Lost in La La Land(30)

“Fascinating,” I muttered and walked to the other staircases, climbing one of them. When I got to a solid brick wall I grinned and pulled the unlit candlestick on the right, snapping it off the wall.

“What are ya doing?” Mrs. Humboldt shouted and came up the stairs behind me, pushing on the brick and opening the door. She snatched the candlestick from my hand and hurried off again, headed back down the stairs.

The room was mine, as I suspected it might be.

“Is this your room?” Wentworth asked, making me jump. I hadn’t realized he was behind me.

“Yes.” I laughed, clutching my heart. “It is.”

“I like this room the best. The view of the arched wall is stunning.”

“Did you come here often as a child?” I asked as I spun, inhaling sharply when I realized how close he was.

“A few times. I never imagined it would be mine. My elder brother, Edward, should have inherited. But he passed away while I was at sea. Just after my uncle did. I arrived home to a new house and all my belongings being shipped off.” A haunted smile crept across his lips. “It was fortunate the house came furnished, as my belongings weren’t enough to bother bringing the carriage over the long trip.”

“What of the lady of the house? Your aunt?”

“Died, many years before. They had only two daughters, neither able to take ownership of the house nor needing it. They married well, both. The house would be a financial burden neither of them needed.”

“And now Sir Walter Elliot, who cannot afford his own home and has snubbed you, even though you are in possession of a home that is at the least on par with his, is renting to your sister? What a strange turn of events.”

“Indeed.” His eyes met mine, making my stomach tighten again. Our faces were too close to be mistaken as anything but preparing for a kiss.

I contemplated whether I should or not, losing the argument almost instantly.

“Are ya coming for the remainder of the tour or shall I leave ya here?” Mrs. Humboldt shouted up at us from the bottom of the stairwell.

Wentworth winced. “Coming.” He grinned at me and turned, hurrying down the stairs.

I smiled, enjoying the feel of the heat on my cheeks as I hurried after him.

Of course that was the moment my ghost showed up.





Chapter Thirteen


“You’re certain this is what you want?” The lawyer, a friend of my parents from Los Angeles, scowled. “All your hard work going to line someone else’s pocket. I thought you were against this.”

“I am. I was. I am.” I nodded and signed the paperwork without even reading. The only line I cared about was the ownership of the four machines I had developed and currently possessed and no liability over any prior situations. They would have to make their own machines, no doubt they would improve them.

“Do you need money? Your trust—”

“No, thank you, Mr. Bauman. I just want this to all go away. Lana Delacroix has vanished. She dropped the lawsuit and left her husband. The government won’t be able to seize the equipment as the patent is no longer mine to protect and the company the complaint was originally lodged against has been dissolved. I am a private owner of equipment which I will keep for personal use only, while the plans have been transferred to a company the government wouldn't dare go after. I was an easy target on my own. I left the schematics of the machines I made for the ALS patients with the research company I used to work for and the government has never come after them. Just me. And only because of Marshall Delacroix. This buys my forgiveness and forces them to leave me alone.”

“Sounds like you’ve given it some thought. But to see such beautiful work go to a massive corporation which will manipulate and mass produce the product, taking away the specialness of it all, breaks my heart. Your father’s as well.”

“Say hello to them for me.” I smiled and signed the last page.

“I will. And I’ll have the funds transferred into the account you’ve given me.” He reached across the table in a moment of realness he and I never had before. “Take care of yourself. You look tired.”

“Thank you. I will. Say hello to everyone back in LA for me.”

“You should come and visit and say hello yourself. The sun might do you good. You’re very pale.”

“I’ve been hiding out a lot; hopefully this contract changes that. Regardless, now isn’t a good time to come to LA. Mom emailed recently that they’ll finish the year in Vienna. Maybe next year.” I winked and got up. “Thank you for coming all this way.”

“Please, you know I would do anything for your family.”

“Thank you.” I waved and left the restaurant. It was three towns over from my house and Lana. I was still discreet and careful, after all this time.

Even the old house had been sold to a numbered company Lana and I started. On the off chance something were to happen to me, it would be hers. It and the machines.

Over a year spent together, hiding and going inside the machine and guarding each other, had done a lot for our relationship. She was the sister I never had and the wife I never knew I wanted. We cared for each other. We loved each other. It was something the world wouldn't understand. Not unless they went inside and saw what we did. Experienced what we did. We knew this world was nothing, it was a half life.