“That’s right,” Rose goes on, leaning against Thandi. “He fucked me. And I bet he’ll do it again.”
“His cock is amazing,” Larissa says on her other side. “Ten inches at least.”
The two women nod sagely as Thandi hugs herself. Charlie really is a rake. All these people… all these people say that he’s been with them! She struggles to get a smile on her face. “That sure sounds nice.”
“It is. And now you’re his personal maid. So that makes you his personal fucktoy.” Larissa licks her lips, giving Thandi a smile with too much teeth. “Enjoy, newbie.”
Thandi is shoved out of the group and she plods back to work. She tidies. Neatens. Organizes. And… wonders. Is her master really at meetings right now? Or are they meetings of the other sort?
She had always heard of him being a rake, but it seems so incongruent with his personality. He doesn’t even like to touch people!
Maybe… maybe she should simply… ask him?
Tonight.
Yes.
Her master arrives during the dinner bell and she scrambles for food. Little things she knows he will eat. Nothing too greasy. Nothing too rich. He likes meat but he seems to have a disdain for the cooking that Roseview has…
He sits to start reading reports as she sets up her cart beside him, beginning to feed him dutifully. He leans to take a bite of pasta, brow crimping as he glances at her.
“You are making the face. I told you to ask me anything, Dandelion. You are so worried over your visions that you forget everything else. Like the fact that I abhor tomatoes.”
“Ah! You ate some, though!!!”
“Mm. Disregard. What is it?”
“Do you know… Rose and Larissa? Maids…”
“I don’t know that I do. I don’t really interact with them.”
Thandi studies his face. He looks so utterly bored, eyes sliding back to his papers. She takes a deep breath. “They say they’ve been with you.”
“And you believe them?”
“I don’t know!” Thandi pauses with the pasta, setting the fork down so she can fuss with the ring on her finger, a self-soothing motion. “I see you for so little of the day. I meet so many people who tell me things and then they give me details…”
Charlie sets down his papers, his expression growing stormy. “So you do believe them. What sorts of details have they given you, Dandelion? Enlighten me.” He turns his chair to face her, and Thandi suddenly recalls what she was told. You’re his personal fucktoy.
Her visions are filled with him, always him, and she had… had one. That she pushed away. She didn’t want to think about.
But now. Now the vision swims in the back of her mind. His face close to hers, sweaty and red and half-lidded, pupils blown wide. The sensation of heat.
Thandi is trembling now.
Charlie’s brow twitches. “Well? Did you forget I am right in front of you?”
“N-no!”
“So tell me. What details did they give you?”
“Bedroom habits, sir!”
His eyes widen. “Sir? Sir? How many times have I asked you not to call me sir? Are we frightened again, Dandelion? You’re shaking.”
“I’m sorry!” Thandi nearly sobs, but she stifles it with a deep breath. “I’m sorry. They. They won’t stop talking about it. They. They all…”
“You absolutely believe them.”
“I…”
“You think I’ve been slutting it up. Sowing my wild oats. You think I’ve been fucking around. What else do you think of me? Hm?”
Shoot. A tear rolls down her cheek and he reaches out to brush it away. Thandi flinches from his hand and he pulls back, letting the tear drop.
“Why don’t I have the right to cry in this situation?” He mumbles, standing. Thandi tries not to look directly at him. The vision is taking up a lot of her mind. “Dandelion. Thandi. I am no rake. I don’t have the heart for it.” He pauses, and she finally looks up to see his dark expression directed elsewhere. “You don’t need to sleep on the palette if you don’t want to. If you’re so frightened of becoming one of my lovers. I’m sure there’s plenty of room in the servant’s wing. In the meanwhile, I’ll be going out.”
“Out?! But! Your food—”
“Well, how else am I going to get laid? By staying and getting cozy with you?” He spits it out, shaking his head. His fists are clenched.
Thandi’s gaze drops. “…understood, master Vanderbee.”
She hears an offended grunt from him before he storms out of his rooms, slamming the door, making her flinch. She… she really messed this up.
What if the vision is wrong? What if she’s wrong?
She sniffles and lets herself cry at last, feeling helpless. He’s run off again. She should have trusted him.
But trust… is so hard.
