Page 34 of In Dangerous Water

“It’s red and blue,” he informed me. “You can see it.”

Danielle raced ahead to one of the hotel doors. She waved at someone inside and then giggled as a tall, buff man opened the door for the child with a flourish.

“Allow me,” he said.

“Hi Charlie!” the twins said, once again in unison.

“Hey kids.” The man smiled at them and gave me a polite nod. “Ms. Golden.”

“Mr. Smythe,” I said, reading the name tag on his jacket’s lapel. ‘Security Officer’ was also printed beneath his name.

“You can call me Charlie, ma’am,” he said kindly.

Internally I stiffened up. I’d had more than my fill of cops lately. And if the rugged man wasn’t one, then he was a former soldier. With his build and short haircut, he had a distinct military air about him. However, despite my unease, I made sure that when I spoke to him, my tone was polite. “It’s nice to meet you, Charlie.”

“Did Mr. Marquette already give you the security team’s numbers?”

“Yes, he did,” I said as we walked in a side door to the main ballroom.

There was work going on in the room, and the kids automatically stayed to the far side and out of the way of the workers setting up banquet tables and chairs. The staff smiled and waved to the kids, and I was informed by Charlie as he escorted us through, that there was wedding and reception scheduled for Saturday.

The place was a bustling hive of activity. Charlie easily led the way down the hall, past another smaller event space, through the hotel lobby, and out to where the public restrooms and museum room were located. Finally, we came to a locked door at the end of the hall, and he pulled a key card from his pocket.

I noticed as we had moved through the commercial side of the building, that every staff member had greeted him with a respectful nod or a smile. “Thanks,” I said as I passed him and stepped into the private side of the mansion.

“Of course,” he said. “Let me know if you need anything.”

“I will,” I promised as the twins raced each other up the stairs to the family level.

The door closed behind him, and I was left in the pretty foyer with Danielle.

“Charlie works with us,” she said, her eyes searching my face. “He watches out for us. He’s nice.”

Those deep blue eyes seemed to look right through me. I smiled at her and changed the subject. “Why don’t you show me your room?”

“Okay. Come on!” Danielle bolted up the stairs. “Maman!” she shouted. “Cordelia is here!”

After a quick hello to Gabriella, I was given a tour of the family wing by Danielle. I’d never been up in the family area before and was admittedly very curious to see it. As we walked up the stairs together, I could feel the wards drop into place. Gabriella had the family wing of the building seriously protected by magick.

As we walked down the hall, I could have sworn I spotted bind runes shimmering on the walls out of my periphery. Typically, such magick was visible only in the astral realm, but these sigils were strong enough that they bled over into the mundane world.

Whoever had put protection on this house had not been playing around. But considering the intense series of hauntings and all of the other paranormal problems the daughters of Midnight had dealt with in the past, I did not blame her one bit.

I made a mental note to discreetly ask Gabriella about it at the first opportunity. It would be a good idea to put some magickal protection on the carriage house while I lived there as well.

The second floor of the eastern wing was comprised of a big family kitchen, an attached great room, and a powder room. The third floor held three bedrooms, with a Jack and Jill bath. On the opposite side of the hall, another suite boasted amazing views of the bluffs from its big stone balcony.

“Mamanand Papa’s rooms are up there.” Danielle pointed out a doorway that opened onto a short hall and another set of stairs.

Past that, the third-floor hall led to the turreted tower and there was a sort of den or a library. A massive stone fireplace was flanked with curving bookshelves, and leather chairs and a sofa were all arranged to face the fireplace. On the far side of the room was a desk and a modern computer. Danielle informed me that it was her mother’s desk, and I smiled over the dark academia style Halloween décor that was arranged across the thick wooden mantel.

I suppose it should have been grand and imposing, yet somehow the Marquette family’s side of the old mansion was comfortable, lived in and very cozy. This was reinforced when I found myself flanked by the twins a half hour later while Gabriella dished up an amazing looking spinach lasagna, and Philippe passed the bread.

The family kitchen was charming with moody deep blue cabinets and rustic butcher block counters. A fire simmered in the hearth of the great room, and the furniture there was sturdy and comfortably worn. Toys were scattered about that connecting room, and children’s artwork was displayed on the fridge.

When Philippe offered me a glass of hisTrois Amiswine, I happily accepted.

He passed me a glass full of red. “I’m pleased that you were able to join us for dinner, Cordelia.”

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