Chapter 2:
"Wait, fath-" was all she managed to get out before he had shut the door behind him. She sighed and slumped back in the chair. She looked over the room at the rattling windows. The wind had really picked up and it had started snowing, not to mention the fact that the sun had started to set.
"Looks like I'm staying here tonight," she sighed to herself, pulling her light brown curls back into a loose ponytail.
"Don't sound so down about it."
She turned and saw a tall man dressed in comfortably fitting black slacks and a casual grey button up shirt. He was incredibly attractive, with bright, icy blue eyes; defining black eyebrows; and sweeping, almost poker straight black hair with a few silvery-grey streaks peaking out. He didn't look any older than his late thirties, and she had a hard time believing that this man was the previous' father. She stood to greet him and shake his hand, wanting to appear professional and courteous.
"Sorry. I didn't mean it like that. It's just that all my stuff is down at the village inn and I was hoping to get back there by tonight."
Instead of shaking her hand, the man walked over to her and gently took her hand in his, raising it to his lips and kissing it before gesturing for her to sit. She did, feeling small and somewhat awkward. The man was at least a foot taller than her and she wasn't used to dealing with such old-fashioned, gentlemanly behavior.
"May I inquire as to your name?" the man asked, sitting down in the chair across from her.
"Right, sorry," she apologized. There was something about this man and these surroundings nagged at the back of her mind, but she couldn't figure out what. "My name's Laila. And yours?"
"Count von Krolock, at your service," he introduced with a small bowing gesture. "Well, Laila," he said, indicating toward the window. The snow was really coming down outside now and the windows were making a terrible rattling noise in their fight to keep the wind out. "It looks like you'll be staying the night with us, perhaps longer if you so desire. I do hope you find my home to your liking."
"Wait," she started to ask, confused. "You don't know a thing about me. Isn't there supposed to be some sort of interview before you decide this sort of thing?"
"No need," von Krolock waved his hand dismissively. "I can already tell you'll do just fine."
Laila was about to protest when she heard the door behind her click open. The blonde man stepped into the room and announced, "Dinner's ready."
Von Krolock stood and offered Laila an arm. "Shall we then?"