Love's Edge (A Dark Erotic Romance Novel) Read Free Page B

gaped at the doors in front of me.
     
    The front entrance was huge. Each door was large enough for three or four people to walk through abreast. Delicate etchings of ivy, flowers, and wild animals danced around the heavy wood, and heavy, ornate metal held the pieces together.
     
    My driver had taken my suitcase from the trunk and was carrying it up the front steps. I grabbed my purse and scurried after him, suddenly feeling incredibly underdressed in my jeans and lavender cardigan. I clutched my purse nervously as the driver rang the bell and we waited for the giant doors to open. We didn’t have to wait long. Within seconds, I heard the harsh squeal of metal on marble as the door inched open. I glanced inside, expecting to see lights shimmering on dazzling crystal surfaces. Instead, I squinted into darkness. As the sunlight moved through the widening crack, I saw a tiny old woman standing next to the large, burly man pushing the door open.
     
    I almost laughed at the sight of the pair. The man looked like a Russian bodyguard, with broad shoulders and bulging muscles. His hair was cropped close and his skin was pale and freckled. The old woman was tiny in comparison to him. She was wearing a long black skirt and a white ruffled blouse, like an old-fashioned maid. In contrast to the man’s expressionless face, the old woman smiled warmly at me and hobbled forward as soon as the door was open wide enough for her to pass through.
     
    “Welcome to the Harrison Estate, Grace.  We are so happy to have you. Please, come in.” She reached her tiny, wrinkled hand to touch my cheek, and then turned back to the large man at the door. “Marshall, take her luggage to her room and get it settled for her please. I’m going to show our new guest around.” She gave me a conspiratorial wink. I wasn’t sure what she meant, but I felt at ease as she threaded her skinny arm through mine and led me through the front door into the darkened entryway.
     
    I glanced around the huge space, my eyes adjusting to the darkness. The floor was a dark, polished marble that shone despite the lack of light. A huge crystal chandelier hung above us, unlit but still glittering against the high ceiling. Beautiful wooden doors lined the hallways on either side of us, but what caught my eye was the stairway straight ahead. It was huge, leading up to a landing and then branching out to either side, leading up in two spirals to the balcony of the second floor.  The banisters were carved in beautiful, intricate patterns, spiraling and swirling as if made of water instead of wood and metal.
     
    “He helped design it himself, you know,” the old woman sighed.
     
    “Mr. Harrison designed this staircase?” I reached out to touch the smooth wood. “It’s…incredible.” I found myself at a loss for words as I looked at the intricate designs.
     
    “Yes, and many other parts of the Estate,” the old woman replied wistfully. “His wife as well, when she was still…here. She was a brilliant artist once.” The old woman’s voice broke as she spoke and tears sprung into her cloudy eyes.
     
    I looked down, feeling sad and awkward. I assumed there was a sad story behind my employer’s wife’s death and it didn’t seem appropriate to pry right away. I certainly didn’t want to see my new friend so upset.
     
    “What does Mr. Harrison do now?” I asked.
     
    “He still owns the company, of course.” The old woman wiped at her eyes. “He hasn’t been so involved these past years with the creative decisions, but he wants to take back the helm. That’s why you are here, dear. You will assist him in all the small things that need to be done to get everything back to how they should be.” The smile had returned to her small, wrinkled face. “Oh, goodness. I don’t think I properly introduced myself. I’m Mrs. Jane Caulder but you can call me Jane.”
     
    I shook the bony hand she extended to me gently, worried I might break her fragile little