here?”
“Two days,” I tell her. It seems like forever and not enough time. A wisp of the old fear grips me, making goose bumps rise on the back of my neck. Two days is not long enough to throw my father off my trail if he’s looking hard enough.
“You’re new then.” Alicia looks thoughtful. “What earned you a room in the attic?”
She’s been leading the way all the way downstairs but slows her pace while we turn corners on the main floor. I think we’ve gone the opposite way of the lounge. “Oh, I didn’t pass my inspection.”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “You? But you’re really pretty.” She laughs to herself. “Sorry, I’m not usually like this. Just starved for conversation, I guess. It’s been a rough month. This is us.” Alicia stops at an opening in the wall. Voices float out from inside, and I take one more step to get the full view.
A dining room.
It reminds me of a hotel dining room, only a thousand times nicer. It’s bright and open, with white tables, and chairs large enough to tuck your legs up into while you eat. Several of the girls are sitting like that, talking over tea and toast. It’s beautiful. I’m drawn into it, lost in the clink of silverware on china and the gentle rise and fall of conversation. The first step inside the room seems like a given.
Until it doesn’t.
Heads turn, the conversation cutting off like someone’s flipped off the volume.
They were talking about me.
My heart skips a beat, face heating. I kept my head down in high school for reasons just like this. There’s nothing worse than walking into a room and knowing everyone was talking about you.
Fine… there are worse things. But the burn in my cheeks and the embarrassed twist in my stomach feels like the worst right now.
“Come on,” Alicia says, her own voice dropping. “Let’s sit down.”
“Okay.” I can keep a straight face. I can act like nothing’s wrong—most days. But today, I’m sore, my soul raw, and everything seems exaggerated. I catch Savannah watching me from the corner of the room, eyes narrowed. She’ll know what happened in the lounge. Everyone will know. He did it that way on purpose.
Mean.
We take a small table in the corner, one with plenty of sunlight and a pot of hot water already waiting. Alicia takes another tin and lifts out two tea infusers in the shape of poppies. She drops one in each of our mugs and pours the water over it, steam curling in the air above the lids. It gives me something to focus on.
A woman in a white apron approaches with plates. I had no idea how hungry I was until this moment. When was the last time I ate? Breakfast yesterday, with the maids. A horrified shock freezes me in place. I should be with the maids. He didn’t say to eat in the dining room.
“I think you’re good,” says Alicia in a soft voice. “He sent you clothes.”
I meet her eyes, face gone cold with fear. “How do you know that’s what he meant?”
She shrugs. “If he didn’t want you here, he’d have had one of his people stop you at the door.” It takes twisting around in my seat to see what she’s talking about. I didn’t notice him before, the man in black; he hovers near the entrance, almost part of the decor. “A place like this needs a lot of security,” Alicia comments. “I think they’re meant to be part of the background.”
“They’re doing a good job.” I stir my tea with shaking hands. If I had a plan at all, other than run, then it was to be unobtrusive. Stand out only enough to get what I need. So far, it’s been a disaster. Four spoonsful of sugar in my tea, and I’ve steadied myself enough to look at my plate. My stomach growls.
Even the food is beautiful. Yellow, fluffy eggs nestle up next to perfectly browned toast. A small cup of jam decorates the side of the plate. Three neat strips of bacon balance next to crisp potatoes. Alicia is already digging in. She closes her eyes with her first bite, tipping her head back, and I look away. I tried that move last night. Zeus didn’t believe it.
And then…
And then…
Then he saw the real thing.
I push it out of my mind. I can’t eat with him crowding my brain, his voice low and sensual in my ear. That laugh. I crave