Page 28 of Arranged Wolf's Nanny
“The housekeeper,” Eva said. “You haven’t met her because Papa told the staff to stay away from you.”
Rosalia’s stomach dropped. “Why would he do that?”
Eva shrugged, her fingernail catching on the edge of the book as she fiddled with it. “He said you weren’t to be disturbed by anyone.”
Rosalia looked down at her hands. She had been able to scrub most of the dark ink away, but some still lingered at her very fingertips. “I see.”
“And I do get to play with the other kids, when they come over to visit,” Eva said, her voice brightening, “we’ll go swimming, or play a game in the woods, or—”
“But don’t you ever visit them?” Rosalia asked.
Eva frowned. “Well, sometimes we go to the Club, but that was destroyed by Red Teeth.”
“But don’t you…” Rosalia stopped herself, snapping her mouth shut. It was clear the girl didn’t get to go out and play with the others as much as she might like to. Badgering her about it was hardly going to make that any better.
“It’s okay,” said Eva earnestly, “I’m very happy. And now you’re here too!”
Rosalia smiled weakly, “Yes. I’m here too.”
“Look here,” Eva said, openingPeter Panto an illustrated page of a crocodile slumbering on a rock. “This is Officer J.M. Barrie.”
Rosalia stifled her laugh. She highly doubted Peter Pan’s author related much at all to the scaly representation of mortality. Probably more to Captain Hook, or Peter Pan himself.But Officer J.M. Barriewasa crocodile plushie, so she supposed needs must.
The door to the library creaked open, and Rosalia whipped around, her heart in her throat.
Rick entered, dressed casually in a soft green sweater and black slacks, his chestnut hair artfully styled. At first glance, he looked warm, approachable even. But look for more than a second, and the danger beneath was impossible to miss.
And Rosalia never made the mistake of relaxing around an alpha male.
If Rick was surprised to see her, he didn’t mention it, merely nodding in greeting to his daughter. “Eva. I trust you’ve had a good day?”
Eva sprang up and ran over to him, stopping just short of colliding with his legs. “Yes, it was the best! I showed Rosalia all the paintings and then we had tea and I was telling her all about Officer J.M. Barrie and—”
“My my, you have been busy,” Rick said with an indulgent smile, “but I hope you’ve done your piano practice?”
Eva seemed brought up short for a second, but then she caught herself and nodded vigorously. “Yes, Papa.”
“Excellent,” he smiled at her again, “I look forward to hearing you perform.”
Eva beamed at him, but there was something slightly hollow about it. Perhaps it was the small tug of her eyebrows together, or the way she seemed to deflate ever so slightly. Rosalia’s fingernails bit into her palms.
Rick turned to her, and she straightened quickly, relaxing her hands into her lap. She hadn’t gotten up from the floor cushions, unwilling to attempt the ungainly clamber upwards inhis presence, and she hoped beyond hope that he wouldn’t be offended.
“Rosalia, I hope you are well?”
She nodded stiffly, avoiding his penetrating gaze. “I am, thank you. Very well. I’ve had a lovely day with Eva.”
He didn’t reply for a moment, and she risked a glance upwards, her chest tightening at the calculating look on his face. Panic began to claw at her stomach as she tried to decipher the predatory expression. He was looking at her like a puzzle he couldn’t quite solve, and yet one whose prize he nonetheless coveted. Keen and hungry.
She cleared her throat, risking inelegance as she climbed to her feet, brushing imaginary wrinkles out of her dress. “If you wouldn’t mind, I shall retire to the sun-room for dinner.”
He nodded once, his expression unchanging.
Smiling at Eva, she gave the girl a brief hug, not missing the way Eva’s little fingers curled into her arms with a desperate eagerness that made her heart clench. “I’m looking forward to playing with you tomorrow. Perhaps you can show me the gardens?”
“Yes, please!” Eva said breathily.
She walked towards the door, every inch of her skin prickling as she passed Rick in the way one might be hyperaware of their limbs as they passed a snake coiled in the grass.
