Page 68 of When Hearts Surrender

Gasping, my hand flies to my mouth.A hidden passageway.

A chilly breeze blows from inside the dark tunnel and I shiver. Every instinct inside me screams at me to run away, far away from this eerie dark house with strange noises and morbid secrets.

But the year of yeses mentality. Try new experiences. Control my life.

After the initial fear passes, a burgeoning curiosity rises inside me and, clearly sensing my shift in mood, Silas darts into the space, deciding for me.

“Silas! Come back here!” I call after him, stepping into the passageway.

It’s pitch black, the same musty smell from the mistress’s rooms stronger here.

Patting the walls, I look for a light switch or a candle, anything to give me some visibility. Unable to find anything, I take out my cell phone and turn on the flashlight.

The passageway is narrow with weathered stone walls and cobwebs lingering in the gaps. My pulse is thready as I follow Silas’s sounds that are fading into the haunted silence.

I’m starting to regret my decision. There are some things I should never say yes to.What was I thinking? This is such a bad idea.

Reaching the end of the corridor, I turn left and see a faint light. A simple wooden door is cracked open and gingerly, I step inside.

“Wow,” I murmur as I step through a similar door behind another bookshelf into a beautiful room, which seems to be trapped in time as well.

A wall is lined with bookshelves filled with knickknacks, old books, and scrolls of yellowed paper. My eyes widen when I notice vintage musical instruments lying in the corners of the space—a harp, violin, and a harpsichord, the predecessor of the modern piano. Next to a brick fireplace is a reading chair, and an ornate antique writing desk is nestled on the other side.

There’s a thin layer of dust on everything, and I can only imagine this space has been hidden away and not in use for a long time. I wonder if I there are any secrets here for me to reveal.

The room is dim as the thick drapes are closed, but I can make out the wrought iron table lamps and an exquisite floor lamp atop a dark Persian carpet. My mouth tips into a smile as butterflies beat inside my chest.

This is it.This is the place for my work studio—my little slice of heaven inside the estate.

My heart thumps a righteous rhythm as I’m imbued with ideas for my impossible design collection, all of which I’ll bring to life in this beautiful space that’s calling my name. I’m stepping into history to create history of my very own.

Silas huffs around the room as I open the windows to air out the room. I spot a small stack of towels and a broomstick in one corner. Grinning to myself, I roll up my sleeves and get to work.

Time to make this oasis mine, and later tonight, after I’ve cooled down, I’ll talk to that madman again.

Saving McKenzie Atelier. Animal Shelter charity work. Having a baby. My three goals in this marriage, the first two already in progress.

I won’t let his surly ass attitude detract me from my third goal, from satisfying the hollow ache in my womb. And if somewhere along the way, I find the soulful guy I met at the races, I won’t complain. Not one bit.

We’re going to make this marriage arrangement work, whether he likes it or not.

Chapter 25

The evening bleeds intothe dark night and before I know it, I’ve worked up a sweat tidying up the secret room. Silas has long since trotted back to the main rooms, no doubt exploring the other nooks and crannies in the mansion. Or maybe he’s terrorizing his master.

I snicker, remembering Maxwell’s glower last week when he found Silas with one of his black leather dress shoes in his mouth. I’m sure that was a thousand dollars down the drain.

Standing up, I rub my aching shoulders and wipe away the sweat on my forehead. The room is coming together nicely. I’ve given it a name of my own, Belle’s Elysium, from the Greek word,Elysion; a paradise after life on earth. This place will be my paradise while I’m in this arrangement with Maxwell.

I wonder what the story is about this hidden room and if there are other secret passageways in the mansion. Glancing at the antique grandfather clock by the open window, I noticed it’s approaching eight p.m. I’m going to find Maxwell and talk to him. I’ll extend an olive branch and see if he’s had dinner yet. This arrangement where we’re avoiding each other and him randomly blowing up at me isn’t working.

Eyes on the prize, Belle. A baby and my Silas.He’s hidden inside the frigid asshole.

Mind made up, I turn off the lights and make my way to Maxwell’s room.

Knock. Knock.

No answer. I try again, but the same result. Maybe he’s not there?

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