The Vanity of Roses by Lily White

Author:Lily White [White, Lily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-03-24T16:00:00+00:00

Lisbeth

It was useless trying to get anything done for the day. My body ached from being with Callan, exhaustion plaguing me for the few hours of sleep I’d managed after we both had run out of strength. I didn’t remember falling asleep next to him, so I was surprised when my eyes opened in the morning to find I was on the mattress and not on the floor.

Hope had trickled in for just a second, the idea that despite his warnings, things had changed.

But then he’d walked out of the bathroom, steam rolling out to caress his naked body, and his voice had roared through me to remind me who we were despite everything that happened.

I should have known better than to hope. But there was no guarding my heart from it. I was crushed to hear his words, torn apart when his eyes caught mine, and in them, I only saw the same hatred and pain as before the moment we’d caved to the wants of our bodies.

“Is everything okay with you, Lisbeth? I’ve had to clean up after you all day. I’m not sure why you’re even trying.”

Glancing over at Holly, I frowned to see her cleaning the streaks from the windows I’d just finished. Her eyes flicked down to the marks on my neck, worry eating at her even if she’d managed to keep from asking about them.

I could see the questions, though, could hear them.

“I’m fine. Just didn’t get much sleep last night.”

Whatever restraint Holly had before was lost at my answer.

“Did he do that to you? Mr. Rose? You weren’t-“

Her voice trailed off, softened.

“You weren’t dragged to the lower levels again, were you?”

Fear caressed her voice, the sound of it highlighting what was so obvious in her careful expression.

“No.”

She sighed, shoulders withering with relief before she turned her attention to the windows again.

“So, did he do that?”

Uncomfortable dragging Holly into this situation, I found a way to dance around the truth without revealing anything.

“You know that I wasn’t always a maid, right?”

Her eyes met mine for a second, head nodding.

“I remember. I woke you up that morning. The one when you were dragged through the house.”

Guilt weighted her expression, but I reached out to squeeze her shoulder.

“It wasn’t your fault. Callan and I have a complicated history. This would have happened regardless of whether you’d woken me or not.”

She bit her lip, but then nodded again to accept the answer.

“But you are okay, right? You wouldn’t lie to me?”

“I’m fine,” I promised.

Physically, at least. Mentally was a different issue.

The truth was I was torn in two, a constant whispering in my head telling me to run regardless of what happened.

I didn’t trust Callan, didn’t trust my uncle or any of the people who’d helped drag me into this position.

If the opportunity were to present itself, I wouldn’t hesitate to run. Unfortunately, the doors were still constantly guarded, the electronic locks blinking red. I checked every one as I passed them.

Callan still hadn’t dropped his guard.

Holly flung her rag onto the cart and pulled the yellow gloves from her hands.

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