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I take a deep breath in and push the thought of Theron aside. He’s too much of a coward to face me. Because only a coward would stab a man in the back.
I get up, pack my things, and put my jacket on. I want to go home. And there’s only one reason for it. My little monster.
I’m not in my study at home twenty minutes before I hear a knock on my door, and Miriam enters, looking irritated.
“Miriam, how can I help you?” What did the little monster do now? The thought is amusing, actually. Mercedes will find every button to push with this woman. And part of me can’t blame her. Miriam used to work for my mother, but she moved to the house a few months ago. I wonder if that’s where my mother learned about Mercedes. If that’s where the plaything comment came in.
“Sir, if I’m supposed to be in charge of Ms. De La Rosa, you need to tell Lois that she is to do as I say.”
“Do as you say?” I raise both eyebrows.
She clears her throat, realizing her mistake, but collects herself quickly. “It’s just those dogs are still in her room!” She doesn’t like the dogs. And they don’t like her.
“Well, I did give my permission. That’s on me, Miriam.”
“I’m certain she fed them her food.”
“Mmm. I’m certain you’re right.” Pestilence would scarf down old bacon in a heartbeat. I guess they all would. “I’m sure she’s hungry. I’d better go see to her.”
“Well, that’s the thing. Lois sent up food! A banquet! All her favorites.”
It takes all I have to keep my mouth in a displeased flat line, although I find this so amusing. So typical for Mercedes, my spoiled little monster. My charming little monster. When she wants to be, that is. And she has charmed Lois.
“I’ll discuss it with her. Let’s remember this isn’t a prison. She won’t be fed bread and water.” I walk her to the door. “And I assure you you’re in charge of my houseguest. Why don’t you take the night off? Go on.”
“Sir, I don’t need the night off.”
“Take it anyway. I’ll see you tomorrow morning. Bright and early. Good night, Miriam.”
I leave her in the hallway and head upstairs, smiling as I go.
I change into riding clothes, then unlock Mercedes’s door and enter.
“You could knock,” she says from where she’s sitting on her bed like a fucking queen surrounded by all four hounds. They’re lying with their heads on her lap as she holds a magazine in one hand and eats a macaron from a plate of colorful macarons at her side.
“Well, look at you,” I say as the dogs come to greet me. I pet them, taking time for each of them. I love these dogs. Have even before Theron abandoned them. I protected them from my grandfather when he would have drowned them. Theron had only brought the dogs into the house to get under his skin. But I wouldn’t give them up.
“What?” Mercedes says from her place as she selects another macaron. “You didn’t say I wasn’t allowed food. Just that I had to finish my tray.”
“And I’m sure it was you who finished it.”
She grins like the cat who swallowed the canary and shoves an entire macaron into her mouth. “These are delicious. Lois has outdone herself,” she says around her mouthful.
“You’re going to spoil your appetite for dinner.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ve been starved, remember?”
“Starved is quite the stretch.” I walk over to her, the dogs on my heels, and pick up a macaron.
“Not that one. Pistachio is my favorite. Take the vanilla. Those are boring.”
I raise my eyebrows and swallow the pistachio macaron, not missing the look she gives me. “You’re something else, you know that?”
“Thank you.”
“Most people would not take that as a compliment.”
“I’m not most people.” She grins up at me, and it’s as if the woman I left here this morning is a distant memory. She's distracting herself. The dogs. The food. The magazine. I won’t have that.
