Page 37 of The Last Necromancer
He paused. "Are you trying to find out where I hide the weapons?"
"Of course not."
"Good. You will not be given the chance to escape and I wouldn't want your hopes to be raised falsely."
"How considerate," I sneered.
"Except for the attic, this is the highest level in the east and west wings. The tower goes two levels higher."
"I know that already."
"You've seen the bathroom." He indicated the other doors up and down the corridor. "These are bedrooms. They're unfurnished." He did not open the doors but strode past them and the main central staircase too then opened another door on the right. The room beyond was large but clearly unused. Dustsheets covered the furniture and it was just as well, as there was dust everywhere. I wrinkled my nose at the musty smell, even as I admired the large windows, the giant marble fireplace, and the multi-tiered chandelier.
"This is the drawing room," he said.
"Such a shame to see it in this state," I whispered. Imagine the conversations those walls had been privy to over the years.
We headed past the ghostly furniture and through another door on the other side. It was empty. "This is the ballroom."
"It's magnificent." It was very long, but the dark wood paneling made it feel cozy. I could imagine elegantly dressed ladies and gentlemen dancing and chatting beneath the three enormous chandeliers, their jewels sparkling in the light.
"Have you ever held a ball here?"
"No."
"You should, if only to enjoy such a lovely room."
"I'll keep that in mind for when enjoying ballrooms becomes one of the ministry's primary aims."
We rejoined the corridor. It bent suddenly to the left then stopped at another, narrow staircase. "That leads to the attic and the servants' rooms," he said.
"Is that where Gus, Seth and Cook sleep?"
"Yes."
"Are they the only servants here?"
"Yes."
"But Seth and Gus are more guards than footmen."
He didn't say anything, and I suspected it was because I hadn't posed it as a question.
"You've not thought about employing some maids or a butler? Someone discreet?"
"No." He returned back the way we came and headed down the grand stairs to the ground floor. "You've already seen the dining room, library, and the parlor, which we use instead of the drawing room for visitors."
"Do you get visitors often?"
"Only committee members."
"What about your friends and family?"
He paused on the bottom step, his back to me. "You've also seen the service areas in that direction. Adjoining the dining room is the billiard room."
"Do you play?"
"There's no table."
