Page 42 of Villainess's Redemption
“Loudly, Gareth. I can’t hear it,” I drawled, relishing the way he squirmed under my gaze.
Red-faced and stammering, Gareth dropped to his knees. “I… I’m sorry,” he mumbled.
“Oh, come now,” I drawled. “Put some feeling into it. Make us believe you’re not just a brute in nobleman’s clothing.”
Gareth’s apology grew more profuse, if not more sincere. The barmaid looked on, shock evident in her wide eyes.
I pulled out my purse and pressed it into the barmaid’s trembling hands. “Go see a doctor,” I instructed, my tone softening slightly. She nodded, clutching the money like a lifeline, and hurried away.
I turned my attention back to Gareth, still kneeling in the dirt like a worm.
Leaning down, I brought my lips close to his ear and whispered, my voice dripping with venom, “Do not ever do that again. And if I ever hear you came here, your body will be found in pieces at the bottom of Calista River. You know I’m capable of that.”
Gareth’s face paled to a sickly shade of green, but he managed a jerky nod. I straightened up, flashing him a smile that was all teeth and no warmth. “Good.”
Turning to Laurel, who stood nearby with a mixture of awe and fear on her face, I said, “Let’s go.”
As we made our way back to my parent’s residence, I could feel Laurel’s questioning gaze boring into my back. No doubt shewas wondering about this new side of me—a lady who defended barmaids and threatened noblemen.
Laurel’s stare was like a physical weight against my back as we walked. My maid wasn’t usually this quiet. Even after my recent personality exchange, she’d found her voice. The silence was starting to make my skin crawl.
I whirled around. “For heaven’s sake, Laurel, just spit it out before you burst.”
Her eyes were wide and shining, practically glowing with hero worship. Oh no.
“Lady Ilyana, that was amazing!” She launched herself at me, wrapping her arms around my waist. “The way you made him kneel and apologize! And how you helped that poor woman! You were like an avenging angel!”
I awkwardly patted her back, unused to such enthusiastic physical contact. In my previous life, I would have sneered at such common behavior. Now, a warmth spread through my chest at her genuine admiration.
“Thank you, Laurel, but it really wasn’t—”
“It was! You were magnificent!” She pulled back, her face flushed with excitement. “You would never have done that before.”
I winced. “No, I wouldn’t have.”
Laurel’s face fell. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“You’re right though,” I smiled, trying to ease her concern. “The old me was rather awful, wasn’t she?”
But that old me was dead. Now, I had bigger problems to worry about, like how to keep my family from ruin and myself from ending up in prison. Or worse, dead in a ditch somewhere in the fringes.
Again.
* * *
I trudged back home, my mind whirling with the day’s events. The familiar sight of my parent’s estate did little to soothe my frayed nerves. As I entered, a servant informed me that Father had returned. Perfect timing. I made a beeline for his study, my heart pounding with anticipation.
Please be something good.
I knocked on the heavy oak door, hearing Father’s muffled “Come in.” The study was dimly lit, the air heavy with the scent of old books and leather. Father sat behind his imposing desk, looking every bit the powerful minister he was.
“Father,” I greeted, settling into the chair across from him. “How did the trial go?”
He looked up from his papers, his eyes tired but satisfied. “Ah, Ilyana. It went… interestingly. Magnus will be returned to his residence and placed under house arrest while they reinvestigate.”
I raised an eyebrow, thinking. “House arrest? That’s good. At least he’s not on the row for execution. It’ll give us more time.”
Father nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. “Indeed. It seems your… concerns… were not entirely unfounded.”
