Still circling the room, Penny examined shelves with fancy plates and let her fingers run over the soft material of a blanket thrown over one of the couches, every one of her senses awake and curious.
“And this way. Come on, Penny, keep up,” Bonnie said from the next room. She was moving in a circular fashion through the house, so she was now heading to a room behind the stairs at the entranceway. “Is the dining room. We only ever used it if everyone was visiting at once. I usually just use the breakfast bar or breakfast nook.”
Penny entered another equally fabulous room with a dining room table long enough to seat at least ten. It was made of dark polished wood with matching chairs and another Persian rug beneath it. Above it hung a sparkling chandelier. Against the wall was a cabinet containing an impressive set of dishware.
Bonnie gave her even less time to examine this room. Unimpressed with Penny’s pace, she grabbed her arm, passing through as if it were nothing. They walked by a set of French doors and onto the breakfast nook she’d just mentioned.While it was an adorable table with a bench built into the wall surrounding it, it was also overshadowed by the most magnificent kitchen Penny had ever seen. It stretched out in two long rows of cupboards and workable flat space, leading back to a gigantic black range, as well as a smaller stove for cooking. There was a very modern refrigerator that she would have thought would stick out like a sore thumb, but it managed to be incorporated in a way that still worked. There was a huge double sink and a door that led to a pantry of enviable size.
“It’s the one room my dad and uncle redid. Guests love most of the old-fashioned stuff. But everybody wants a decent kitchen.”
Penny realized her mouth was literally hanging open once again and snapped it shut. “I wish I knew how to cook well enough to do this place justice.”
“I know, right?” Bonnie agreed with a laugh. “And then there’s the sunroom.” She pointed back to the French doors they’d passed a moment ago. “It’s ridiculously cold in the winter but should be okay this time of year. We packed you quite a few sweaters, but we can always get you a thick, wooly Irish one, too, if you need it.”
This, at the beginning of June, sounded a little over the top until she realized she was actually chilled to the bone in the shorts and T-shirt she was wearing. She’d been too overwhelmed by everything to notice until Bonnie mentioned sweaters.
“And the sunroom leads out to the back garden,” Bonnie added almost dismissively.
From what Penny could make out from where she was standing, it was nothing to be dismissed, but her friend was on the move again, and she wanted to keep up with her.
“Then there’s another living room slash library around this way,” she said hurriedly, linking her arm with Penny’s as shestalled, dragging her along so she couldn’t stop and examine the books. “It all kind of circles around.”
The next thing Penny knew, they were back where they’d started.
“We’ll have to haul these suitcases upstairs. I’ll show you your room so you can freshen up. Then I think it’s best if we head out.”
“Head out?” Penny asked incredulously. Again, Bonnie had dragged her through another room without letting her linger. It felt like such a tease. There were more sofas to be discovered, unique tables and paintings, and, more importantly, shelves full of books. Which was why she was sure Bonnie didn’t want her in there. Still, Penny’s eyes traveled over them, even from a distance, longingly.
“Bonnie, I don’t think you realize how amazing this house is. I get that you’re used to it and all, but… wow. I don’t want to head anywhere. I want to stay right here and soak it all in.” She didn’t mention that the tantalizing idea of doing just that was the only thing keeping her from being completely overwhelmed.
“Believe me. I know. I do. But there’ll be plenty of time for that,” Bonnie said, placing the handle of Penny’s suitcase in her hand, then grabbing her own and starting up the stairs. “Come on.”
Reluctantly, yet dutifully, Penny did as instructed. Grabbing her other bag, she slowly trudged after her. As soon as she hit the first stair, she realized how much lifting was going to be involved. She felt the ache in her arms as they protested against it.
Bonnie, however, had already reached the landing. She paused, giving Penny a chance to catch up, but only for a moment. Even then, she was bouncing on the balls of her feet, anxious to keep going. “If we don’t head out, we’ll sit down, and if we sit down, we’ll get tired. And if we get tired, we’ll fall asleep.And that really won’t do. We need fresh air. We’ll go for a walk and head to the city center. Maybe we’ll go to a pub, grab a bite to eat, and get a drink. It doesn’t have to be anything crazy. Just enough to get us adjusted to the new time zone. Come on, Pen, you’ve got to get out and experience it.”
“Uh, it’s day one.” Penny took her turn to pause on the landing, feeling her palms start to sweat. “If you can even call it that. I don’t consider unpacking and checking this house out as not experiencing things. Besides, I’m supposed to be staying for ten weeks, aren’t I?”
“Supposed to be?” Bonnie questioned archly, having reached the second floor. “You mean, will be.”
Penny mumbled an incoherent reply.
“I’m not even worried about it,” Bonnie added lightly. “You are going to fall in love with this place and never want to leave.” With that, she swept a dramatic arm towards the room she was now standing in front of—the one Penny would be staying in.
Finally catching up to her, Penny peered in, not at all sure what to expect.
Suddenly, everything seemed to slow down. She felt her fingers against her lips, not even realizing she’d lifted her hand to her mouth. In front of her was the most gorgeous room she had ever seen. It had large rectangular windows set in dusty brown wood, with thick, deep-blue, velvety curtains. It featured an old-style pitcher and basin, although that was obviously just for effect; a huge, old wooden wardrobe; and hardwood floors with a luxurious-looking rug set right in front of a four-poster bed. It was almost too much if it was possible to have too much of a wonderful thing. Scanning the room further, she saw what she knew would be her favorite feature of all. Off to the left was a bay window with a cushioned bench and enough pillows to get lost in.
“This is my room?” she whispered.
Bonnie nodded, beaming. “There’s an ensuite too, you know, bathroom. Not quite as modern as you might like. But it’ll do.”
“It’ll do? It’ll do? Are you actually seeing what I’m seeing? This place is amazing!”
“I know,” Bonnie whispered back. “It’s magical. It’s my absolute favorite place in the whole world, which is why I needed to come here.”
Penny heard the crack in her friend’s voice. She pulled her eyes from the room that was too good to be true just in time to catch Bonnie wiping away a tear.
“I’m giving you twenty minutes and not a minute longer,” Bonnie said through her sniffle. “Then we’re heading out.”
