Katherine had done her best to keep up with Mave's status, but it had been hard. A brief mention of the attack gave almost no details in the press before the story disappeared from all forms of media. Nearly three months later, it was as if it had never happened. She had spoken to Laura briefly about how successful her appearance at the charity benefit had been and that it would stand her in good stead with her audience, but when she asked after Mave, Laura hadn't shared any details other than she was on the mend.

It was frustrating because Katherine did care, but it reminded her that while the Stevenses were kind to her, she wasn't family or even a friend, only an acquaintance.

Katherine was riding in the back of the crew van, looking at her phone, when she heard a low whistle from the front.

"This is definitely the grandest house we've ever investigated!" J.D, the cameraman, exclaimed. "It will be a joy to shoot. I bet there isn't a bad angle in the house."

Robert, who was driving the van, stopped halfway up the drive, and they all craned their necks to get a view of the house. However, it wasn't enough for some, as the door to the van was opened, and they all spilled out, taking photos of the dramatic setting.

"It's like a movie set," Claire, the makeup artist and hairstylist, said in awe as she snapped a selfie.

"It is lovely," Kiki agreed.

"Where are we?" Katherine asked with a frown. She had been traveling the last month and didn't know which way was up, much less where they were on the schedule for the show, which had already changed six times in the last two months.

"It's Hardd House!" Robert rubbed his hands together gleefully. "Kiki was shocked when she got the call last month, and they were very specific that this was the only weekend they could shoot. Can you guess why?"

Katherine looked at a giddy Robert and shook her head as her stomach fell. Alistair had said yes. Why had he said yes? She turned around to look back at the house, her mind spinning. This was where Alistair had grown up, and this would be his house one day. Whatever she had pictured in her mind over the years, this was not it.

She felt a little sick.

"It was the only week that Mason and Cassandra Stevens were available, and they wanted to co-host." Robert laughed. "Mason and Cassandra Stevens! I think they are related to the earl somehow."

"The senior earl is Mason Stevens's brother, is senior earl the right term?" Kiki asked.

"No, Bryce Stevens is the current earl. His son, who hasn't officially inherited the title yet, is just referred to as your grace." Claire explained, having done her homework. "I hear that the son, Alistair Stevens, is a dream to look at," she sighed.

Her comment made Katherine's hackles rise for some reason. Claire was new to the crew, and she and Katherine hadn't hit it off, but Katherine hadn't thought much about the girl until now.

Taking her time, Katherine looked Claire over. She was young, pretty, and petite, with a blond pixie cut and big blue eyes.

"This is going to be so much fun! And to think we're the first official film crew allowed to film in the house!" J.D. was just as excited as Robert. Kiki and Claire looked pleased as well, and she could hear them discussing Alistair in soft voices with their heads bent together.

Katherine looked back at the house with conflicted emotions. She was excited to get a peek inside Alistair's home but worried about seeing him again. They had left everything unresolved, and she was concerned about which Alistair she would get. Would he be the serious one, who resented them being there, or the happy Alistair, who went with the flow and didn't let much bother him?

It only took them a moment to finish the short drive to the house, and Katherine was amazed at how massive the house was up close. It looked large from the drive, but standing beside it was overwhelming. She turned to look back at the lush, rolling, green lawn that stretched before the house, wondering if it had looked the same as it did now three hundred years ago when it had been built.

The doors to the house were opened, and a man and a woman dressed in formal clothing came down the stairs to welcome them. It wasn't anyone Katherine knew, so she guessed they were the staff.

"It's just like freaking Downton Abby!" Claire squeaked.

"Welcome to Hardd House," the man said with a little bow, and Claire squeaked again while Katherine felt sick. The two people before her were very different from Abby. "I'm Jackson, and this is my wife, Reva. We run the house for his Grace."

"His Grace!" Kiki said with awe to Claire.

The team had been to several grand houses over the years, but many had been converted into hotels or were open to the public to generate revenue for their upkeep. If they were still owned by the wealthy, titled families of yore, they were never around when they filmed.

Despite this house's grandeur, the way they were greeted made it feel like it was still a family home, which It still was as far as Katherine knew. Jackson led the way into the house after telling them not to worry about their luggage and equipment. It would be unloaded with the utmost care.

J.D., who usually had a fit when anyone touched his stuff, seemed all right with the instructions as he followed the others into the house. They all stopped in their tracks and looked up at the great hall they had just entered. It was a massive space that rose three stories with balconies running around three sides and an enormous center staircase at one end. There was a large fireplace that they could all stand in on one side with limited seating in front of it.

"To your left is his Grace's study, and next to it is the blue drawing room. To your right is the dining room. If the ladies will follow Reva, she'll show you your rooms. If the men will follow me, I'll show you to your rooms."

"Katherine." She heard her name called to her left and looked over to find Bryce watching them all as they took in their surroundings. Did his presence mean that Alistair wasn't going to be there? "May I have a moment of your time to discuss some business?" he asked.

Kiki must have recognized him because she stepped forward with her hand out in greeting. "Your Grace, I'm Kiki Mann, head producer of the show. I know it's sometimes confusing to people, but the stars don't handle the business side of things. I do."

Bryce took her hand in his, his face its usual stony mask. "I'm aware of that fact, Ms. Mann. What I need to talk to Katherine about is personal business." He stood to one side, looking at Katherine as he silently bossed her to join him.

When she entered the study, it was to find many of the Stevens lolling about, looking bored, but they perked up when they saw her.

"Katherine!" Grace exclaimed as she rose to greet her. "You look lovely!" Katherine accepted the kiss on the cheek returning it. "Did Bryce just silently boss you?" she laughed. "He used to do that to me all the time."

Katherine looked over at Mason and Cassandra Stevens, who seemed unusually reserved, and nodded. Davis and Laura, who gave her polite smiles, were also there, as was another couple that Katherine didn't recognize.

"This is Norah and Caleb Stevens. Caleb is Bryce's youngest brother. They're only here for a few days before they're off to their next exciting project." Grace introduced. "Alistair got hung up in New York, but he should be here with a few of his cousins this evening."

Katherine felt herself blush at the mention of Alistair's name.

"Lizzy and Trisha mentioned attending, but we talked them down. Trisha would have been so disappointed if you don't find any ghosts." Grace smiled as she returned to her chair.

Katherine could feel all their eyes on her as if expecting her to do a trick or something, and it was disconcerting.

"Was there business you needed to discuss with me?" Katherine turned to Bryce, perched on the edge of his desk, watching her with assessing eyes.

"No, Grace wanted to say hello."

"Oh," Katherine said awkwardly.

"I also wanted to give the others a minute to get to their rooms. They've all been put on the third floor, but we've put you on the second floor with the family. I didn't want to make it too obvious." Grace graciously said.

"Thank you, but you didn't have to go to so much trouble. I would have been fine on the third floor with the others." Katherine blushed again as she realized she sounded ungrateful.

"It wasn't any trouble," Bryce said. "The staff took care of it."

Grace frowned at her husband with displeasure at his rudeness, but Katherine missed it because she felt like she was being tested somehow and had failed.

When there was a knock on the door, she sighed in relief as the awkward silence was broken.

"I'll take Ms. Rhodes to her room now," Reva said as she entered the room.

"Thank you, Reva," Grace nodded. "Katherine, lunch is in about an hour."

Katherine nodded and followed Reva out of the room and up the grand staircase.

This was going to be the worst shoot ever.