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The woodsy scent of him hits me, and I sniff back a tear.

He moves down the hallway with a calm saunter that does nothing to hide what happened inside my room. If anything, it makes it worse. Makes it seem casual. Like this is something men like Nathaniel Vexley do in the middle of a morning.

Walk into a maid’s room. Take what they want. Leave.

Audrey waits until he turns the corner. “You will report to the laundry immediately.”

I say nothing.

“After that, the silver in the west dining room needs polishing. The upstairs guest baths require inspection. The blue salon curtains are to be steamed. The pantry inventory is behind. The north corridor runner has a stain near the library entrance. I want it gone. The east staircase banister is dull. Polish it. Then report to the kitchen and assist with luncheon cleanup.”

I stare at the floor. “Yes. Of course.”

“You will not go near the family wing today,” she snaps.

How could I? I won’t have time after that huge list she just gave me. “Fine,” I say.

She shakes her head. “How could you believe a Vexley man would want you?” she says. “Look at you. A girl with a sick mother, no breeding, no money, no place in this world. You’re human garbage.”

I stare at her.

“How could you ever think a Vexley man would want you?” she repeats.

I don’t speak.

I can’t.

Something inside me falls.

Not breaks.

Falls.

Because the worst part isn’t what Audrey said.

It’s that I believe her.

28

NATHANIEL

Fuck.

I’ve made a mistake.

Again.

Ella Hart isn’t supposed to matter.

She’s an employee in the family home. A maid. She’s not my equal in the eyes of this family, but more importantly, she’s not what I need.

I’m expected to marry, of course. To propagate, as my father so revoltingly puts it. Father children who can take my place in the Vexley empire. Arthur Vexley made it clear his sons should marry nothing more than good breeding stock with whom they share no emotional connection whatsoever.

I watched this happen to my older brother.

I watched him allow a woman to become his weakness.

Samson.