“Just outside of London. You?”
“Not far from here but I didn’t get in the first few times I applied. I went to St. Andrews until I could transfer,” He takes a swig of his can of coke and looks to Deena who is silently eating a yoghurt. She doesn’t talk much and seems scared of the world, but there’s a fire to her that is similar to my own. She feels familiar, like a kindred spirit.
“What about you?”
Her eyes lift and shift between the two of us. “Down the road,”
Corden chuckles. “There isn’t anything down the road. We are miles from the closest town,”
Deena shakes her head. “There’s a children’s home not far from here, it’s owned by Marrowton and technically on the same land,”
Corden’s smile drops as he shifts uncomfortably.
I don’t give her my pity as she looks like she gets enough of that from others.
“What houses are you in?” I interrupt trying to shift the conversation.
“Hastings,” They both say in unison and for the first time in a long time I feel relieved. Finally, a little luck. Today may have started out completely shit but things seem to be heading in the right direction.
Just as that thought pops into my head, the stars must decide to bring me back to reality.
My shoulder is shoved as I go to put a forkful of my Caesar salad to my mouth, making the sauce drop onto my black pull over.
“Slut,” I hear from behind me, and I snap my attention to the culprit.
Darcy.
She doesn’t acknowledge the act or even turn to me as she walks past.
“What the fuck!” Corden shouts after her as Deena retreats into herself, trying to be invisible.
“Leave it,” I whisper, wiping the dribble with a napkin. “She’s not even worth it,”
Corden turns back to me with a creased brow. “You would think with all the money she clearly has she would do something about those split ends,” He says honestly and I can’t stop the laugh that bubbles up my throat. It’s the second time today he has brought it out of me, and I can’t say it doesn’t feel good.
Even Deena snorts quietly beside me before settling back into her chair, more at ease.
Then it happens again, that hot, prickling sensation crawling over my skin. I don’t need to look to know who it is. Iknowwhat it feels like to havehiseyes on me. Even after only twenty-four hours at Marrowton, I’ve learned to recognize his gaze like a brand.
I glance toward the massive double doors of the dining hall. Or ballroom, really. That’s what it feels like, grand and excessive, with polished floors that gleam under the chandeliers and round tables scattered like an afterthought. Buffet tables line the walls, each piled high with dishes from every corner of the globe. If, by some miracle, they didn’t make what you wanted? Just ask. The chefs will whip it up fresh on demand.
When the man in the white apron told me that, I laughed in his face.
What a bunch of pampered twats.
Technically, I’m one of them now, but only because I’m doing a job for my father. This world was never mine. Not really. Before this, the only gifts I ever received were hand-me-downs. Marlowe’s castoffs. And the knife from Silas.
Everything else I’ve worked for. Saved for. Fought for.
Except the dainty diamond Rolex glittering on my wrist. That, I stole.
Lifted it from Marlowe after she used my bedroom window to sneak off and meet a boy past curfew, knowing full well I’d take the blame. And the beating. She wanted me to.
So, I took the watch as payment.
Not that she noticed. With a whole glass case of them in her room, what’s one missing?
I continue scanning around the room for the source of my raise in temperature. I glance over the table where Darcy, and her collection of copy and paste girls sit, along with a group of boys I haven’t had anything to do with yet. Then I find him.
