Will didn’t have to go very far before running into his sister; Bells was already in the main foyer, perched on the bottom stair and looking like she’d been waiting for him to emerge.
“Will…”
“Think you shoulda clued me in?” he said, embarrassment shaking his voice. She shrugged innocently, batting her eyes in the way she’d always done when she knew she was wrong.
He sighed. “I’m goin’ to bed.”
“It’s only eight o’clock.”
“Nine where we’re from.”
She pushed off the stair and clacked her way over, her dress swishing with every movement. Noise from the dining hall echoed in the distance. Will looked over his shoulder, hopin’ Winter wasn’t following him. He’d most likely scared the living daylights outta her. But she’d acted well, only once seeming to break character. He’d seen it in her eyes, the character disappearing and a person taking its place. Who else was in on it? Joshua, obviously. What about her security guard, Ms. Vancouver, the man sitting next to Bells at dinner…?
I’m a fool.
“Is our entire stay a murder mystery?” he asked. Bells gave him that innocent look again.
“Yes. But don’t look at me like that. It’s fun. You’ll love it. Adds a twist to the whole place, right?”
“If you’re so confident in me liking it, why didn’t you tell me?”
He had her there. She pursed her lips and crossed her arms in defense. “You’d thrown such a fit when I asked you to come with me, not to mention all the whining on the drive up here, and you’ve been a party pooper since we walked through those exquisite double doors. So don’t you go accusing me of making things worse when it’s you who needs an attitude adjustment.”
“I just humiliated myse—”
“And another thing.” She jabbed a finger into his shoulder. “Stop moping about the weather. We’re inside for pete’s sake.”
“Geez, Bells, I’m not trying to—”
“This could be it, Will. This could be the place I find the love of my life. I brought you for support, so support me. Put on a smile, even if it’s fake as all get out. You owe me that much.”
He let her take a beat. Her face had turned the color of fruit punch, her hair loosening from its up-do. Her dramatics didn’t surprise him much anymore, but they did when she brought up some good points in her ranting. The way she made him feel bad when he was initially irritated with her was one of her super powers. And she used it often.
“’Kay,” he said when he was sure he wouldn’t get interrupted again, “I’ll smile. I’ll enjoy it, a’right? But, gosh, Bells, try to fill me in on the details before I think someone’s been murdered right in front of me.”
She snickered, the tension leaving her shoulders. “This way was much more fun to watch. You shoulda seen everyone when you dragged the star of the show from the room.”
He ran a hand down his face, covering the rising heat. “I should make you explain all of that.”
She waved him off. “Oh, everyone just thinks you’re a part of the act.”
“Not the actors.”
“Winter will tell them, I’m sure.” She twisted a finger around one of her red curls and let it bounce against her shoulder. “They’re really good. Not a single person broke character. I’m actually not one hundred percent sure who’s a guest and who’s an actor.”
“Guy next to you is in on it.”
“Garreth?” she said, disappointment tickling the edges of her voice.
“The big guy.”
“Oh, that’s Michael. Yeah, he’s definitely one of the actors.”
“What makes you say tha—”
“But Garreth… he’s a guest.” She sighed, her mind gone to whatever else this Garreth was, besides, obviously, a woman-magnet.
Will shucked his hands into his pockets. “When should I talk with him?”
“Whenever.” Her fingers dropped from her hair. “He’s perfection wrapped in a male model shell, though.”
“I thought I was here to keep you from falling for the first guy you met.”
She waved him off again, and Will shook his head. If she wasn’t going to hold him to his brotherly duties, he sure as heck was gonna do it himself.
The background noise grew, and Will looked up to see a few guests filtering out with full bellies. Whispered conspiracies floated around them, and Bells disappeared into the crowd.
Will started toward the elevator, still too embarrassed to mingle with everyone. But a feather-light touch tickled his arm and stopped him in his tracks.
“You’re not staying?” Winter asked, her sparkling gray eyes playful and innocent. Like a real innocence, unlike his sister’s.
“I think one dead guy is more than enough excitement for me.”
Her lips turned down in the corners, and he coulda sworn there were tears resting just behind her eyes. “Joshua was a good friend. The best. I can’t believe someone would do this to him.”
He raised an eyebrow. Guess she was back into character, and he really wasn’t in the mood for that. He actually craved a genuine conversation with her, but he wasn’t sure why. Maybe to try to joke away his misunderstanding.
“So…” she said, toying with the broach on her light blue dress, “do you mind if I ask you something?”
“Shoot.”
“What brought you to Frostville Mansion?”
He wasn’t quite sure if she was asking as Winter or Princess Winter. Gosh, the whole mystery part of this place was gonna dang near throw him, he just knew it.
He put on a teasing smile, pressing the button for the elevator. “I don’t embarrass myself much at home, so I came here to do it.”
She cackled, an unabashed sound that sent a rocket through Will’s chest. That laugh had to be the loudest laugh he’d heard in all his life, and he was shocked it came from such a tiny person.
“Do not be embarrassed.” She brought a hand to her chest. “I was in distress. You were my knight in shining armor.”
“Right…”
“But really, why are you here?” Her head tilted to the side, and Will was reminded of a gray cat that sat outside his shop and played with the balloons he’d hang up once every month. “We don’t get very many guests who stay with their siblings.”
He snorted. “Yeah, I believe it. With the whole ‘being haunted by the love god’ thing.”
“Is that why you’re here?”
The elevator dinged open, and he backed his way in. He wasn’t sure if he was allowed to blab about Bells and her journey to find Mr. Right. It was her business, after all.
“Goodnight, Princess,” he said with a smirk, then watched her cute little mouth drop open with mock shock, like he dared not answer her question. He laughed, shaking his head as the doors closed. Bells was right about one thing: if he was gonna stay here for a week, he’d better embrace the insanity.