Buttons and Lace (Buttons 1)

I narrowed my eyes on his face, feeling my fire rise. “I’m sick of your act. I’m not buying it anymore.”

Now he narrowed his eyes on me.

“I’m not your slave. You don’t treat me like one. You let me walk around like a human being. You haven’t raped me, even though you said you would. When someone else tried to hurt me, you stopped him. I don’t think you’re who you say you are.”

“Foolish.”

“No. I think you’re foolish for thinking I was going to fall for this act. Now tell me why you’re keeping me if you have no ill will toward me.”

He rose to his feet in one swift move and slammed his fists down on the table. The collision of his palms made my spine coil in fear. Every dish shook at the violence, crashing with a collective sound. Lars didn’t come running in, probably understanding what caused the disruption. “There’s nothing I want more than to tie you up and beat you senseless. When I saw those welts on your thigh, I got hard. When I think about making you cry, it makes me come in my trousers like a teenage boy. No, you aren’t safe with me. Yes, I have every ill will toward you. When I’m through with you, I’ll bury you in the soil of my vineyards so my next harvest will be even more fruitful than the last.” He slammed his fists down again. “I’m a beast. And you know what beasts do in the dark.”

***

I spent the afternoon outside on the back patio. I had a book and a pitcher of iced tea beside me. Lars attended to my every need, fetching me lunch when I never asked for anything and supplying an umbrella when the heat became too much.

I felt like royalty.

“Lars?”

He came to my side, his hands behind his back. “Yes, m’lady?”

I shut the book I was reading. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course. Whatever you need, I can take care of it.”

“Well...I was curious about Crow—”

“Mr. Barsetti.”

I didn’t know his last name. He never told me. “Yes. I was wondering what kind of man he is. I mean...do you know what he wants with me?” Servants knew every piece of gossip in a household. At least, that was true according to Downton Abbey.

Lars didn’t react in the slightest. “I don’t understand your meaning.”

“I mean...does he normally have slaves around the house?” Was I the first one? What kind of business did he do with Cane? Why was he enemies with Bones?

“I can’t answer that. I’m sorry.” He walked away before I could ask any more questions.

I should have known Lars would be loyal to his employer. I would get nothing out of him. The only person I could ask was Crow, but I doubted I would get anything out of him. Sometimes he was calm and soft, like a rose petal across the skin. Other times, like this morning, he was a psychopath.

I spent the afternoon reading and enjoying the movement of the sun through the sky. The mansion was isolated from the rest of the world, and the view was so beautiful a part of me never wanted to leave. If Crow wasn’t insane and Cane didn’t have the ability to stop by, I might actually like it there.

When the sun was about to sink below the hill in the distance, I knew evening had arrived. There would be dinner, and then I would return to my room to read by my bedside lamp. The window would remain open as I listened to the sounds of the open land.

“I’ve heard you had a relaxing day.”

I shut the book with a jolt. I didn’t hear him approach me from behind. His footsteps were silent because he walked with impeccable grace. He didn’t disturb the atmosphere around him—because he commanded it. “Why do you creep up on people like that?”

“Why don’t you pay attention to your surroundings more?” He pulled the legs of his trousers up before he sat in the chair beside me. His suit was just as crisp as it was that morning. It was molded to his body, fitting him better than being naked.

I kept the book on my lap and stared at the hillside. It was better than looking at him. The final thing he said to me that morning left me in a jittery state. I wasn’t sure what to believe. What not to believe.

“Did you have a good day?”

“Yes.” I refused to look at him, wanting him to disappear.

“Lars told me you’ve had a curious mind lately.”

What a tattletale. “I wouldn’t have to ask him anything if you answered my questions.”

He rubbed his wrist just below his watch. He possessed large hands with long fingers. He oozed grace mixed with masculinity, looking like a model that would be on the cover of GQ magazine. “What do you want to know?”