What the hell is wrong with me?
Suddenly, I hear shouting downstairs. A woman’s frantic voice echoes.
I step into the hallway and make my way to the stairs. I look down and see none other than Liza.
She’s thinner than I remember, older, with gray streaking through her dark hair. She’s wearing jeans, a cardigan, and boots, all clearly expensive. She’s struggling against the grip of the guards, her eyes wild with fear.
Then she sees me.
“Thea!” she lurches forward, but the guards hold her back. “Thea, please tell them that this is a mistake.”
Oscar appears from the sitting room, clipboard in hand, his expression neutral, as if there’s nothing strange or surprising about what’s happening.
“Miss Thea,” he calmly says. “I apologize for the disturbance. We’re just getting Mrs. Andrin settled.”
“Settled?” I stare at him, dumbfounded. “What the hell is going on?”
“Mr. Moretti requested that Mrs. Andrin join the household staff. She’ll be working as a maid, starting today.”
That doesn’t make any sense. I look at Liza, then back to Oscar. “He brought her here? To work?”
“Si.”
Gabriel hunted down the woman who raised me, then abandoned me, and dragged her back here to scrub floors in the house where I’m… what, his lover? His property?
“Where is he?” I demand.
“Mr. Moretti had business in the city this morning. He’ll be back later this afternoon.”
“Thea,please,” Liza begs, tears streaming down her face. “I don’t know what he told you, but I was trying to protect you.”
By abandoning me? Leaving a simple note telling me I was on my own? By insulting my body every chance you got?
The questions pop into mind. But I keep them to myself.
“Take her to her quarters in the staff building,” Oscar tells the guards. “Second floor, the open room.”
“Wait.” I step forward. “I want to talk to her.”
Oscar hesitates. “I’m not so sure about that, Miss Thea. I would recommend giving her a few hours to acclimate to her situation.”
“I want to talk to her,” I repeat, my voice a little louder. “Alone.”
He studies me for a moment, as if trying to determine whether or not he’s going to allow it.
“Very well. You may use the sitting room. I’ll have tea brought in.”
The guards release Liza. She stumbles forward, catching herself on the edge of a side table. I gesture for her to follow me.
We walk in silence to the sitting room, and I close the door behind us.
For a long moment, neither of us speaks. I still can’t believe she’s really here. It’s been years since I’ve seen her.
Finally, Liza breaks the silence.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers. “So, so sorry.”
I feel anger. Suddenly, I’m back to the day I came home to that empty house, a note waiting for me letting me know I was on my own.
