Chapter 2
Looking at the man who had been my childhood friend and fiancé, my heart ached with a complex mix of emotions. He stood before me in simple, coarse spun clothes. He was sturdily built, with an honest, plain face and a quiet nature, but he was incredibly strong. He Had secretly helped me more times than I could count.
Now, his face was gaunt, with dark circles under his eyes. His own eyes were red as he looked at me. Yesterday, at the behest of Arabella’s moth-
er, he had been married to another maid, a girl named Autumn.
“Aurora…” he choked out my name, taking a step forward. I quickly lowered my gaze and retreated.
A bitter smile touched his lips, and he pulled his foot back. “You’re right… I have no right to bother you anymore. I just came to warn you. Don’t be so foolish as to always trust Lady Arabella. Keep an eye out for yourself. She’s not as kind as she appears.”
His eyes were filled with sorrow. “When I heard you were engaged to Sterling, I went mad trying to find you to ask if it was true. But Lady Arabella had her men stop me. She said you and Sterling were in love, and that I was nothing.”
“I knew you wouldn’t be able to escape,” he whispered. “After Calliope and Artemis, she finally turned her sights on you.”
wave of grief washed over me. In two lifetimes, we were never meant to be. Autumn was a gentle soul. In my last life, their marriage had been simple but peaceful.
I forced a bright smile. “Thomas, you don’t need to worry about me. You and Autumn should live a happy life together.”
In love.
What a joke. Only Lady Arabella, in her self–absorbed world, believed that her three maids were “in love” with the Viscount’s three valets.
Somehow, she found out about my secret meeting with Thomas.
She had us both dragged before her and forced to kneel.
“Aurora!” she slammed her hand on the table, her face a mask of disappointment. “How could you be so shameless? To still be meeting in secret!”
“Men! Drag this man out and have him beaten to death as an example to the others!”
My head snapped up in disbelief. “My lady, no!” I scrambled forward and grabbed the hem of her dress. “We did nothing wrong! Thomas only came
to say a few words to me!”
I bit my lip, forcing myself to continue. “Thomas and I grew up together. He is like a brother to me. I am to marry Sterling now. How could I be so
shameless as to carry on with another man?”
She sneered. “I have already given my word to the Viscount that I would arrange the marriages for his men. I’ve told him all about you and Sterling.
If you cause a scandal like this, what will he think of me?”
She refused to look at me, her voice cold as she gave the order. “Continue the beating. I want this servant beaten to death in front of everyone. I
will not tolerate such filth in my house.”
