Free Bella and the Beast by Olivia Drake Page B

attic. The east wing is reserved for noble guests like ye.”
    Bella decided that the English must have a caste system like the one in India, where a person was born into a certain position in life. That must be why Aylwin had put her on this floor even though she was his employee. Growing up abroad, she hadn’t thought much about her father’s title or her own blue blood. She had considered herself to be no different from the local peasants who labored for a living. Her only permanent home had been a stone hut in the mountains where she’d had to cook over an open fire and fetch water from a nearby stream.
    Never had she ever imagined staying in a palace like this one.
    Nan rattled on, “I heard tell that before the old duke died, he hosted many a grand ball here at Aylwin House. There was visiting lords and ladies in every one o’ these bedchambers. I fear ’tis rather dull now, for no one comes to stay anymore.”
    Having arrived at a marble staircase, Bella placed her hand on the carved newel post. “So I’m all alone here? Mine is the only occupied room on this floor?”
    â€œAye.” Nan’s brown eyes widened in a look of dawning alarm. “Perchance did ye hear strange noises last night? There’s some that say the east wing is haunted … by spirits.”
    Bella hid a smile. She didn’t want to offend the girl by poking fun at her gullible nature. “I assure you, the place was quiet as a tomb. Now, why don’t you help me remember my way around? I certainly don’t wish to resort to leaving a trail of bread crumbs!”
    As they headed down the stairs and through several more corridors, navigating twists and turns along the way, Bella paid close attention as the maidservant pointed out statues and busts on pedestals and other objects that could serve as landmarks. Many of them were smaller versions of the ancient Egyptian artifacts in the ballroom. As they passed through the entry hall, there was even an obelisk that towered toward the glass-domed ceiling.
    They arrived at an open doorway framed by gilded woodwork. “’Tis the library, miss. Around the corner and up the stairs is the ballroom where the master works most days.” Nan pointed the way. “’Tis easy to find, ye’ll see.”
    With a murmur of thanks, Bella headed into the library. She would have to hurry; surely less than half an hour remained before her appointment with Aylwin. Yet the splendor inside took her breath away and she paused a moment to admire her surroundings.
    In all of her travels, she had never seen so many books in one place. The huge room had tables for writing, comfortable chairs where one might curl up and read, and two enormous cream marble fireplaces at either end. The dark oak shelves held thousands of leather-bound volumes, and she longed for the leisure to peruse each and every one of them. In addition, a small staircase led up to a narrow walkway that circled the walls and allowed access to the upper shelves.
    She had come here for a purpose, to find a particular volume, but the sheer abundance of books overwhelmed her. How was she to know where to begin her quest?
    â€œMay I offer my assistance?” spoke a melodious voice.
    Bella whirled around to see a short, stocky man standing in an alcove behind her. A loose white robe fell to his knees over a pair of dark trousers. He was middle-aged and balding with a laurel of salt-and-pepper hair, swarthy skin, and a broad, clean-shaven face.
    His dark eyes were fixed on her. He appeared to be studying her as keenly as she was him.
    She guessed his identity at once. “Hello, are you by chance Mr. Hasani?”
    The duke’s Egyptian valet pressed his palms together and made a slight bow of acknowledgment, though not low enough for her to spy the tattoo on the back of his neck. “You must call me Hasani, no mister,” he said, a slight foreign accent lending a musical