with relief before she turned her attention to the windows again.
“So, did he do that?”
Uncomfortable dragging Holly into this situation, I found a way to dance around the truth without revealing anything.
“You know that I wasn’t always a maid, right?”
Her eyes met mine for a second, head nodding.
“I remember. I woke you up that morning. The one when you were dragged through the house.”
Guilt weighted her expression, but I reached out to squeeze her shoulder.
“It wasn’t your fault. Callan and I have a complicated history. This would have happened regardless of whether you’d woken me or not.”
She bit her lip, but then nodded again to accept the answer.
“But you are okay, right? You wouldn’t lie to me?”
“I’m fine,” I promised.
Physically, at least. Mentally was a different issue.
The truth was I was torn in two, a constant whispering in my head telling me to run regardless of what happened.
I didn’t trust Callan, didn’t trust my uncle or any of the people who’d helped drag me into this position.
If the opportunity were to present itself, I wouldn’t hesitate to run. Unfortunately, the doors were still constantly guarded, the electronic locks blinking red. I checked every one as I passed them.
Callan still hadn’t dropped his guard.
Holly flung her rag onto the cart and pulled the yellow gloves from her hands.
“It’s getting late. We should go back to the staff hall, shower, change our clothes and get dinner.”
It would have been nice to have even that much freedom. But my clothes were tucked away in Callan’s room. Holly must have realized that when she looked at me next, her cheeks heating pink.
“I’m sorry. We can go straight to dinner in these clothes. It’s not a problem.”
Shaking my head, I smiled.
“It’s fine. I’ll wait for you outside the bathrooms. When you’re done, we’ll eat.”
We’d made it as far as the dining hall before Gretchen found me, her hair pulled up in its typical stern knot, her scowl in place.
Before I could grab a plate, she reached for my arm to pull me aside. Holly shot me a look of concern, but moved along to decide on her dinner rather than interrupt.
Gretchen walked me to a far wall where nobody would be able to overhear us.
“You’ve been requested in the gym within the half hour. I wanted to let you know so you would hurry with your dinner. I’d hate for you to miss a meal.”
Still confused by her concern when it came to me, I thanked her and turned to leave, but she grabbed me again to spin me back.
Gretchen cleared her throat, her gaze swinging to my neck and back to my eyes.
“Did they hurt you?”
Startled by her question, I opened my mouth to answer before closing it again. My brows tugged together, a million thoughts rolling through my head. I settled on a question.
“What do you mean?”
A roll of her eyes, a click of her tongue.
“Don’t be daft, Lisbeth. I dropped you off last night in a room full of fighters, and you were returned to me this morning with bruises all over your neck. I know a handprint when I see one. I recognize a bite mark.”
“Oh,” I answered, my hand reaching for my throat.
“This wasn’t caused by them. It was-“
“Mr. Rose?”
I nodded.
Some of the strain eased from her features, but not much.
“Well, then it’s none of my business. And I don’t need details. Just tell me you remembered what I told you last night.”
Another nod. “To manipulate him.”
Her eyes locked to mine.
“Don’t feel shame if that’s the way you chose to do so. Women have been doing that for years as well.”
She paused, her eyes searching the room again.
“Go eat,” she suggested. “I’ll wait for you by the doors.”
Not that it was an easy request to fulfill.
Just like the night before, the food settled with a heaviness that made me sick. I felt full after a few bites, but managed to continue until the plate was clean. After dropping it off on the return cart to the kitchen, I stepped up to where Gretchen waited, my skin cold and clammy.
She studied me with a shrewd eye.
“Fix your posture, Lisbeth. You’re a Rose. Act like it. Strong women never slouch.”
“Maybe I’m just exhausted.”
She scoffed.
“We’re all exhausted for one reason or another. They’ll eat you alive if you show it.”
I rolled my shoulders back like I’d been taught as a girl, my spine ramrod straight. Tilting my chin up took effort, but once I’d assumed the position she approved of, Gretchen nodded her