Sommersgate House Read Online Free PDF Page B

did
Douglas and Monique. Douglas’s rooms (in plural, Tamsin told her
after her and Douglas’s father died, and by tradition, Douglas had
moved into the master suite when he’d inherited the title, the
estates and all they contained) included his own private sitting
room although Julia had never seen it. Julia knew that upstairs
there were still four bedrooms besides and still, she was isolated,
away from the rest.
    Julia always
loved the guest suite but now she felt as Monique meant her to
feel, separate and not a part of the family.
    The guest
suite was decorated in periwinkle blue and clover green with
accents of mushroom, silver and gold. This strange colour
combination worked, in fact its interior designer won awards for it
(according to Monique).
    There
was an antique, tall tester bed that was kept in pristine condition
by Carter, (chauffer, errand-runner and handyman extraordinaire).
The bed was draped in blue and green curtains and covered with an
undoubtedly three billion-thread-count, clover green, sateen duvet.
It was headed with twin stacks of three fluffy pillows with an
enormous European square resting in front and a plethora of toss
pillows encased in beaded, embroidered, tasselled or ruched satin
or silk. There was an ornate, ivory marble-manteled fireplace with
a chaise lounge covered in mushroom velvet with a clover green
cashmere throw artfully decorating it which sat invitingly in front
of the fire. There was a circular window that was the base of the
turret that rose up the side of the house and in it were two
comfortable chairs with a shared ottoman, this time in a sateen
clover specked with periwinkle, one with another throw, this in
blue, and a small, circular, intricately carved table in the
middle. There was a writing desk facing the room with an ornate
chair that had curved legs that matched the desk. The gleaming
parquet floor was covered in a variety of thick, silk
rugs.
    Opposite the
fire was a doorway leading to a dressing room that started with a
hall which was lined on both sides in rails, inset drawers and
shelves. This led to an opening that contained a dressing table
built into one side with a huge mirror surrounded entirely with
bright lights and fronted by a swirly-legged stool padded in
periwinkle velvet. Behind the dressing table, a floor to ceiling
three-way mirror was set into the opposite wall. Walking further
down, there were more rails, drawers and shelves ending in a
sparkling white bathroom which featured a mosaic-tiled floor, a
claw-footed, roll-topped bath with gleaming silver taps and sprays
and a separate shower cubical. Sumptuous towels in blue, mushroom
and clover were hanging from heated towel rails and wrapped, rolled
and tucked in various cubbyholes with thick piled rugs strewn
appealingly about the floor.
    Julia shed the
suit she had not found the time to change out of and took a quick
shower. Veronika had made certain her shampoo and soap were exactly
where they needed to be.
    Even though
she was exhausted, Julia knew she would not sleep, it was daytime
in Indiana and, anyway, sleep had eluded her for months.
    She located
and then put on a pair of pale blue yoga pants and a white, ribbed
tank top and inspected Veronika’s work. The fact that she hadn’t
unpacked her own case made Julia uncomfortable, not that Veronika
would be inappropriate, just that Julia was not used to someone
else doing her chores. Nevertheless, Julia had to admit Veronika
did very good work. Everything was put in place, properly (even
obsessively) hung or folded and Julia noted, a bit stunned, ironed.
Rows of shoes matched carefully and lined up perfectly. Her
toiletries were nicely displayed at the dressing table and, when
Julia went back to the bedroom, the framed photographs and scented
candles she’d brought with her were arranged to their best
advantage.
    A photo of the
kids, Gavin and Tamsin with Patricia and Julia sat on the bedside
table, everyone with their arms around each other in