I straightened, trying to decide how to play this. Another person meant another potential ally. Or… another Club loyalist who would report everything I said and did back to Julian.
“Okay,” I called out.
The lock clicked, and the door opened. A woman in a simple black uniform pushed a cart into the room. On it sat cleaning supplies and a silver cloche covering what was presumably my lunch.
“I’m so sorry,” she said, stooping to get something from the bottom of the cart. “I was told you accidentally dropped a glass in here, and I was supposed to come by to clean it hours ago. But things have been absolutely hectic around—”
The woman stopped midsentence as she looked up, and I froze. I knew that face.Taisiya.The maid from the night of the initiation ceremony. The one who'd helped me leave.
Her eyes widened in recognition, her gaze moving from my face to the lavish room around me. “Wait, you're...” She trailed off, clearly trying to piece things together. “Was it… Kerry? Kelly?”
“I introduced myself as Kelly when we first met, but my name is actually Violet Calloway. I can explain, though,” I said quickly, even though I had no idea what explanation I could possibly give her.
She blinked. “So… you’renotKelly. Not one of the entertainers.”
“No. I lied to you when we first met, and I’m sorry for that,” I said. “I had my reasons, I swear.”
Taisiya's expression shifted from surprise to something a little harder. “I’m guessing you don’t really have a sick brother, then?”
“No,” I said, cheeks flushing with shame. “I’m really sorry.”
She pursed her lips and moved to the shattered glass. “I suppose it’s none of my business,” she muttered. “There’s no need for you to explain.”
My heart sank. The staff at this estate had been happy to help me in the past, and I’d wondered if I could use that to aid in my escape, but I'd probably burned that bridge now.
Still, I had to try.
“I know you have no reason to help me at this point, but I don’t suppose you happen to know a way out of here?” I asked, gesturing around the room. “Concealed passages, or anything like that?”
Taisiya finished picking up the glass and moved to wipe up the water with a cloth. “I’m sorry, Miss Calloway,” she said stiffly. “I can’t help you.”
Yep, definitely burned that bridge.
It was worth a shot, but I couldn’t blame her for not wanting to help me after I’d blatantly lied and manipulated her last time we encountered each other.
She rose to her feet and brought the tray of food over to me. “Enjoy your lunch,” she said, setting it down on the table. “I’ll be back at dinnertime.”
“Thanks.”
With that, she turned to push the cart out of the room. When she reached the door, I called out to her. “Taisiya?”
She glanced at me over her shoulder. “Yes?”
“I really am sorry for lying to you that night. And I'm not just saying that because I’m trying to manipulate you into helping me,” I said, lifting my palms. “It's just... you were so kind to me, and I took total advantage of that. So… I’m really sorry.”
Something in her face softened, just slightly. “I understand, Miss Calloway.”
With that, she was gone.
I lifted the silver cloche to reveal a plate of grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, and some kind of grain salad. My stomach growled at the sight of it all, so I wolfed it down, feeling like it was acceptable for me to do so. After all, Julian hadn't brought it to me, and it was just food. Fuel. Nothing more.
A couple of hours later, another knock sounded at the door.
Maybe Taisiya had taken pity on me after all and decided to come back with information. Or maybe it was Julian again.
“Yes?” I called out in a tentative tone, rising to my feet.
The lock clicked, and the door opened. But it wasn't Taisiya. It wasn’t Julian, either.
