Page 13 of The Shadow Path
“It’s the closest fae gate to the house,” Duncan said. “Believe it or not, it’s the easiest passage. Trust me, nothing is going to happen. One, we’ll be crossing over at dawn when the legal market sets up, and two, we have a guide.”
Cadell was still unhappy. “What kind of guide can get us safely through a troll market?”
Duncan glanced at Carys. “A familiar one.”
Carys sleptlike a log in a massive four-poster bed layered with the most luxurious bedding that had ever touched her body.
This. This was what separated the rich from the poor, she decided. This was why wealthy women in San Francisco always looked so well rested.
Okay, it was probably also Botox, but the sheets had to be part of the equation.
She sat up when she heard a tap on the door. “Yes?”
“I have a tea tray, Professor Morgan.”
Carys rubbed her eyes and jumped out of bed. She’d been hoping for coffee, but tea would do. At this point she wasn’t picky. She threw on a thick cotton robe and slid into a pair of lush slippers someone had set next to the bed, then walked over and opened the heavy wooden door.
A woman in a grey uniform was on the other side. “If you’d like me to wheel the tray in, I can set it up by the table.”
“I have a table?” Carys looked over her shoulder. “Oh, I have a table.”
There was a round table with four chairs sitting underneath a tall window that looked out over the garden. Carys could see ferns rising up beneath the dark wooden windowsill, and—shock of shocks—it was raining again.
“Thank you.” She opened the door wide, and the woman wheeled the tray in, the wheels almost silent on the thick Aubusson carpet.
There wasn’t only tea but also a tiered platter of fruit and pastries, and Carys’s mouth was already watering when she noticed the croissants.
The maid spread a white tablecloth, then went about setting the teapot and the plates on the table. “Full breakfast will be served in the morning room at ten, but the laird requested an early tea service for his guests since you all arrived so late last night.” She turned and smiled at Carys. “I imagine the jet lag is quite disorienting. If there’s anything else you need, please ask. My name is Rose.”
“I’m… honestly not sure what time it is.”
Rose looked at a neat watch with a black band on her wrist. “It’s eight thirty-two, miss.”
“Thank you.” She walked over and lifted the lid of the teapot to smell the familiar and happy scent of Lady Grey drifting up.
Duncan. He always knew what she would want. “This looks great, but will there be coffee at breakfast?”
“Of course.” Rose nodded. “I understand that Miss Thompson is in the adjoining room. Would you like me to wake her or allow her to sleep?”
“Uh…” Laura could be a bit of a bear when she woke up. Carys raised a hand to stop the maid. “Why don’t you let me do that? Might be safer.”
The maid nodded brusquely and walked toward the door. “If you have any other needs, please just ring the bell.” She pointed at a brass button over the light switch near the door.
“That’s actually a bell?”
Rose nodded. “Yes, miss. Please ring us if you need anything else.” A second later, the door was closed and Carys was alone again.
She walked to the door to the adjoining room and lightly tapped. “Laura?”
Carys heard shuffling, and then the door swung open.
“Why am I awake when the bed is literal heaven?” She wrinkled her face and sniffed. “Is that tea?” She sighed. “Carys, I need coffee. You know I need coffee.”
Carys gently led Laura toward the table. “I know, and there is going to be coffee with breakfast—I already checked. This is just a little bit of tea and some snacks so we don’t wake up hungry.”
Laura blinked at the stacks of fruit and pastries. “This is a snack?”
“Trust me, you’re going to want to eat as much as you can on this side because food isn’t quite the same on the other side.”
