She set warm maple syrup down next to my plate and handed me a fork before turning to Archer and pointing to his plate. “I don’t normally let people eat in here.”
“Just us from now until the end of time, right?” I said as I moaned into the food, taking my first bite. “What did you put in these pancakes?”
“Secrets, great and small, Ms. Darling.”
“Mia,” I corrected her. And when she frowned, I added, “Please. It’s always awkward when adults call me what children do all day.”
“Makes sense,” she agreed as she buzzed around picking up utensils.
“How early was breakfast for them today?” I asked, trying to gauge how much time I had.
“Franny rises with the sun.” Rosy shrugged and chuckled as she turned to put away some spices. “And I’m convinced we all orbit around her schedule.”
“Is it good to orbit?” Franny frowned as she walked in with Malek prancing by her side. The dog looked completely out of place with his thick black leather collar, but he came to sit in front of me as if expecting something.
I took a step back from the animal, pulling my plate toward me, but he stepped closer and started panting. I glanced at Franny. “Um … orbiting is great. It means we all have our attention onyou, missy.” I shifted my gaze back to the dog, not sure if I should trust him today. “Does your dog want something?”
“Your food,” Archer said, glancing toward the door now, as if ready for our boss to walk through.
Rosy laughed and pointed to the cupboard behind me. “He wants his treat, and Franny wants her chocolate. Means grandma is gone, huh?”
Franny smiled big. “She didn’t even let me put chocolate chips on the pancakes today. So, I need double the chocolate now, Ms. Darling.”
I wasn’t so sure. “Your father and Hades don’t seem to be too keen on sweets. So don’t tell—”
And as if he were conjured from my saying his name, Hades walked in. “She won’t tell anyone, but I will,” he said as he glared at Rosy like this was all her fault.
“You would tell,” she scoffed, tension snapping between them, and turned to go back to her skillet. “If you don’t want sweets handed out, probably should stay out of my kitchen.”
“See”—Hades looked down at Franny as if she’d gotten him in trouble—“I told you we had to stay out there while she cleaned up.”
“She wants you out, not me.” Franny rolled her eyes so dramatically, her dark curls swung as she eyed me expectantly. “The chocolates are by the dog treats in that cabinet.”
Hades glared and Rosy raised an eyebrow. A test to see which side I was on. Maybe it was because I’d always yearned for a friendship I’d never had or because I wanted to shove it to Jameson and his team any way I could, but I reached up and grabbed the chocolate jar and dog treats. Franny smiled while Malek’s tail wagged.
The winning moment was when Rosy’s face relaxed like she knew she could trust me as I handed both the biscuit and chocolate out.
“Unbelievable,” Hades grumbled, but I think I saw his shoulders ease, too, as if he were relieved to know I had a backbone. “Jameson won’t be happy.”
“Don’t pout, Uncle Hades. It’suncouth.Daddy will be just fine if we stay on schedule. He has other things to worry about.” Franny explained, “Being a doctor is hard.” She grabbed Hades’s hand as she turned him toward the door, having gotten all she needed from us. “So, maybe keep this trip to the kitchen to yourself. Daddy has so many calls and meetings today that he can’t worry about this. You understand?”
Her tone was so haughty and mature that each of us started laughing while Hades attempted to frown at her like he’d been outwitted.
“What’s so funny?” Jameson’s voice rolled smoothly through the kitchen but still made everyone straighten up as he walked in with his suit pressed perfectly. His expression was almost relaxed until he saw me. Then his stride faltered just a fraction, though enough that I clocked it.
The laughter on my lips died along with the comfort in the room. Instead, unease twisted its way in and held us all captive. His blue eyes found mine and pierced straight into my soul. “Well, this is interesting,” he said with a scowl. “I see there’s a party in the kitchen this morning.” His voice was cold and low, as if such a thing was against the estate policy.
Was there an estate policy? A handbook of some sort?
“I felt it was better to eat here with Ms. Darling on her first official day than disturb your breakfast,” Archer offered quietly.
“I don’t believe I asked you to make decisions based on how you felt, Archer. Ms. Darling was to either dine with us or be brought to Franny and me after she ate in her room.”
Jameson didn’t even glance Archer’s way. The way he held his power over Archer without even looking at him had my feathers ruffling and my hackles raised. I’d requested hispresence because he’d shown me loyalty and compassion. Archer was a good egg, and I wouldn’t have him take the fall for me. So, I let Jameson’s stare dig into mine, and at his intimidation tactics, I lifted my chin. “It wasn’t Archer’s decision. It was mine. He’s not going to physically restrain me … unless you’ve given him permission to?”
Rocking back on his heels, Jameson pulled at the back of his neck. “It’s too early for this, Mia,” he grumbled under his breath and then said, “No. No one is going to bodily restrain you to a specific location to eat.”
“Oh, well good then.” I clapped my hands together and smiled brightly. “I wanted to eat here and help Rosy clean up.”
