I grab my plate, filled with a mixed green salad and some small pieces of lamb cut up on top, and sit down beside Robert, across from the other two.
“You’ve outdone yourself again, Wren,” Robert says after taking the firstbite.
“Really? You like it?” I ask hopefully.
“Yes, it’s delicious.”
“Mmm, fantastic,” Carlos moans. I flick my eyes to his, finding him staring at me as he licks his lips. I squirm in my chair, dropping my eyes to my plate. He always makes me feel uncomfortable, his unwanted gaze sending a shiver down my spine.
Remembering my role as the woman of the house, I finish my mouthful of bland lettuce and turn to Robert. “How was your day?”
“It was actually an extremely successful one.”
“Really? Did you close a big deal?” I ask, toeing the line between appropriate conversation and overstepping into his business. He runs a multi-million-dollar investment firm, constantly buying and selling, but that’s pretty much all I know. I understand it’s the man’s job to bring in the money, and the woman’s job to support him at home, but sometimes I wish I could learn about the family business.
“So to speak, yes. I think our future is going to be very bright. How about you? What did you do today?”
I sit up straighter, eager to share my day with him. “Well, I finished that cross-stitch I’ve been working on, and I practiced the song you requested on the piano. I could play it for you later, if you’d like? I think I’m improving.” I hear the eagerness in my request, but being alone all the time sucks. I was dying for his company. He works too hard.
Robert had decided to get me piano lessons a couple of years ago when I started getting bored and asked about leaving the house. It helped to fill my time, even if I didn’t love it. But it was like cooking, I did it because it made him happy.
“Actually, I have a guest coming over tonight that I’d like you to meet. Perhaps you can play it for both of us?”
I perk up at the idea of meeting someone new. Being stuck in the huge house, even with all the staff and his business associates, felt incredibly lonely and boring.
“Yes, I’d love to! What should I wear?” I ask, knowing he’ll want to choose my attire.
“I had a new dress made just for you. It should be in your room now.”
“You didn’t need to buy me a new dress, Robert. I have so many already.”
“Wren…” He says my name in warning, and my back goes ramrod straight, making sure that even though I messed up, at least my posture is correct.
Apologize and thank him.
“I’m sorry, Robert. What I meant to say was, you shouldn’t have, but I appreciate the gesture. Thank you for thinking of me, and for the lovely gift.”
He watches me for a moment before nodding in approval and taking another bite of food. Theo snorts in amusement, but when I glance at him, he’s looking at his plate. There’s a thump under the table, and he grunts.Did Carlos just kick him?
After we finish eating, I clear the table and finish cleaning the kitchen before heading to my room to get ready for the evening.
The dress Robert bought for me is the prettiest thing I’ve ever owned. It’s white, the color of fresh cream, with lace along the neckline and sleeves that make me feel like a princess from one of the old storybooks I used to read. The skirt flares gently when I move, brushing my knees, light enough to swish like flower petals. A satin ribbon tiesaround my waist, snug but soft, and somehow makes me look curvier.
The fabric is thinner than anything I usually wear, but if Robert wants me to wear it, it must be appropriate, so I try not to fuss with it.
When I check the mirror, I realize it’s somehow making me look younger than my twenty-six years. It makes me feel insecure and a little self-conscious, but that’s nothing new; nothing I wear ever feels likeme.
My eyes catch onto my desk in the reflection, and I quickly turn and run over to it, yanking open the top drawer where the envelope still sits. I shoved it in there earlier today when it arrived with the rest of the mail before anybody saw it.
I run my finger over my name and take a deep breath. It’s killing me not to open it right now, but I know I won’t want to leave my room for hours after reading it. Reading letters from them always made time drift away, and I couldn’t afford to be late.
Slamming the drawer shut, I stand tall, push my shoulders back, and lift my chin, like I’ve been taught.
Alright, Wren, time to put your game face on.
I plaster a small smile on my face and head downstairs. Approaching the parlor, I try to ignore the stares from Max and Troy, two of Robert’s guards who are always found around our home, protecting us from… something. I wasn’t surewhat, exactly, as Robert never told me. He just said that being rich made us enemies, and his guards were there to protect us.
He told me to let them know if I was ever in danger and he wasn’t around. I wasn’t exactly sure why someone wouldwant to hurt me, and as far as I knew, nobody ever had, so it wasn’t something I worried about… much.
