Page 574 of Flirting with Darkness

Grunting a little at the ongoing theatrics, he decided to ignore his sister’s instructions to remain in his room and “rest.” He hadn’t yet come across his father, but he fully intended to explore as much of the house and grounds as possible over the next few days.

Not wanting to be conspicuous, he tried to decide where best to begin.

In the end, he thought perhaps the interior of the house would be best.

That way, he wouldn’t need to ask one of the servants for his greatcoat, which they had taken from him not long after he came through the front door.

Anyway, he wished for a bath later.

It made sense to explore the grounds last, for that reason alone.

He supposed, given the weather and the frozen Russian ground, most things his father might be up to would likely be found inside the house anyway.

He didn’t waste any time.

Once he’d finished a cursory examination of his assigned quarters, he retrieved his ivory-topped cane and walked to the bedroom door. He didn’t even change out of his boots. Peering out, he glanced either way down the long corridor.

All bedrooms on this floor, or so it would appear.

After a slight hesitation, he decided to venture back the way he came in, which meant taking a right down the corridor outside his room.

He aimed his feet for the main staircase.

He walked on the thick, soundless rug with its brightly dyed wools and strange patterns. Some of those patterns looked almost like the characters of some ancient language. He’d read his father had a penchant for items from distant lands, purchasing odd artworks and tapestries from markets in Arabia and India, sculptures from Africa, Japan, China, and South America.

He was known as a collector of mystical art.

Through more discreet inquiries, Ghost also learned Count Aslanov acquired much of his “collection” illegally, or at least via ethically questionable means. He hired thieves and smugglers to bring unique items to him from all parts of the globe.

Ghost saw evidence of that even in the first two corridors he explored.

Rare-looking vases and sculptures adorned pedestals in alcoves along the wall. The rug itself likely came from Persia or the Kashmir. Marble figurines looked Italian or possibly Greek. He made note of a number of swords hanging on hooks under gilded shields, as well as more elaborate weapons: maces and double-headed axes, iron hammers and knives of every shape, curve, size, and handle.

He’d noted a number of those on the ground floor as well, including a very impressive collection of medieval broadswords, all of them in excellent condition.

He would have liked to try a number of those.

For the moment, Ghost simply noted what hung where, and how each item appeared to be fastened to the wall.

Upon reaching the stairs, he wavered on which direction, but only for an instant.

He would explore upstairs first.

He settled on that purely as a practical decision.

Ghost assumed he would find more people downstairs, and therefore would be more in danger of being stopped or questioned. Servants would be downstairs readying the castle for the weekend’s festivities. Cooks would be preparing food. Gardeners would be readying the grounds with decorations and discreet lighting. Footmen would be cleaning the stables and the inner grounds. Members of the direct household would likely be overseeing those arrangements, ensuring everything got handled prior to the ball on Sunday.

They would likely remain down there until it was time to dress for dinner.

Ghost climbed the first flight of stairs.

After entering and exiting a number of unlocked rooms, he ventured up a second flight, to the top segment of the house.

At first, he found little that interested him.

A large number of rooms on that floor were also locked. Many appeared to be unused.

Some had possibly lain unused for years, even decades.

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