Page 22 of Greed: The Savage
When she trusted herself to speak without her voice trembling, she lifted her shoulders in an audacious shrug. “Oi didn’t much feel like takin’ off me cloak, my lord.”
Dynevor met her cheek with a silent, assessing look. “Answering this question seems like a cause unworthy of this amount of mettle, Snap.”
Addien lifted a single shoulder.
Under any other circumstances she’d agree. Admitting to venturing to Mayfair, and into a noblewoman’s fine residence, half-dressed, with her gown hanging open, was something she was too proud to admit.
It occurred to Addien that the demanding proprietor was desperately attempting to let her save her post.
But she couldn’t do that and save face.Just swallow your pride, Addien. That ain’t going to keep your belly full and your body warm in winters.
The sharp tap of Dynevor’s boots echoing on the floor indicated his lordship’s patience was fast flagging. “Whywouldn’t you just give the butler your cloak and for the love o’ mike, Snap, why were you glaring at Thornwick the whole time?”
Now,thatquestion was an easy one to answer. “Can’t help glaring at Malric,” she mumbled.
“Malric?” Dynevor traced his gaze over the room, tracking for the gentleman in question.
Addien nodded. “Aye, Malric. The gent at my side? Don’t like him.” She made the mistake of nodding in his direction.
The marquess winged an eyebrow in mock surprise, more playful than vexed. A suspicion leant further credence by the way the corners of his mouth twitched like he wavered between a smile and a laugh.
The ghost of a grin also happened upon the Earl of Dynevor’s lips.
Addien felt the renewed stirrings of hope this day.
Her instincts proved right.
Dynevor sighed. “If you’re going to work here, Snap, you have to fulfill the responsibilities assigned to you. That means, if you enter a lady’s household, you hand over your cloak to the waiting servant, like any lady would d—”
“But I’m not a lady!” she exploded. Addien slashed her palm in the air around them. “I’m a street r—”
She felt the silent weight of Malric’s eyes on her, remembered what he said when she referred to herself as a street rat, and hated that it mattered, and hated that he had her at sixes and sevens.
Humiliated at being exposed before not only her austere employer but the imperious marquess, Addien closed her eyes.
The fact that both gentlemen gave Addien leave to order her thoughts, like she was some kind of brainless, overwrought ninny, was mortifying.
But worst of all was the fact Addiendidneed a moment to get herself under control.
“Malric wasn’t wrong,” she said miserably. “I got no place with the nobility.”
“As long as you’re here with me, you are part of the nobility, Snap,” Dynevor said, nor did he tender that in a way meantto suggest they were family. Everything to the earl came down to business at the Devil’s Den. “I’m an earl. Thornwick’s a marquess, destined to be a duke.”
The universe would heap even more power upon a man more powerful than kings combined and that truth grated.
“Most of our patrons are peers, Snap. We’ve got ladies in our ranks now. Hell,” he said, taking a pull from his smoke, “I’ve even got Wakefield as an owner here. There’s no escaping it.”
She knew well enough to point out Dynevor sounded as peeved as Addien at those facts.
The earl took one last puff on his cheroot and then tamped it out on his dash. “I understand you’re not comfortable in this new role. I’m showing you mercy because I know this is an adjustment.” A ripple of distaste crossed his face. “It’s one I myself had to make. But going forward, you’re going to behave like you’re a lady out there.” He dropped his elbows on the surface of his desk. “The thrill-seeking ladies who want to safely take part in the games here at the club can’t do so if I’m sending a…” Frustrated, he spanned a hand in Addien’s direction. “A street rat into the homes of lords and ladies.”
“…In the work I do? The term rat is reserved for the contemptible sort. Sneaks. Informers. The disloyal. Is that how you see yourself, Addien? Is that how I should view you?”
Warmth found its place back inside her breast. Perhaps because it looked likely she’d retain her post after all. But she thought not.
For all the ways Dynevor looked out for the bastard-born orphans in his employ, it’d been Malric who’d defended Addien against self-disparagement today.
“In the future, Addien…” The earl sucked her into the present. “When you’re told to remove your cloak, you’ll do so, even if you don’t like the garments you’re wearing.” He gave her a pointed look.
