I can’t see.
I moved around her, eagerness making me rude. She hadn’t pushed aside the bag, still hiding the contents. I reached to move it, but she said, “Did you hear me? You’re to go to the gaming hall.”
My heartbeat switched to a sombrethud-thud.Jethro wanted our first date on Hawksridge land? Surely, there were more enjoyable places than a stuffy cigar-fumigated den?
“Did he say why?”
She shook her head. “No, sorry.”
And why would he? Jethro was kind and gentle beneath layers of complexities, but he was still a rich, powerful man, and she was but a lowly servant. Such things wouldn’t be shared.
“You’re running out of time. I was told to help you dress.” Frowning a little, she pushed aside the bag and withdrew a simple cheesecloth shirt and...breaches.
The sombrethud-thudturned to a more panicky drum. My eyes swooped up to hers. “He said I had to wear this?”
Is Jethro into weird kink that completely escaped my notice?Whenever we slept together, I got a feeling that missionary and the more conventional methods weren’t entirely his taste. He held something back—butthis?
What on earth is erotic about breaches?
She shook her head. “Nothing, ma’am. All I know is I’m supposed to help you dress and get you there within the hour.” She reached for my towel.
I backpedalled. “No...that won’t be necessary. I can dress myself.”
Please...
A silent beg began in my soul, gathering volume with every breath.
Please...
The beg became a prayer, tiptoeing through awful conclusions.
Please don’t let this be what I think it is...
The maid nodded. “Okay. I’ll just wait outside.” She headed for the door, but turned around. “Oh, I almost forgot. There were two instructions. No bra or knickers and tie your hair up.”
Oh, my God.
My heart slammed to a stop.
Please. Please, don’t let this be...
My beg was no longer a scared prayer but a raucous in every limb.
“Why?” I choked, suffocating on knowledge.
The maid shrugged. “Again, Miss. I wasn’t told. But they do expect your presence quickly so...” She nodded at the items. “Best to hurry.”
She stepped from the room, shutting the door behind her.
They.
Not him.
They.
The pain came from nowhere. A crippling rippingtearingdeep inside. It felt as if my body tried to evict my soul—every cell shredding with agony. A silent scream billowed, succumbing to the horrific knowledge, battering me with violence—almost as if I could commit suicide just from fear.
Run, Nila.
