Page 104 of The Keeper and I

Chapter 27

“Thisisthelibrary,”Laci said as she guided Tessa inside.

Tessa snapped photos of the entryway, the sliding ladder across the back wall, and the paintings on the walls between the shelves. She’d been clicking away all day once Laci gave her permission (and had cleared everything with her parents). Tessa ran a hand over the thick leather volumes in front of her, a wistful smile on her lips.

“This is incredible,” she said. “And pure class from your parents to keep the integrity of a home like this. I can’t tell you how many perfectly whimsical old homes are being turned into minimalist hellscapes.”

Laci chuckled. “Our family is far from minimalist. Besides, we like the character of it. I’m a bit ashamed by how little I know of the actual history.”

Throughout the tour, Tessa had had more than one question Laci didn’t know the answer to, mostly about the Colfields and their time in the home before it passed out of their family. Laci’s parents hardly talked about them.

From the time she was young this had always been the Miller’s house. She glanced at the painting of the family from the early nineteenth century with the daughter’s burned away face, and an ache bloomed in her chest. She wasn’t sure if it was because she still felt sorry for the girl or if it was because the last time she was here, it had been with Jordan, and she missed him like flowers miss the rain. Tessa followed her gaze and blinked.

“What happened there?” she asked.

“Not sure,” Laci said with a shrug. “We think the daughter must have done something to upset the family.”

Tessa stared at it some more. “Poor Lady Caroline.”

Laci sucked in a sharp breath. “What?”

“The daughter, her name was Caroline,” Tessa said. “Not much is known about her because she died as a young adult, wee critter. It seems Lord Colfield got rid of any reminders of her.”

With everything going on with Dane and the tension with Jordan, Laci had nearly forgotten about the mysterious Caroline and Samuel.

She didn’t have long to dwell on them before Tessa spoke again.

“Why didn’t you join your family this weekend? Surely there’d be more craic in that than playing tour guide.”

Laci shook her head. “Not at all. I’d go with my mum, but my grandmother hates my job and finds any excuse to tell me how inappropriate it is for a young lady to be photographed in her undergarments.”

“Jesus,” Tessa scoffed.

“I can’t go shooting because I can’t bear the sound of gunfire. I went once when I was younger and was petrified. Had an absolute meltdown.”

“Did you now?”

“Yeah. I don’t know where it comes from. Guy Fawkes Day is a nightmare for me.”

Tessa chuckled. “I imagine so.”

“Thank God for noise canceling headphones.” Laci clapped her hands, ready to change the subject. Especially after yet another reminder of Jordan, who had been her comfort when she had been without her headphones. “Now that you’ve had the tour, how about dinner? The cook’s already left, but there’s plenty of leftovers in the kitchen.”

“That’ll be grand.”

The kitchen was in the lowest level of the house, almost like a basement. Laci’s parents never had one put upstairs to maintain the historical accuracy of the home, which was a bit burdensome when making a meal because they’d have to bring it up to the dining room, but they didn’t mind. As kids, she and her brothers would race to see who could get their platter to the dining room fastest without spilling anything. Laci was the reigning champion.

Once there, she pulled some stools up to the prep counter and retrieved some meats, cheeses, fruit, and bread. She served it with a bottle of cabernet, which Tessa initially protested, but Laci insisted it was no trouble to open a bottle. They had hundreds, after all.

“Tessa, can I ask you something personal?” Laci wondered as they ate.

“Sure,” Tessa replied. “If I don’t care to answer, I’ll let you know.”

“Certainly,” Laci said. She shifted her weight on the stool, suddenly unsure. “Um…have you ever been in love?”

Tessa set down her wine glass and cut her gaze from Laci’s. “I have.”

“May I ask with whom?”

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