Page 29 of Her Beast

“I will dress you until we can get you a proper servant.”

Julia grimaced but didn’t argue. Instead, she scooted toward the edge of the bed on her bottom before she’d recalled how sore she was. She hissed and squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, not just against the pain, but also against the mortifying stab of arousal.

“Hurt, do you?” Netta snorted. “I reckon that’s what you’ve been needing all along.”

“What I need?” she repeated, the older woman’s smug tone and even smugger expression catapulting her beyond mortification into rage. “To befondledby a degenerate who is supposed to be my—”

Netta’s hand flew and a loudcrackfilled the room.

Blood flooded her mouth and Julia raised her hand to her cheek, a red haze blurring her vision.

“I should write to your father and tell him—”

“No, don’t!” Julia blurted, fear for Richard dousing her rage. “I’m—I’m sorry.”

“Hmph. Not sorry enough.” Netta gave her a venomous look. “You willneversay such vile things about Master Carl. Why, he’s worth ten of a brazen hussy like you.” Her mouth screwed up until it looked like the back end of a pig. “I can see that you need a few more swats before you know your place. Perhaps a willow switch next time?”

As much as her mouth hurt, Julia had to bite back her amusement atthatthreat; Carl liked touching her bottom far too much to ever use a whip or paddle.

“Nothing to say to that, eh?” Netta goaded. “I think—”

A knock on the door interrupted her tirade.

“Who is it?” she snapped.

One of the parlor maids poked her head into the room. “A telegram for you Mrs. Fowler.”

Netta snatched the paper from the girl’s hand without a word of thanks.

“Thank you, Dora,” Julia said in an exaggerated tone. But Netta was too consumed by the telegram to notice. Indeed, her ugly face had paled and her toadlike mouth had sagged open.

“What is it?” Julia asked.

“The mistress is ill and needs me,” Netta said, visibly stricken.

It was a struggle to suppress her glee. “Oh? When are you leaving?”

“Immediately.” Netta folded up the telegram, her expression distracted. “One of the maids will have to help you until I return.”

Hopefully the nasty old hag wouldn’t return untilafterJulia’s marriage. Carl might be repellant, but at least he had no idea of her schedule or what was proper or improper for a young lady of her status. She’d be much freer without Netta.

In fact, she might get to eat for a change.

Netta’s expression sharpened, as if Julia had spoken aloud. “Master Carl will go with youeverywhere. You shall never be out of his sight.”

Julia rolled her eyes, but the older woman was too flustered to notice.

“I’ll send up a maid to help you dress.”

“Yes, do that,” Julia ordered, waiting until the door slammed to give full rein to her joyous grin.

Life, Julia suspected, would be a great deal less onerous with the worst of her gaolers gone from the city.

Now all she had to do was rid herself of Carl.

Chapter 6

Malcolm sat in the darkened room; his fist tight around his engorged cock as he stared at the trio of people on the other side of the large window.

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