“Derek, Betty, this is Blake Rhodes. My boyfriend, partner, other half.”
“A pleasure.”
“Miss Broderick is in the garden room if you’d like to join her. We’ll take your bags up to your room. Shall we bring you some tea or coffee?” Derek addresses Ivy.
“Um, sure. Although I do want to get started. I need to go up to the attic.”
“I’ll see to it.”
“Come on, Miss. I must say, it’s wonderful to see both of you girls here together. It’s been quite a while.” Betty pulls Ivy towards the house, and before I have a moment to turn around, Derek has unpacked our bags.
Walking up the steps to the entrance, I wish I’d brought my camera with me. The house's gothic architecture would look striking captured in black and white. And given how focused Ivy is with this family history, she might need some time alone.
We’re led to one side of the mansion and weave through a few other rooms before we come to a glazed conservatory overlooking the grounds.
“Ivy!” A petite blonde jumps from her seat to greet her.
“Steady, Seffi.”
“Oh, shut up. I’ve not seen you in forever. And this is him?”
“Blake, nice to meet you.” I offer my hand, and we shake, although her eyes look towards Ivy, filled with mischief.
“This is a first, surely. All of us with other-halves?” Seffi says to her sister. You can hear the excitement in her voice.
The girls look like they are overdue for a catch-up. I look around and spot a tall man in the garden looking out over the grounds with his hands in his pockets.
“Don’t mind Scott. Being here doesn’t make him the most comfortable,” Seffi tries to explain.
“Do you mind if we catch up later? Blake and I have some work to do.”
“Work?”
“Yes, Seffi. Someone is out to get us, and in our case, it was a little too literal. I have to see what I can find. We’ll have dinner, right?” Ivy squeezes her sister’s hands, but I can see her backing away at the same time.
“Yes, all the Brodericks together. I can’t remember the last time. And where’s Neve?” Seffi asks.
“I’ve still not been able to reach her. Landon either. She'll get the messages, though. Come on, Blake.”
Ivy practically pulls me from the room. I look at her, a little surprised she’s not spent longer with her sister, but she just shrugs her shoulders. “I can’t leave this, Blake. Seffi will be here later. Come on. I need your help. Two sets of eyes are better than one.”
“Okay. But what are we looking for?”
“No idea,” she chirps back.
She leads me up a number of stairs until we find a small door tucked away at the end of the hallway. I pull it open, the creek of the hinges enough to wake the dead.
“Do you want me to go first, check for ghosts?” I joke, peering up the narrow staircase the door reveals.
“Oh, as if.”
She pushes me out of the way and climbs the stairs. I follow, giving her a few steps head start, so I can appreciate the fine view of her arse in tight jeans ahead of me, but we soon enter a huge space filled with small furniture items. Some are covered in dust sheets, others left exposed to the air. Old paintings stack up against each other over on the far side, and a couple of bookcases stand covered under their own thick layers of dust.
Ivy makes a beeline for those, running her fingers over the fabric and leather spines. “These are old journals, ledgers, and diaries. All from past generations.”
“And you’re hoping there will be answers here?”
“I don’t know where else to look.”
