Page 42 of The Defiant Curse

That said a lot.

You hadn’t lived until you were doing patrol and heard a waltz playing in the ballroom there.

Somehow, it was scarier than this place.

As they headed out, Michael held her hand and gave her the tour.

“This is the ballroom, and we’ll get it over with,” he said, opening the door to the chaos inside. It was torn apart, and a huge room.

“What the hell are we going to do with another ballroom?” she asked, laughing. “Dance? Now, somehow, I have two. I don’t often find myself feeling the mood to waltz around the room.”

Michael had a logical answer for her. They’d rehearsed this, so that she wouldn’t freak out when she saw the place.

It was definitely a lot.

“Here’s where the wedding will take place. When we start renting this place out, we’re going to host weddings, parties, etc. We’ll need a venue spot that’s not close to the main family quarters.”

If he said so. Again, this was none of her business. If Chris and Callen were doing this, that was exclusive of her life. She’d gifted them her portion of ownership for a reason.

“What do I know about running a castle or bed and breakfast?” she asked. “Better you than me, Michael. This is out of my league.”

He reassured her.

“I love it. This was unexpected, but now that I’m here, it gives me purpose. Not being with my family is tough,” he admitted. “Thus, the goats.”

She got it.

She was in that same position.

“I’m glad you have it to keep you steady,” she said. “I do have to say that it’s a gorgeous place. Callen and Chris really picked out nice things.”

Michael knew who had been behind every single thing that went into that castle.

“It was all Graham. He picked out the things for them. Callen and Chris gave him carte blanche and a big budget. Most of the things here are antiques and mean something to the people in town. That was important too. Ravensmire is their legacy and heritage.”

That it was.

“Well, it’s homey. How many fireplaces are in this joint? They are massive.”

He did a mental count.

“There are twenty bedrooms in the family section, and another fifteen in the guest section, and each has one, plus the kitchen, ballroom, dining room, library…”

She stopped him.

“A lot would have been sufficient.”

He snorted.

“A REAL LOT.”

Yeah, she was seeing that. Then again, this place was from hundreds of years ago. They’d need those fireplaces. She was just grateful they had bathrooms at this point.

“What’s next on the tour?” she asked.

Not far away, Michael led her to an office that had been renovated recently. It was near the library, and where Callen or Chris could work. Currently, it was where Graham paid the bills, and did the bookkeeping to keep the place going.

Even when they’d been soldiers together, sharing that small apartment, Graham had been the one who managed their bills. That was more his thing.