Chapter 6

Alexander’s still dark grey eyes stared at me, analyzing my expression.

Was he waiting for an answer?

He inched closer. He smelled like the forest—a mix of pine, spruce, and earth that made me long for my missing freedom. I was convinced that smelling like this wasn’t natural. However, his scent was intoxicating, and I knew I needed to tread carefully about the reaction my body was giving him.

I kept eyeing his lips, remembering what they felt like. They looked as soft as I recalled. I could see myself wrapping my hands behind his head, curling my fingers in his dark unruly hair while tasting his mouth, teasing him with my tongue, and nipping his full lower lip.

My legs clenched at the sudden heat I felt down in my belly, and I became hyperaware that I wasn’t acting like myself.

I saw Alexander stiffen. I hoped he didn’t notice what he was doing to me. I was so ashamed by the wetness that overcame me that I could hardly look at him when I replied, “I’m sorry, Milord, but I’m afraid you will have to bring this up with the head maid again. It’s not my place to accept. I need to go now.”

I ordered my legs to move, but they were not complying at all with what my brain was demanding them to do. It was like some weird energy pinned me in place.

Part of me didn’t want to leave.

Alexander just kept looking at me, his eyes even darker than before. He looked like a predator on the prowl, and I was the lamb.

I was able to put one foot in front of the other and slowly make my way to the parlour where I assumed Lady Lucia was. I still had my duties, and my day was far from over.

My legs gave out when I heard Alexander growl just as I was about to enter the next room.

“You must have misinterpreted what I just said. This is not a request,” Alexander let out slowly.

I could feel him pressing his chest to my back while I was trying to hold myself upward by the door frame. His heat seeped through the back of my dress.

“You are to move your belongings after your work is done on my mother’s floor and report to me in my living quarters... tonight.”

Alexander placed his hand on the small of my back, trying to help me regain my posture. His touch burned me, awakening many desires within myself.

I was in shock. Nothing like this ever happened before. Why was my stupid body doing this? This was crazy.

When he touched me, I registered shock on his beautiful face as well. He kept looking at his hand pressed on my back, then back at me with a cracked mouth.  

I pushed myself from the wall and quickly returned to the parlour. Lady Lucia was still sitting in her chair, sipping on her ginger lemon tea. When she noticed the redness of my skin, she abruptly set the dish on its saucer and hurried to my side.

“Whatever is the matter, Ida?” She held my arm and patted my back. I was afraid her touch would burn me too, but her hands were cool and didn’t give me any electrical discharges.

That was odd. Maybe it was all in my head?

I straightened and cleared my throat. “It’s nothing, Milady. I just felt faint for a moment. I’m afraid I’m not myself today.”

What a poor excuse I was spewing at her. I didn’t know how I could explain what had happened when her son touched me. Not to mention the fear I had, slowly building up in the pit of my stomach at the thought of having to see him every day once I was stationed on his floor.

This was a recipe for disaster.

Lady Lucia slid her hand up and down my back. She was trying to soothe my nerves, and it worked a bit.

“Don’t fight it, dear; it’ll only make it harder on yourself,” was all she said before excusing me for the rest of the day.

I didn’t know what she was referring to. Was she telling me this concerning my sudden illness or what I felt toward her son?

This whole situation puzzled me.

When I returned to the head maid, she gave me a sympathetic look and led me to my room.

“The housekeeper informed me that you are to report to Lord Alexander’s quarters. The request came from Lady Kestrel directly. You will be moved there permanently while you are attending him. You have one hour to get your things ready.” She handed me a new set of clothes and shoes.

“Did I do something wrong?”

I was serious. Why would Lady Lucia make such a request unless I did something that upset her? I thought she liked having me on her floor. Maybe not as much as I thought.

The head maid shook her head. “No. It’s not something that happens often, but it does happen that workers are moved to sections more permanently if there’s a need. You’ll be fine. I’ll come to get you when you’re ready.” She turned on her heels and locked my door after closing it.

I didn’t know if she locked it out of a force of habit or by fear that I would try to leave. Where was I to go? If any servants or maids tried to leave before they repaid their debt, they were punished severely. And with all the ground personnel walking the outskirts of the estate, it was rather pointless to try and escape.

As I glanced over at the new clothes I was given, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. The clothes were made of softer cotton and looked newer than the maid’s dress I used to wear. The dress was still black, but it appeared more fitted and refined—like the head maid and other essential house workers wore when they had earned their keep. If I were being punished, they wouldn’t have given me those. So perhaps the head maid was right, and everything would be fine.

I noticed that the white apron was clean, made of soft white material, and had no holes or stains. However, I didn’t see any headwear, which meant I would have to stain my hair since it wouldn’t be covered.

I went about making the tincture for the dye. I had an hour, and that was enough time to let it sit and work its magic. I stroked my flaming locks one last time before applying the dye.

Typically, we could only bathe once a week in hot water. For the rest of the time, we had to clean ourselves with cold water in a bowl. It was enough to get everything that needed to be cleaned. Since I doubted my bathing habits wouldn’t change in my new station, I figured the dye would allow me to have brown hair for about two to three weeks before needing to re-stain it, which suited me just fine.

I had just rinsed my hair in my water bowl and patted it with a cloth when my door unlocked, and the head maid entered, so I hurriedly put my hair in a knot at the top of my head.

She was accompanied by the same small footboy who had come to Lady Lucia during the day. He must also work on the young lord’s floor, then.

He grabbed the sack containing my few belongings and returned to the hallway.

The head maid gestured for me to follow him, a grim expression on her face. “Good luck,” was all she whispered before closing my door and leaving me trailing the small boy while she left in the opposite direction. She looked back at us, shaking her head, and disappeared at the end of the hall.

I gulped and followed the young boy to my new position.