Page 66 of Rough Around the Hedges

“You can jump me if you want, Rose. I can’t say I’d mind.”

“If I jump you, Oliver, it’s to punch you.”

He grinned and stepped back, still holding out his stupid hand. “Let’s go.”

I really didn’t have a choice, so I used his hand to hop out of the car and felt the crunch of gravel beneath my feet. “I can’t believe I’m here. I must have done something to piss off the big man upstairs to be punished like this.”

“Don’t be so dramatic. It’s for your own good.” He grabbed my things from the backseat. “Regrettably, I wasn’t able to retrieve your beautiful sign.”

I sighed, taking my bag from him. “What a shame. I spent so much time on that lovely portrait of you.”

“Is that why you tried to hit me with it?”

I shrugged. “One moment I was protesting peacefully, and the next, I was being chased by a madman. I had to use what items I had at my disposal to protect my honour.”

“Thankfully, you couldn’t hit a punching bag,” he muttered as the manor doors opened. “Do you know where Jennie is?”

Bruce blinked. “Welcome back, Your Grace. And… Rose?”

Aha. This was why he wasn’t at the protest.

He was working for the enemy.

I held up a hand. “’Sup, you dirty traitor? Do I need to light a candle near your shed until you see reason?”

Oliver grabbed me and put his hand over my mouth. “Excuse her. She’s a bit hyper. About Jennie?”

Bruce rubbed his forehead. “Ah. I see. She’s waiting in the hallway for you to return, my lord.”

“Perfect. I’ll get this one inside before she really does get arrested today.”

“I rth get rest!” I said into Oliver’s palm as he dragged me inside.

Translation:I won’t get arrested.

“Sorry, I don’t speak insane,” he replied. “Ah, Jennie, please show Rose to the guest room you prepared earlier. Have clothes been laid out for her?”

Jennie, who was dressed in a simple black uniform that reminded me of hotel housekeepers, bowed her head. “Yes, Your Grace. I’ll take the lady there now.”

“She’s no lady,” Bruce grumbled.

“I il en ooh, ol an!” I glared at Bruce.

Translation:I’ll end you, old man.

“Can’t you keep your hand there, Your Grace?” Bruce asked Oliver. “She’s much more palatable like this.”

“Is ose ahoo,” I muttered.

Translation:this is abuse.

Abuse, I tell you.

Abuse.

Oliver sighed. “Jennie, please take good care of her. And don’t let her wander off. God only knows what trouble she’ll get into here if she’s unsupervised.”

I shoved his hand away from my mouth and put some distance between us. “I’m not a child!”

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