Page 13 of Forsaken Secrets

He'd barely started marking it up, when the bell over the door rang and the store went silent.

My stomach dropped, and I turned around slowly.

That billowing, blood-red gown could only belong to one woman. It was decorated in creamy lace and what had to be hundreds of pearls.

I mean, it was stunning … in an over-the-top kind of way, but it was completely out of place in the Harlsted's General Store.

Lady Ellingsworth's lips curled into a tight smile when she saw me. "Well, what do we have here? Miss Maderoth, are you already preparing for your next payment?"

My eyes slid back to the slip of paper, and I grimaced. The timing could not have been worse.

"Yes, my lady," I said, sure to keep my voice demure as I dipped into an awkward curtsey.

She scoffed, then stepped closer and leaned in until we were almost nose to nose. Her floral perfume made my head ache. She'd obviously never learned that scents should be applied sparingly.

My mouth went dry as her ice-blue eyes drilled holes in my skull before dropping to my (admittedly messy) walking dress.

I held my ground, though, and forced my smile to remain steady.

She would not get the best of me today.

Inspection complete, the stately woman stood and a small smile twisted her lips. It made my stomach clench.

She never smiled.

"Mr. Harlsted." Her hand reached out for the paper. "What is that paper you have?"

I stared, wide-eyed, as he paused and glanced at me. I kept my face blank. The last thing they needed was to get in trouble for me.

Finally, he handed it over.

Her lips pressed together as she studied the page. "I see."

She passed the paper back and shifted her glare to me. "Your junk is worth this much?" She looked me up and down again. "You had this small fortune just sitting under your roof, and you dared ask for extensions to your payment?"

My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth as I shook my head. "N-no, my lady. It's not what it looks like. They were just trying to — " I looked between her and the Harlsteds, heart racing as I tried to come up with a sufficient excuse.

"I don't care what they were trying to do, Miss Maderoth," she interrupted, turning to Mr. Harlsted with her lips curled. "You will give me this amount instead, so that I may deduct it from her debt."

My breath left in a whoosh. We needed that money to buy sewing supplies for the Season and repair the siding on the house before winter! Had I just sold my tools for no reason? Legs weak, I leaned against the counter and watched Mr. Harlsted pull money from his drawer and pass it over, cheeks bright.

I couldn't blame him, though. Our hands were all tied when it came to Lady Ellingsworth.

"Well, that's a start, at least," she said, lips twisted in a cruel smile.

I curtseyed and nodded, stomach tightening.

She stepped closer, angular jaw clenched as she pinched my chin. Sharp nails dug into my skin and I tried to hide my grimace. But she didn't care, turning my head from side to side like I was some sort of animal.

Rebellion boiled in my stomach, but I complied, forcing my face to stay slack.

"You know, we really should have been the ones to take you in all those years ago. Perhaps then you'd have a real chance at a happy life." Her eyes swept over me again, tightening as she took in the stains and general mess that was me. "Yes, you could have been beautiful — maybe even the diamond of the Season." She paused and leaned closer, picking at a mud stain on my sleeve before grabbing my chin and turning my face side to side. "But instead, you're the niece of a common seamstress and doomed to a life of drudgery."

Satisfied smirk on her lips, she dropped my chin and stepped back, focus shifting to the hulking manservant that always followed her around.

I stood frozen in place, but my body was on fire. I could taste blood where I'd bitten too hard on my cheek, and I wanted to rage, to demand an apology.

How DARE she?!?!

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