Devotion(8)

“It fits perfectly,” Elina says approvingly.

“Like it was made for me,” I reply, agreeing.

“Probably because it was.”

I look at her in the mirror, our eyes locking on each other. She’s so sweet. I wish my mother was a little bit more like her. She walks over to the far wall and picks up a pair of sandals. They are a soft pink with flowers along the top. “These would look nice with that dress.” She bends down like she is going to put the shoes on me herself.

I try to stop her. “Oh, you don’t have to do that,” I insist, feeling uncomfortable that she’s waiting on me.

“I want to,” she says, smiling. Hesitantly I lift one foot, letting her slide one on, then the other. “I always wanted a little girl to dress up.”

I turn to look in the mirror again, loving the shoes and the dress equally.

“Come sit.”

I sit down at a vanity, and she starts to brush my hair out.

“Why is he doing all this? I don’t understand what’s happening. These clothes had to cost more than my tuition for this private dance school.”

Elina doesn’t answer me. Instead she pulls out a ribbon and ties it into my hair. “You have the softest hair.” She gifts me with a compliment and changes the subject. “Now I can feed you and show you around.” She steps back, looking me over. “Perfect. You finish getting ready and I’ll meet you in the kitchen. You have anything in mind to eat? It’s already afternoon, but if you still want breakfast we can do that.”

“I’m okay with whatever is easiest.”

She rolls her eyes at me. “Come on now. How about French toast and bacon?” My stomach growls at her words. “Guess that’s a yes.” She leans down, kissing me on the cheek, before turning to leave. I stand there still feeling like I’m in some haze, not entirely convinced that all this is real.

“Go with it,” I mumble to myself, wanting to soak all this up.

After making quick work in the bathroom, I practically run to the kitchen. Half because I want the food and half because I’m desperate to see Noah again. I wonder where he is.

Disappointment hits me when I see he’s not downstairs. Elina looks up from the pan she’s frying bacon in and smiles. “Sit,” she tells me, motioning to a seat that already has a plate with food on it. I do as I’m told and take a seat then start eating.

“So where is Noah?” I try to say it as casually as possible. I look up through my lashes to see her smiling at me again.

“I would guess he’s working. He’s always working.” She pauses and takes the bacon off the stove. “I’m hoping that will change soon.” She brings the plate over to me and then picks up her coffee and takes a sip.

“Why would that change?” I ask, wanting to learn as much about him as I can.

Instead of answering me she nods to my plate and motions for me to eat.

“When you’re finished eating I’ll show you around.”

With those words, I concentrate on eating what’s on my plate so that I can have a look at this castle. And maybe partly because I want to see if we’ll run into Noah.





Chapter Six





Noah





I had a walkway built from the main house to the studio for Aurora. There are glass doors that run along both sides that can be opened to let the breeze from the sea come through.

That’s how I heard the music.

I was in my office on a conference call when I heard something coming from the studio. The fact that I had it built within sight of my office is no accident. Just like Aurora coming to be here with me.

The people on the call kept talking about numbers and profit shares as I walked to the balcony and looked out. I could see the glass doors were ajar and there was movement in the studio.

“So she’s found it,” I say to myself before I hear more people on the phone talking.

Walking over to the phone I end the call without saying a word. I’ll deal with them later. Just as I take a step away from my desk, Elina appears.

“She’s had a late start to the day, but she seems very happy. We toured the house and the gardens before I showed her the dance studio.”

She smiles at me and clasps her hands in front of her pristine apron.

“And?” I ask as she waits for me to tell her to go on.

“She enjoyed the media room very much. I don’t believe she was allowed television at home. And also the grotto. She was excited to have a place indoors to swim while the weather is cool.”

“What did she think of the studio?” I’m hesitant in my question, fearful that it wasn’t up to her standards.

“She said that I saved the best for last.”