Part 2
Elizabeth leads Ewen down a winding corridor on the second floor of Wyndemere.
"You must really care for the boy, to come here today to get his toy," Ewen asks.
"I love him. I had the time to come today. My Grams has a standing date with my boys, the first Saturday of the month. The boys are blessed to have a great-grandmother who is healthy enough that she wants to spend time with them. She used to watch them more frequently, because I needed the help, and now she misses them. … Ah ha, here's the room!"
Elizabeth opens the last door on the corridor and they enter a beautifully decorated room The walls were covered in paintings of Russian and Greek myths.
Ewen can't help exclaiming on an exhale, "Beautiful", upon seeing a painting of Poseidon.
"Isn't it? We're looking for a small lacquer box. Spencer keeps his treasures in it. We're not allowed to open it though, Spence was clear about that. Not even Cameron gets to take a peak and that's saying something."
Ewen asks, "How did it get left behind?"
"Spence hid it to well and I think at the time, he was pretty upset at leaving his cousins and didn't think about the box until now. We need to find a wall panel with a white rabbit and a man on a sled."
Ewen moves over to a panel on the North wall, "Like this one?"
"That has to be it," Elizabeth answers a little excitedly. "I feel like I'm on a treasure hunt."
She touches a slightly worn spot on the rabbits back and pushes up and to the left. The panel opens and they find the Kholui Lacquer box.
"Are there a lot of these hiding holes around here?"
"It's possible," Elizabeth says, reaching into the wall. "I've got it. Isn't she beautiful?" Elizabeth asks, pointing at the Snow Maiden on the left side of the box. "Although I think I like old man winter, or is it Jack Frost, better." Elizabeth looks a little more closely and shivers.
Ewen whips his suit jacket off and wraps it around her shoulders, "Are you cold, you must come back to the drawing room and get warm by the fire?"
"I'm alright. I was just thinking about another box."
"A box that makes you look like someone is walking over your grave?"
"That's a good descriptions of Helena, someone walking over my grave. At least she wishes she was."
"More secrets?" Ewen asks, directing Elizabeth out of the room.
"No, I can tell you about her. It's just a long story."
"There you are assigning time to things again. It's not a long story if it keeps people interested."
Elizabeth laughs a little, "True, but I do need to pay attention to the time a little bit or I'll miss the launch."
"You said that your grandmother is watching the boys today, is she expecting you soon? Because if not, we can call and cancel the launch. I can take you back later in my boat."
Elizabeth turns at the top of the stairs and looks closely at him, trying to figure out why he's interested in her stories, in her. He catches her eyes with his and all she sees is warmth and caring. She inhales and realizes she's staring. She turns quickly and tips off balance. Ewen reaches one arm around her and pulls her back against him. His arm would be touching her breasts, except for the box.
Elizabeth reaches up with her free hand and clasps his arm, realizing that she's clinging, she lets go, "I'm alright. You can let go, I won't fall."
Ewen pulls her into him again for just a brief second before stepping back giving her more room at the top of the stairs.
Neither talk as they go down the stairs. Elizabeth still feels the sensation of his arms around her and can't help but find it familiar.
