Twenty-One

 

After dinner I lost the heels and walked barefoot through the marble-lined halls. Once again, I was in awe at the space held under one roof. Each room was huge and decorated with such opulence. Chandeliers hung from the ceilings, large fireplaces filled many walls, and hardwood floors were covered with plush area rugs.

I pulled a throw from one of the couches in one of the many sitting rooms. Luca was a ghost behind me, unobtrusive in my perusal. Oddly, little had changed from my memories. A few new pieces of furniture, an updated kitchen, but for the most part everything was the same down to the small plaster details that decorated the walls and ceilings.

I wanted to change out of the dress, but I had a feeling everyone would be aghast at the state of my clothes in the trunk of Domenico’s car.

Winding down to the basement, I found the infirmary next to the spa. There were four guards outside the door, and they blocked me from entering.

“You can’t go in,” one of them said.