Page 68 of Only a Mistress Will Do

“Did I say something amusing, Mr. Harper?” She forgot to keep the acid out of her tone. If she didn’t come up with a suitable manner for dealing with her employers and their son, she’d likely end up out of a position. She wanted to keep this job, needed to keep it if she wanted to live. Her difficulty in finding a post before this one had shown her the precarious nature of her foothold here. One slip, one disrespectful word and they would sack her and put her out on the streets again. As she dared not return to Madame Vestry for fear of the wrath of Tris and Lord Manning, she could very easily starve in a matter of weeks. She must curb her tongue. “I beg your pardon. I did not mean to be impertinent, but I did wonder what you were laughing at.”

Mr. Harper, all warm eyes and merry mouth, fell silent, the chuckling replaced by a salacious leer. “Why at you, Miss Carlton.”

“At me?” Unaccountably the hairs on the nape of her neck bristled.

“Yes.” He stood, towering over her, a giant in the small nursery.

Wary, Violet inched her way to the far side of the table. “I had no idea I was so amusing.”

“Let us say the situation is amusing rather than your lovely self.” The leer on his face deepened.

Violet glanced about, searching for some sort of makeshift weapon. The man was speaking and acting exceedingly strange. Better safe than sorry. “I don’t understand.”

“Oh, I am sure you do.” Quick as a lightning strike he shot his hand out, snaring her arm and wrenching her across the table.

“Mr. Harper!” Off-balance, Violet fell hard, scattering the dishes.

In a flash the man was behind her. He grabbed her hair and pulled her up, arching her against him until her back bowed. “Wouldn’t you call it most amusing that my father hired a whore to teach my daughter how to be a lady?” He wrapped his arm around her neck.

She gasped for breath, hoping a scream would bring someone in time to save her.

Harper clasped his hand over her mouth. “I’d think twice before raising an alarm, my girl. You wouldn’t want Anna to wake up while I’m taking my pleasure with you, now would you?”

Violet whimpered, terror making her arms and legs numb. He meant to rape her here, not ten feet from where his daughter slumbered, and there was nothing she could do to stop him. She sobbed against his hand. “Why? Why would you do this?” Though indistinct, he seemed to understand her question.

“Let us say your talents are being wasted in the nursery.” He chuckled and jerked her head back. “Except for today.” Keeping one hand over her mouth, her neck bent cruelly back against his shoulder, he grasped her skirts and hauled them upward.

Cool air on her bare backside jolted Violet into action. “Hup. Hup!” She squirmed and kicked at him even as she dug her nails into the hand muffling her cries. Why couldn’t a footman appear? Or the maid? Or even Dora? Better discovered than violated so brutally by this fiend.

She continued to struggle, hope of rescue waning with each passing second.

He slapped her buttocks and pushed her legs apart with his knee.

Violet opened her mouth impossibly wide and bit down on the side of his hand. Blood spurted into her mouth.

Harper yelped, releasing her so suddenly she sprawled across the table, sending the lunch things crashing to the floor.

Before he could recover, she kicked out, connecting with his leg and propelling her the rest of the way across the table. She slithered onto the floor then popped up on her feet, gasping for breath as her heart pounded. The coppery taste of blood filled her mouth. She spit it out and swiped the back of her hand across her lips.

Harper shook his hand, ruby drops flying along the tabletop. “You’ll pay for that, bitch. See if you don’t.”

“You’ve gone stark staring mad.” Violet couldn’t stop shaking. She kept a wary eye on her attacker, but couldn’t help glancing at the doorway. Too far to make a dash and Harper stood closer to it than she did.

“Don’t you believe it.” He sucked the wound, his dark stare promising dire retribution.

“Why else would you attack me?” She rubbed her neck and her hand came away bloody. Her blood or his? He sported a large square-cut ruby on his index finger.

“Because you’ll warm my bed and say nothing about it unless you want me to reveal your secret.” He pulled out a handkerchief and wound it around his hand.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Violet stiffened and locked her knees before they buckled. He knew. Knew about her night with Tris, although how he could have found out boggled her mind. Suddenly dizzy, she swayed then fought the urge to collapse. He’d be on her like a jackal on a fresh kill if she didn’t stay alert. “I have no secrets.”

“Hah.”

She cringed. He knew. But how? Tris would never have told him.

“Seeing is believing, although I admit I didn’t place you at first.”

“What are you talking about, Mr. Harper? I’ve never met you before. You’ve obviously mistaken me for someone else.” She eyed the door again. Anna would be in no danger from him. She had to get out of here, find Tris, and leave.