Page 9 of Bloody Business

Her father hadn't been as careful after his wife died; there hadn't seemed to be a point in hiding his wealth.He'd splurged a little on food and small luxuries, upgraded the house, that sort of thing.

His brother had come to visit, looking for a loan.He'd never bothered before.Her father had told Wex in no uncertain terms that he was not welcome.Hard words were exchanged.

Her father had died from a wasting disease two winters later.

Julep took precautions and let it be known that her father had made bad investments.She told people there was no money left and that she was lucky to hold on to the house.

Unfortunately, the relatives didn't believe her.Julep got word through a family friend that there might be trouble and decided to travel, hoping to elude them.

She'd practically given away the family home; chairs, rugs and pots included.After all, dead women didn't cook.

Unfortunately, she ran into an injured goblin on the way and made a costly decision.Now she was huddled on the cold floor, her ear pressed to the door as she listened to her family plotting.

She would do it again, she thought defiantly.She would never be like these people.Her father had taught her what was right, and she would live up to his expectations if it killed her.

She might run faster next time, though.

She closed her eyes.Everyone made mistakes.There would be a way out.She just had to look for an opportunity.

It helped that her family was stupid.

The family had cooked up a scheme to get control of her money.They were going to market her on the marriage mart.The goal was to find a husband for her who was as slimy as they were.Through him, they planned to get control of the gold they believed was in the local goblin bank.They knew her father had an account there, but didn't believe it when Julep told them the account had been emptied.

For some reason, they were convinced she was swimming in gold.

Her family had borrowed heavily from some nasty sorts.She'd heard them assuring each other this would pay off quickly and they didn't need to worry about broken knee caps.They were going to hold a party in a rented house where they would market her as an heiress.

The plan was stupid, but nobody cared about her opinions.She didn't know how they planned to force her future husband to hand the money over to them.Maybe they thought they could browbeat him?Blackmail him?

It would have to be blackmail, she decided.It was unlikely a grown man would let relatives nag him to give up a fortune.

Unfortunately, people who thought they were smart often wouldn't listen to actual smart people.

Their stupid plan was doomed.She just had to find a way to outwit them.

...

Artur spotted her across the crowded dance floor.She was wearing a silk dress, her glorious brown curls twisted up in an elaborate hairdo with jeweled pins and flowers.She had on too much makeup, however.Someone had tried to hide her freckles.The effect was mask-like, and he wondered if it itched.

He’d learned she was twenty, and an alleged heiress.He wondered if the expensive jewelry was glass or rented, like the house.

The house was all columns and arches and big windows, about what you would expect for a wealthy family.The rent for one month was also enough to beggar her entire family, not to mention the servants, the wages and the cost of the booze.They couldn't afford to fail.

Twenty was old for an heiress to remain unmarried, but she was considered ugly by human standards.The large nose and deeply freckled face were not in fashion.She also spoke her mind, which made her unpopular.

His scouts had discovered all kinds of things in the week since he'd last seen her.Her family was going all out to sell her off.They weren't even being subtle about it.They've gone into debt to market her, all in an effort to get into her bank account.

He smiled.It was futile.They clearly had no idea how goblin banks worked and seemed generally uninformed.Still, it probably made sense under ridiculous human laws.Women generally had few rights outside of their father and husband's rule.Everything they owned belonged to the male head of the family.

He'd used his business contacts to get an invitation to the party.He could have just kidnapped her back, but he had something else in mind.

He sipped his wine.Her father had the presence of mind to take out a contract on her with goblin assassins.If she disappeared or was murdered, assassins would come for the killers.Unfortunately, he did not put any specification in there against forced marriage.

A frumpy woman was glued to Julep’s side.Her aunt, if his intelligence was correct.She was playing jailor and chaperone.They were talking to several men, but a fat, loud man with jeweled buttons and lots of rings was in front.His bulging fish eyes looked at Julep as if he owned her.

Julep looked away, visibly bored and faintly repulsed, judging by the curl of her lip.

As the music began, Artur decided it was his cue.

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