didn’t let myself make judgments. There were so many other things to consider, like how much danger I was really in considering the man that Mom thought would be my savior didn’t want to deal with me.
When I stepped into the room, I almost went for my bag. Instead, I put on the cream-colored old-fashioned nightgown draped on a nearby chair. It wasn’t made from silk, but it felt like the right choice. Its shapelessness would cover me neck to foot, more than the pj’s from my bag.
I had hours before I was forced to leave. With few options and very little to offer Duncan to get him to let me stay, as he’d so bluntly put it, it didn’t mean I shouldn’t try.
Mom wanted me here. She’d somehow known what I would face and the bargaining chips I had to offer. I couldn’t leave without giving it my all to remain here for the time being.
I closed my eyes and exhaled before I stepped out my door once again with nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Five
Fiona was waiting outside the door.
“Can you take me to Duncan?” I didn’t want to waste the precious little time I had searching for him.
Though she hesitated, she nodded.
We walked down to the other end of the hall before taking a winding passage up. Her gaze fell on the closest door before she tucked tail and disappeared.
