Page 50 of A Rose Among Snakes

In the center of the leather handle glinted a ruby, and on either side of it, open-mouthed snakes curled around it, ready to devour the gem. Time stopped. With a slight tremor, I lifted my hand to the ring sitting on a chain around my neck hidden beneath my dress. It was exactly what I had been waiting for, something connecting back to my father.

I would do whatever it took to stay at Blaise Manor. I knew in my bones it was a sign I was on the right track. My fingers itched to unlatch the case and see what was inside, but I didn’t want to press my luck.

“Nice to have you back, Mihrra,” Franz said, returning me to the moment.

“It’s nice to be back, Franz,” I replied, still dazed.

I went to pull my bag out, but Franz beat me to it saying, “Let me get that for you.” He picked it up and ushered me inside, going to the trouble of delivering it to my room while I waited in the entry as Mrs. Shulling approached.

“Welcome back, Mihrra.” She looked behind me and frowned. “Where is Ms. Blaise?”

I sighed and shook my head. Mrs. Shulling made a small noise as she covered her mouth, eyes misting, and I realized she was thinking the worst.

“No, no, she’s fine.”I think.I had decided on the carriage ride home that Mrs. Shulling should know the truth, so I stepped closer and dropped my voice to a whisper. “She eloped.”

Mrs. Shulling gasped. “Heavens, did she really? To whom?”

I bit my lip. The full truth still felt like it was not my place to say, so I lied. “I’m not sure. She left a letter for Velian saying she was running off to get married and that she would be in touch soon.”

Mrs. Shulling shook her head in disbelief. “That girl… she’s always been wild, but this is a shock. How is Mr. Blaise? Is he upset?”

“He’s… adjusting.” It was a generous description.

She clasped her hands together and said, “I will have Shandy make him his favorite meal. I’ll tell her now before she starts on something different.” She walked away, her quick steps muffled by the plush rugs leading toward the kitchen.

As I walked to my room to settle back in, Velian called out to me from his study. The door was partially open and he motioned for me to come in.

“Close the door behind you.” His set jaw and tense shoulders made my stomach hollow out. I swallowed and closed the door, taking the seat across the desk from him as he indicated.

“Mihrra, we need to talk.” Those were never words anyone wanted to hear, but I kept my face blank as my heart dropped to my feet. He cleared his throat and continued, “With Kezara being gone, I’m having a hard time justifying keeping you on staff.”

I knew it. Desperation clawed at me, and in the moment I couldn’t take the time to untangle the root of it, but I was not above begging.

“Please, let me stay.” I paused to swallow the lump in my throat, and he opened his mouth, but I cut him off. “I can doanything that needs to be done around here. I’ll clean, I’ll help in the kitchen—I’ll muck out the stalls, even!”

His expression was hard, his emerald eyes boring into mine. “Why do you want to stay here?”

You,my heart sang, but I shoved the unbidden thought aside as quickly as it came. “My family needs the money, and I haven’t found out anything regarding my father, either.”

He scoffed, and heat surged through me. “Are you asking me to pay you to search for answers about your father?”

“No, I’m not, and I resent the accusation.” My tone was sharp and he raised his eyebrows, but I continued, “I just meant that I need more time here, and you did say you would do whatever you could to help me.” The image of the case handle popped into my mind, but I chose to keep quiet. There was a voice whispering to me that sounded an awful lot like the fortune teller;be careful who you trust, girl. Not everyone is as they seem.

He held my stare, taking steady, measured breaths, however his furrowed brow betrayed his inner turmoil. His hands were clasped on top of the desk between us, and my hands twitched toward him of their own volition. Trying to cover my intentions, I rested my palms atop the cool wood.

“Velian, please,” I whispered.

He closed his eyes and let his head hang back over the chair. “Fine.” He brought his head back up. “Let me talk to Mrs. Shulling and she will assign you new duties every day.”

I beamed at him as joy burst inside of me, and I stood up, pushing the chair behind me and dropping into a curtsy. “Thank you, Velian.”

He rolled his eyes. “Mihrra, stop. I thought we were past this.”

I stood up straight, unable to wipe the smile from my face. “You’re right, I’m sorry. I’m very grateful for this opportunity. You won’t regret it.” I spun on my heel and restrained myself from skipping out of the room.

Just before I closed the door, I heard Velian mutter, “We’ll see.” But even that couldn’t dampen my elation. My dream was still alive.

After spending the afternoon unpacking Kezara’s trunks, I headed down to the kitchen with a spring in my step. An aromatic wave of hot air greeted me as the door swung open. Shandy sang a jaunty tune about a sailor reuniting with his lost love as she pulled a pan of lamb chops from the oven, suffusing the room with its mouthwatering scent. Narell placed a lid over an overflowing platter of glazed carrots and looked up as I walked in, her eyes narrowing.

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