“Have you ever been to a ghost tour?”
I jerked slightly. “What?”
“A ghost tour? Local haunts, spooky places,” Arabella explained. “Have you been?”
“Um, not exactly,” I answered. “At Halloween, they used to do a haunted corn maze, but that was just an excuse to…um….”
Drink and fuck in the corn.
“Kind of lame, really,” I added quickly.
Why on earth was she asking me? Such a random question—the type friends discussed.
Arabella sighed and picked up her coffee. “Well, if you like that kind of thing, there’s a good one at Wellsey Farms.”
“Oh, okay, thank you,” I said, still at a loss for words.
“Tomorrow’s your day off, right.” Arabella peered up at me. Her dark lashes were thick and free of mascara. She didn’t need it to make her eyes pop. “Just thought you might want to do something fun.”
“With you?” I blurted out, unable to stop myself.
Arabella winced.
“Shit, sorry,” I recovered. “I didn’t mean it to sound like that.”
“No, it’s okay,” Arabella sighed. “And no, I’m not allowed to do those kinds of things. I just was thinking of something for you, since you’re new in town.”
That was…sweet.
And wholly unexpected. What was the precious goddaughter looking up ghost tours for? That had nothing to do with pretty dresses or lounging at the club. Maybe she was just thinking of something I would like to do.
I rubbed my tongue against the roof of my mouth, trying to dispel the sour taste.
“I’ll look into it.” Then after a pause I added an awkward, “Thanks.”
Her smile could win an award. “You’re welcome! There are lots of other events if ghost tours aren’t your thing. I’ve got tons of ideas. Ask me anytime!”
The poor thing….
“Thanks,” I repeated.
With a nod, I turned back to the house. Sunday family dinner was over—thank heavens. So far, no one had mentioned my involvement last night. I was almost ready to let myself believe I was in the clear. I’d avoided serving directly again, but it was probably the last time. I was going to be forced to wait at table. Which meant Dominico would see me.
“I doubt he’ll even notice,” I muttered.
A derisive laugh fluttered through my mind.
“I’m serious,” I snapped to the inner mockery. “With someone like Arabella sitting next to him, he’ll probably be so focused at meals, he won’t notice the maid, who happened to steal from him.”
Who he maimed one of his men for because he was a principled devil.
There was a scheduled lull right now. We were taking turns for a lunch break, and if I hurried, I would be able to enjoy the full hour. My feet screamed in protest as I rushed toward the fancy double wide glass doors. I was going to risk cutting through the main house, choosing the more direct path to the kitchen and workrooms. Going around the house outside was too dang hot, and the service corridors might be set with booby traps, like the housekeeper finding something for me to doreally quickbefore I took my break.
I wanted to start my damn break on time!
The sunroom was empty, and I closed the glass-paneled French door. Unless we were cleaning this space, there was no reason to be here. I glanced around, searching for a magazine out of place or a stray cup, but the ladies hadn’t been in here after their dinner. I crossed the room and paused to listen at the door.
Nothing.
