Page 110 of Unmasked

“What I’d like is to take care of you. You’re exhausted. I’ve come to put you to bed. Take me to your room.”

“You came all this way for that?”

“I’d come just to pass by this place knowing you’re inside. Are you up there?” He pointed to the stairs.

I nodded, wrapping my arm around his lower back as Vaughn began to lead me up. As we passed the hall, I looked over, seeing King Lawrence heading inside the office. His eyes met mine, full of… I wasn’t sure. Not anger. Not sadness.

“I suppose I ruined his night.”

“Hmm?” I glanced up, seeing a darkening seep into Vaughn’s features.

“Nothing.” We headed up the stairs, and Vaughn slowed, running his fingers over a landscaped portrait in a gold frame. “Interesting.”

“Do you like Raldo?”

Confusion only lasted a moment before he smiled. “Art history major.”

“Please don’t ask me⁠—”

“Nope.” He laughed. “I want you rested, not reciting.”

“… What was interesting?”

He paused. “I don’t know. Something about it seems familiar. I think I’ve seen it before.”

“Oh.” We headed past the fifth door before I slowed. I took in how the guards were posted every few feet, leading to the stairs. “Familiar... Perhaps you’ve seen it in a museum. There’s only four remaining, if I remember correctly. It’s astonishing that this one is here, just sitting on the wall like it’s not worth a fortune. It makes me nervous that it’s so unprotected. I guess I have to get used to this life.” I reached for the knob. “This is us.”

“Allow me.”

Vaughn stepped in, opening the door and leading me inside. We only got in a few feet before dawning had him turning to face me. “I should have brought you clothes. Did you bring any?”

My mouth opened, only to shut.

“No. I didn’t expect to stay.”

“But you have clothes here.”

It wasn’t a question.

“…Yes. It was like that at Glenbrae as well.”

“Very generous of him to make sure you were taken care of… just in case.”

“Vaughn. Please.”

He kept quiet as he broke away, heading to the large antique wardrobe not far from the bed. He withdrew a dark blue silk nightgown with a matching robe, not much different than the one I’d been provided with at Glenbrae. He fingered the thin strap, leading down to the lace accent trimming the top of the breast area. When he headed to a dresser and opened the top drawer, withdrawing a matching silk and lace blue pair of panties, I sighed.

“Let’s get you showered.”

“…I’m…” I stopped. “I’m not sure you should.”

His lids narrowed. “Why not?”

“Because I’m still bleeding.”

The defensiveness eased into sadness. “Bleeding seems to be what we do, Penelope. You act like that bothers me. Come on, love. I’ll wash your hair, and then I’ll lay down with you until you fall asleep.”

“Vaughn?”