"Oh my goodness, My Lady. Where did you find that book? You shouldn't be reading that!" Raymond shrieked and made to quickly take the book from Seraphina's hand, but she withdraw her hand with the book before Raymond could touch it.
"Why?" Seraphina asked with narrowed eyes. "I found it among the other books here, and it shouldn't be a problem to read it."
"Besides, you didn't knock before entering." She reprimanded with a slight glare.
She didn't like to be interrupted, especially when she was reading something like this.
Raymond scratched his head, making his already disheveled black hair look more like a bird's nest.
He apologized, "Forgive me about that, My Lady. I did knock on your door but I didn't get any response from you. So I thought something bad must have happened to you, that was the reason why I entered without your permission." Raymond explained with an apologetic look. His eyes were still on the book in Seraphina's hand.
The words of Raymond made the frown on Seraphina's face deepen and she questioned, "Why would you think something will happen to me? I don't think there's anything that can kill me here, is there?"
"Of course not, My Lady. There's absolutely nothing that will harm you. The room and building are safe."
"Alright then," Seraphina muttered without saying any other thing. She was carried away with the history of this Hansbrouck family and generation she didn't hear Raymond knock.
"Uhm...My Lady?" Raymond nervously called and pointed at the book. He said, "Please, give me the book."
"And you haven't told me the reason why I shouldn't read the book," Seraphina countered back.
"Because the book shouldn't be found here at all, My Lady. It shouldn't be read by anyone." Raymond replied, frustration and anxiety building up in his fragile slim body. He pushed his big spectacle up his nose as he spoke.
"Oh, but I've read it to the very last page and I was about to finish the last line before you interrupted me. Why are you here anyway?" Seraphina questioned, clearly irritated by the way Raymond wanted to take the book from her.
What was it they didn't want others to read that was written in the book? If they wanted it to be a secret, why didn't they keep it away from the eyes of the world? But here it was, in the shelf of her new office.
Raymond ignored the last words of Seraphina asking him what he was doing here. He was more interested in what she had first said.
"Y...you read the book? Everything?" He questioned with a stutter.
"Yes, everything. Now if you could excuse me, I want to finish the last sentence then I'll hand it back to you." Seraphina replied and made to open the book again to read.
As fast as a bolt of lightning, Raymond dashed forward and snatched the book from Seraphina's hold making the already annoyed Lady angrier.
She demanded, "What do you think you're doing?!"
Raymond bowed repeatedly and spoke hastily, "I apologize for my rude behavior, but I'm only following the orders of Mr. Hansbrouck. This book shouldn't have been here in the first place and I wonder who must have kept it here as it had been locked away for several decades now."
Locked away several decades ago? Seraphina internally questioned herself. That makes everything written here very authentic and true.
Her interest and curiosity had been piqued.
"Hmm, is that so?" Seraphina said with a knowing look. She decided to play along, but she must get the name of the second son.
"Yes, My Lady. And please, do not let Mr. Hansbrouck know you read this book. Do not also tell what you read to anyone." Raymond warned that got Seraphina more intrigued to know more.
"Okay. I won't tell anyone." Seraphina responded.
Raymond bowed his head one more time with a small smile on his boyish face, "Thank you, My Lady. Before I forget. Please, Mr. Hansbrouck requested you to meet and attend to some guests."
"Guests?" Seraphina immediately stood up. "Why didn't you tell me earlier or do you want me to get fired on my first day at work?"
"Where are they? Lead me to them,"
"Right away, My Lady," Raymond said and led the way with Seraphina trailing behind him.
Raymond led Seraphina through several passages she was unfamiliar with and at the same time, Seraphina's eyes were glued to the book in Raymond's hand.
Her curiosity to know who the other heir is was so great that she wanted to snatch the book from the boy.
Why and what was it they wanted to hide from the society? Was it the mystery of who the real heir is? Or did they want to keep everything away from the curious eyes of people like her?
And not to add, Raymond also said the book had been locked away for several years now. And did that also mean that the past assistants of Mr. Hansbrouck Geoffrey did not see or read the book?
Then how did the book come to be on the shelve of her cupboard?
Did it magically appear there?
Seraphina continued to question herself while wondering about the mystery and history of Hansbrouck's family.
She shouldn't concern herself with matters that were not related to her work, but this sudden discovery was on a whole new level.
After walking for a while with Seraphina lost in her thoughts, Raymond finally arrived in front of a black-colored door.
Why black while the other doors are brown? Was the first question that slipped inside the head of Seraphina.
Raymond turned to look at her and whispered in a voice that could barely be heard.
He said as he motioned towards the door, "Please, be polite and kind with your words. Do not offend the people inside." Raymond had noticed the way the town's Belle always got annoyed with little things, and he couldn't help but pray she wouldn't offend the people inside the room.
Seraphina furrowed her brows and wondered why Raymond was warning her about the guests. And this was the second time he had warned her today.
What's with all the warnings? She had wanted to ask but decided against it. She was still new and should settle down to know how things were being followed here.
"Okay," Seraphina mouthed and saw Raymond bow his head which made his glasses fall off his face. He picked it up quickly and left in haste as if someone was after him.
Seraphina took a deep breath and strengthened her dress. She raised her hand and knocked once on the door and heard a deep masculine voice come from the inside.
Why was that voice familiar?
Seraphina took another deep breath and pushed the door open.
Here comes her first day at work. She whispered to herself a little nervous which vanished immediately when she heard the voice of a familiar man inside the room.
"I am starting to think that this new assistant of Mr. Geoffrey has quite some pride,"