Page 6 of Take My Place

This is a breath of fresh air compared to the first time I’d come to King Town. Maybe Romy is right. Maybe things are different here.

Now that I’ve seen my new living quarters, I decide the time has come to meet my hosts. It is getting late, and I’m tired. The sooner I thank Mr and Mrs Navarre for their hospitality, the sooner I can shower and go to bed.

Locking up the balcony doors, I head back out of the suite. Johnson is patiently waiting by the doors for me, just as he says he’d be.

“Is everything to your satisfaction, Miss Archaic?”

“It’s lovely, thanks,” I nod. “But please. Call me Ivy.” I hate any reminder of my relationship to my father.

“I’m afraid that would not be appropriate. But I could call you Miss Ivy if you would prefer?”

“That would work,” I smile.

“Then, Miss Ivy, I must ask: are you ready to meet Mr and Mrs Navarre?” Johnson asked.

“Ready as I’ll ever be. Also, could you find some bells and string and have them sent to my room?”

“Of course, they will be there when you return,” he replies and waves a hand down the corridor. “This way.”

Swallowing the nervousness I feel, I make my way to meet one of the Kings of this little town I just tried to escape.

Chapter Four

Iwas right. The Navarre mansion is a veritable rabbit hole. There is no way I was going to be able to find my way around without a map. But, unlike when I was at my father’s, Johnson seems keen to help me learn where things are, and he takes the time while we’re walking to meet Romy’s parents to tell me where corridors lead, what is behind closed doors, and how I could figure out where I was if I got lost.

At last, we come to a halt in front of a solid oak door. Johnson raps smartly on the door before pushing it open.

“Miss Ivy Archaic,” he announces, bowing and gesturing for me to go in. As I walk past, he closes the door behind me, going off to do whatever it is butlers do about the house.

I am in what must be the library, going by all the books lining the walls. In the middle of the room is a large coffee table, with a couple of leather sofas and a reclining leather chair around it. Romy and a woman are sitting on one of the sofas. I assume she is his mother.

There is no doubt that the man sitting on the recliner is Romy’s father. He looks just like Romy, only older.

“Ivy! How wonderful to meet you at last.”Mr Navarre stands up and comes over to shake my hand, as does the woman.“I’m Ben Navarre and this is my wife, Kate.”

“Pleased to meet you Mr Navarre… Mrs Navarre.”

“Oh, let’s not be so formal. You must call us Ben and Kate.”

“Okay… Ben.”

Ben sits back down, Kate taking her place next to Romy, who smiles encouragingly at me.“Take a seat, Ivy. Make yourself comfortable. This is your home now.”

I sit on the empty sofa so I can see all the Navarres. Maybe I am being paranoid, but it is going to be a long time before I am going to be able to relax. I’m on high alert for anything which doesn’t seem right. In my experience, if anything is too good to be true, there is no probably about it. It definitely is.

“Romy told us you were pretty,” Kate says first. “I have to say my boy certainly has good taste.”

“Er… thanks.” I blush. God, this awkward. Do I tell her she is pretty too?

“You two make such a cute couple,” she continues. “I always hoped he would find someone like you to settle down with.”

I frown, tilting my head to one side. “What do you mean, settle down?”

“Romy! Do you mean you didn’t tell the poor girl?” Kate lightly swats his shoulder.

“She just got back. Maybe we could wait for a better moment?”

“What is going on?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.

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