hallways, knowing damn well that Lisbeth would follow behind me.
“If you need me, I’ll be in the gym.”
I was halfway through the door when he called out, “And will you allow your new pet to see exactly what you go through to get ready? It might enlighten her to just how much influence she’s had on your life.”
Turning, I met his stare, Lisbeth’s body heat brushing over my back with how close she stood. Franklin grinned like he had me cornered, his comment intended to remind me what made me violent.
“She doesn’t need to see that.”
He rolled his eyes and grabbed his newspaper, dismissing me to go about my day. I wasn’t sure what the hell his problem was when it came to Lisbeth. He’d brought her back for me, demanded I do what I wanted. Apparently, what I’d chosen to do didn’t appease whatever hopes he had.
Leading Lisbeth down to the kitchens, I sat at my usual table, my eyes glancing up at where she stood.
“Take a seat,” I growled in frustration.
What the hell was I going to do now that my head was filled with images of what she looked like when she orgasmed, the sounds of her whimpers and screams still lodged in my head?
Ellen came to the table, her eyes flicking to Lisbeth before settling on me. “One plate again?”
“Two,” I answered, hating the disapproval I saw in her eyes. Apparently I was pissing off everybody in this place.
“Right away,” Ellen said, the tone clipped and hostile. She was the last person I wanted to disappoint, but I didn’t have it in me today to figure out what to do with Lisbeth.
“You don’t have to do this.”
Lifting my head to lock eyes with Lisbeth, I scratched my jaw and exhaled heavily.
“Do what?”
“Be nice. It was you who said things wouldn’t change. Don’t get my hopes up if you plan on ripping the floor out from under me.”
The corner of my lip curled.
“If letting you eat at a servant’s table in the kitchen is what you consider nice, then your life has been far more tragic than mine.”
She blinked, her gaze dropping to her hands because she knew her life had been a fairy tale in comparison.
I studied the new bandage she’d put on her chin after showering, then reached over to pull it off.
Her stare shot up to mine.
Uncaring that she hadn’t given me permission to touch her, I grabbed her chin and turned her face so I could examine the cut.
“It’s closed up. Leave the bandage off. You want to let a wound breathe to heal.”
Pulling away from me, she touched her chin with soft fingers.
“I take it you know that from experience. From fighting?”
More like from the punishments I received daily because of her. “Something like that.”
Ellen set down our plates, lingered in place for a bit, every thought in her head screaming in mine.
Giving her my best scolded boy look, I had a silent conversation with her.
You’re an idiot, she didn’t say.
I know, but you still love me, I didn’t answer.
She huffed out a breath. “Can I get you anything else?”
Nodding, I wrapped my hand around the warmth of my coffee mug.
“If you could have someone grab Gretchen for me, that would be helpful.”
Another huff, her eyes narrowing on Lisbeth for only a second before she marched off to do as I’d asked. Knowing I would have to make it up to her, I ate as quickly as I could, paying as little attention to the woman beside me as possible.
It was an awkward companionship, neither of us knowing what to think of the other now that we’d allowed lust to take over and set us on course to an impossible future.
I was a Rose in name only, but she was the rightful heir to the family, even if she didn’t understand that fact. And maybe that’s why Franklin took such issue with what we were doing. He was afraid I’d slip and tell her.
“Mr. Rose.”
Thankful to hear Gretchen’s voice, I checked to make sure Lisbeth had finished eating before lifting my eyes.
“Can you take Lisbeth for the day? I have a fight to prepare for.”
“Of course. I’ll assign her to tag along with Holly.”
“Keep her away from the gym. At least until I call for her.”
Lisbeth’s head turned my direction, her eyes burning holes in the side of my face.
I didn’t bother to meet that stare, didn’t trust myself not to tell her she would only be a distraction I couldn’t risk.