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"There, that's better," Merelda says with a nod before lifting her hand into the air as if its mere presence will make it easier to hear ... but then I hear it, too.
The sound of an approaching rider.
"Lord Payne has arrived,” she informs me sharply. "Remember to smile, girl ... and do exactly as your told. Should you not gain Lord Payne's favor, I will see to it that you regret your very existence. Is that understood?”
I nod once, and she takes a deep breath before smoothing out her face and forcing a smile to her own lips. With one last inspection of me, she moves toward the stairs. I hesitate as I look toward Father's door, but Merelda makes an impatient sound, and I have no choice but to continue following her down the hall.
Male voices float up from below, and I have to fight off a wave of nausea as Merelda shoots me one last warning look before we descend the stairs.
My eyes immediately land on Lord Payne as he turns from Amadeus to look our way.
He’s a wealthy man in the latter half of his life, his beady eyes trained on me as I give him a slight curtsy. His once dark hair has become thin and riddled with heavy silver threads that fail to make him look distinguished.
It’s hard to ignore the velvet of his suit, imported to our little corner of the world from the capital, or the delicate golden thread that makes up the intricate designs.
There's no denying that the man is imposing, if not downright terrifying in his presence, as he approaches without a word, his eyes raking over every inch of my being.
I hate the way his gaze sticks to me. His calculating expression never changes, but from the way his eyes flash, I know he’s satisfied with what he sees.
Merelda will be pleased with that, even if the very thought of it makes my skin crawl.
Lord Payne comes stops just a foot away from me, far too close for my comfort.
"Look at me, child."
Slowly, I lift my eyes to meet his, and I swear my heart nearly dies in my chest at the darkness I see within.
Reaching out, he runs a finger down my cheek, a thick iron ring in the shape of a snake wrapped around it.
I shudder at his touch, but he doesn’t seem to notice or care.
"I'd like to take a closer look at the girl," Lord Payne says, turning toward Merelda.
"Of course, my lord, right this way," she agrees gesturing toward the front room. Lord Payne strides out of the entryway, as Merelda's sharp eyes find me. "You're to do exactly as he says, do you hear me? Exactly."
I open my mouth to answer just as Amadeus steps closer.
"My, isn't this exciting?"
"And you," Merelda starts, whirling on him with a sternness to her voice that I've never heard directed at her eldest son, "are going to stay right here."
"But I wanted to watch—"
"No." Amadeus looks shocked, if not more than a little hurt by his mother's tone as she grabs my wrist and drags me away. Stopping just outside the front room, she stops to give me a hard look. "Remember what I told you. Do not disappoint me."
With that she pushes me into the room, closing the door tight behind me.
Lord Payne doesn't turn to look at me right away, instead choosing to run his fingers along one of Father's bookshelves. I can hardly stand the sight of such a vile man touching his personal things, but I hold my tongue.
Finally, he glances over his shoulder before motioning toward the center of the room.
"Come closer, girl, and let me take a good look at you."
My stomach twists painfully, no doubt warning me not to obey this man, but I do as he says. Stepping toward me, he circles like a vulture eyeing up its prey.
"Bend over and touch your toes," Lord Payne says as he comes to a standstill behind me.
I slowly lean forward, unsure of the reason for such a strange request. However, as soon as I'm bent in place, I feel him grab my hips from behind to anchor me as he presses himself into me.
