The nice room didn’t change the fact that I would go insane if they tried to keep me in it.
Archer’s face wrinkled in distaste, but I held his gaze, not willing to waver in my request. “No. So, get dressed.” He pointed at my pajamas. “If he sees, Mr. Knight won’t like those.”
I popped a hip and looked him up and down. “What? He complained about my pj’s yesterday, didn’t he?”
Archer chose to plead the fifth.
I scoffed and pointed to the red flowers on my shirt. “Tulips should bring everybody joy.” That got me a chuckle. I smiled back. “Ah, there’s the Archer I know. I thought I might have lost you to the cold clutches of Paradise Grove.”
“Yeah, yeah. It’s not that bad.”
“Really?” I walked over to grab attire from my dresser. “So, you just decided to come check on me rather than eating with the Knights downstairs?”
He glanced away. “My job is your safety, Ms. Darling. Plus, no one really enjoys eating with them but Valerie and Hades when Mrs. Knight is here. Breakfast is …” He hesitated on the word.
“Frigid?” I couldn’t help myself.
And then we were both laughing before Archer informed me, “You were invited, like I said.”
“Probably by Franny.”
He shrugged, and therefore I knew she was the one asking for my company. “If she asks, we tell her meals are for time with her grandma and dad. Got it? I don’t want her feelings hurt.” I shook my head and waved at my pajamas. “Instead, I’ll get ready quick so I can help Rosy.” I hated the thought of her alone in that kitchen dishing out meal after meal for everyone.
“You saw that woman. She likes cooking for everyone and running this house.”
“How about we sneak around to the back entrance of Rosy’s kitchen to help her and munch there until they’re done?”
“Eat here or with the Knights, Mia. Those are our options.”
I frowned. “According to who?”
“Your employer?”
I hummed without so much as an argument and went tothe bathroom to change into a green flowy dress that reminded me of my plants in their better days. I walked over to them and told Archer, “I think they’re dying because I’ve locked them into this stuffy room. What do you think? The air in this place is somewhat uncomfortable and suspicious. I’ll need to maybe sage it too. Do you think Jameson would mind if we did that to the halls I’ve seen so far?”
He groaned. “I’m not doing that with you again.” He had walked the halls of the academy with me after I’d heard a few noises one night.
“It helped last time. Just admit it.” The place had felt so much lighter after we’d done it, but he just shook his head at me like I was a little too off the beaten path for his taste. I patted his shoulder as I walked past him out of the room. “Come on. Let’s go eat wherewewant to, Archer. Maybe today we’ll see the rest of the estate?”
“I think we will when Hades and Jameson find the time,” Archer grumbled, resigned to the fact that we wouldn’t be spending the morning in my room.
We walked quietly down another hallway and made it into the kitchen without disturbing the Knights, who were chatting quietly in the dining room.
Rosy shook her head at both Archer and me right when we arrived. She was in that signature black-and-white apron with her red lipstick in place. “Let me guess. You just can’t let me make breakfast for you and you’d rather help.”
“I really can’t.” I shrugged and grabbed a spoon.
“Or you really can’t sit with them, right?” She looked to Archer instead of me, as if he would be honest and I wouldn’t.
“In my defense”—I held up a finger—“Archer said no one ever eats with them. Plus, it’s true, I like making my own food.”
“You realize I get paid very well to wait on this family and manage the house. And that includes their guests.”
“And you do a fantastic job of it. I’m simply used to helping myself. Plus, I’m more of an employee than a guest.”
She nodded like she understood before pointing to a plate that was covered. “Just eat the pancake I made you and wash your plate yourself then. They’re just finishing up eating out there, and I believe Mrs. Knight is on her way out.”
I picked up the cover, and rich yeast laced with cinnamon wafted my way. “This smells amazing.” I almost moaned, realizing that my appetite finally was back.
