Chapter 8
Joseph“Oh, wow,” he said.
They agreed to meet at the hotel, an old country estate given new life as a charming, if aging, hotel. The size of the place stunned him when he arrived. It was a sprawling heap of honey-colored stone against the snowy grounds. Joseph didn’t know much about traditional Corravian architecture, but he recognized that the house had once been a sparkling jewel. Time and neglect wore it down, but it still possessed a warm charm.
Even in winter, the house was inviting. Lights glowed brightly, and visitors were greeted with a roaring fire in the foyer’s fireplace. Festive decorations covered nearly every surface. He could see why Marigold picked this location for the gala.
Peaceable met him in the foyer, sweeping down the stairs in a dress that made him wis
