‘Nice?’I was incredulous.‘How can you think that anything he does isnice?He abducted me.If he wants to do something nice,he can let me go home to my real fiancé.’
Moira didn’t reply for so long that I thought she was ignoringme, but then she guided me over to the sofa and bade me to sit at an awkward angle while she combed my hair.Then she began to wind it up, pinning as she went while I seethed under her ministrations.I’d almost forgotten my outburst by the time she finally spoke again.‘There are worse men out there than Raleigh.You of all people should know that.’
I didn’t know what she meant, and I resented the implication.‘What could possibly be worse than him?’
‘Maybe I’ll tell you if you come down to dinner.’She slid one last pin into place, then found me a hand mirror in one of the dresser drawers.
Now I understood how Raleigh always looked so well kept despite having no reflection.With only a comb and a handful of pins, Moira had spun pure magic into my unruly hair.I was utterly transformed.
‘You’re rather good at this.’
‘I have to earn my keep somehow.’
I twisted the mirror around me, admiring myself from all angles.It did seem a waste to undo Moira’s hard work by simply going back to bed.An outfit like this was supposed to be worn, celebrated, though I hated myself for thinking it.
One dinner couldn’t hurt.Not for Raleigh; I’d ignore him if I could, but for Moira.Better to have an ally I couldn’t trust than to have no one at all.
‘I’ll come down.’
She caught herself before she could look too surprised.‘I knew you would,’ she said, which I had no doubt was a lie.
With Moira by my side, the corridor was no longer the labyrinth it had been the previous day, though I had the strangest feeling the corridor was ready to shift if I so much as looked away from her.The walls themselves seemed to be watching us through the gloom.I put my head down and focused on keeping pace with Moira.One monster was more than enough to deal with right now.
Raleigh was reclining in his seat at the head of the table when we arrived, idly twirling the stem of what looked to be a silver goblet between his fingers.But of course it couldn’t have been silver.His suit today was burgundy instead of crimson but, aside from the subtle detailing in the embroidery, it was almost identical to the one he’d worn the night before.His eyes raked over me as we entered, lips hooking to one side.‘You look as ravishing as I expected.’
I pretended not to hear him.The place to his right was laid with cloche-covered dishes, so I took that seat, though I would have preferred to sit at the far end, out of arm’s reach.There were no dishes in front of Raleigh.
‘Does it fit properly?’Raleigh asked.‘I had to guess your measurements, so I confess I was a touch worried.’
Moira lifted the cloches before me one by one to reveal that evening’s assortment of inexpertly prepared meals.None looked remotely appetising.For months I hadn’t been able to escape the perpetual pang of hunger.Now, looking at the sheer quantity spread out on the table, I no longer felt I could eat a thing.Not withhimbeside me.
‘Eat,’ Raleigh commanded.‘It’s all for you.’
I couldn’t.His aura hung over me like a cloak, smothering what little appetite I had.I couldn’t risk letting my guard down long enough to chew.‘I’ve changed my mind,’ I said to Moira.‘I want to eat in my room.’
Her eyes travelled over my head, and I knew she was sharing a private look with her employer.
‘Moira, why don’t you go downstairs,’ Raleigh said.‘You should eat before your own dinner gets cold.’This was far from the proper way of things.Moira might have been the only servant, but Johannahad been, too, and she’d always stood by at home, ready to offer a willing hand should we need anything while eating.
‘Please stay,’ I whispered.
I could tell she was torn, and for that much I was thankful, but she had been with Raleigh for thirteen years, and I’d known her for an afternoon.Her loyalty did not lie with me.
‘You’ll be all right,’ she said, and a new wave of cold cycled through my blood.As she stepped away, she jabbed a finger in Raleigh’s direction.‘We are having a serious talk when you’re done.’
‘I don’t like the sound of that,’ he said.
‘No, you don’t.’With a cursory glance at me, which I assume was supposed to be reassuring, Moira took her leave.
It had been nice to think I had an ally, however briefly.
‘Do your staff speak to you that way?’Raleigh asked.
Ignoring the creature to my left, I forced myself to lift a fork and began to pick at the dubious whitish dish in front of me.I’d never had the privilege to be a fussy eater, but today’s supper gave me hesitation.
‘Clara?’
With some apprehension I took a mouthful and discovered it was some sort of fish covered in a sauce that tasted like the Dead Sea.I pushed it to one side.The weakest in Orlfen couldn’t have eaten it.
