Page 60 of Statler

Tonka cleared his throat. “Now that you’ve got that off your chest, did you find out anything useful tonight?”

Leave it to Tonk to bring the conversation around to where it should have gone.

Statler sat up.

He resolved to be all business again.

“As a matter of fact,” he gave a cunning smile. “I did. And I’m sure you’ll find it very interesting.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Eliza kept her backbone stiff and tried hard not to react.

Her father wanted her to be afraid, but she absolutely refused to give him that this morning.

Of course he’d heard about her arriving at the factory late last night, with Statler. She’d been expecting that. She’d also assumed he’d be in somewhat of a miff.

What she hadn’t prepared herself for was his full-on tirade; one with which he was presently assailing her.

Eeep.

She hadn’t made him this angry in a long time.

“I won’t have this,” he bellowed, still wound up after berating her for the last five minutes. “I will not. Just who do you think you are, daring to go off and be seen in public with this stranger? That man is here to work, not to socialize with you,” he snapped. “You’re nothing to him. You’re nothing to anybody, for that matter.”

He paused, then took a deep breath only to hit her even harder.

Eliza could tell.

“Oh. Are you thinking about your dead husband?” he taunted. “Hah. You got lucky with that one, using your whoring ways to get him to marry you. But if you think that spreading your legs for someone new, some…contractor who’s here for a job will get you anything…” He grinned evilly. “…like gaining husband number two, you’re not only stupid, but delusional.”

He looked to be enjoying himself as he tore her down.

“You’re no spring chicken any more, Eliza, and believe me, you were never a great beauty to begin with. There’s no way in hell that man, with all his tattoos and muscles, is attracted to you. He’s so far out of your league it’s ludicrous to even ponder.”

Eliza already knew that, but still, it hurt hearing it said out loud.

“If he does cozy up to you,” her father continued relentlessly, “it won’t be for anything other than some quick, cheap sex. You have absolutely nothing to offer him. Nothing. If he fucks you, it’s only because by doing so, he thinks he’ll be able to cut corners with this job and I’ll look the other way. Something that definitely isn’t going to happen.”

Eliza knew her father was trying to push her insecurity-buttons, of which she had many, but this time, although her chest was flooded with self-doubt, she held her ground.

Speaking up would most assuredly get her more of William’s over-the-top haranguing, but she wasn’t going to let any of his speculations regarding Statler, come back to bite Stat on the ass.

Eliza waited for a pause.

“As of this time,” she returned primly, unable to stop wringing her hands even though she knew her father took satisfaction with her nervousness, “Mr. Bothswait has no idea that you are my father. Which means that if your supposition is that he’s plotting to shirk his responsibilities by befriending me…” Eliza emphasized the word to make a point. “…you are very much mistaken.”

Her father’s face turned redder than it was before at her mild rebuke, but on a roll now, she went on, anyway.

“And as for having some kind of relationship with him? In that, you are also incorrect. By bringing Mr. Bothswait to the lake, I was merely trying to make him feel welcome, as you suggested. In that vein, when he asked where to fish, I showed him the best place, and lent him my equipment.”

She took in a deep breath. “Nothing inappropriate happened while we were together, nor will it,” she assured her patriarch. “I have no desire to invite another man into my well-structured, solitary life. I’m very content as I am.”

There was no way she’d tell William that she’d already fallen for Statler, nor would she clue him in that she was planning her escape from Liminal as soon as humanly possible. Which, in the end, meant that acting on her insta-love where the compelling Statler was concerned, would be against her best interests.

“See that you don’t give him any ideas,” her father glowered.

It seemed like he was accepting her excuses. “He’ll find out soon enough that you’re my spawn, and then, be assured, he’ll try to get what he can. From both of us. Taking you to bed will obviously end in disappointment for him, but where I’m concerned, he’ll still think it gives him an in. So you are forbidden to see him again. If I so much as catch a hint that you’re defying me on this⁠—”