Page 28 of Her Beast

Masturbating to thoughts of Carl? You know you’ll hate yourself afterward, a prissy voice in her head chided.

“I don’t care,” she muttered between clenched teeth. “I…needthis.” Her finger moved faster, harder, and her back began to arch off the bed, the tension ratcheting her muscles tighter and tighter.

The bedroom door flew open hard enough that it struck the wall with a loudbang.

Julia screamed and yanked her hand from between her thighs as Netta stormed into her chambers.

“What are you doin’ still abed, girl?” she demanded in her abrasive voice.

Julia shoved up onto her elbows. “How did you even get in here? I locked the door!”

Netta held up a key and smirked.

Julia fell back onto her pillow with an angry huff and hastily pulled down her nightgown beneath the covers.

She was just in time, too, as Netta strode forward and yanked the blankets off her.

“What are youdoing?”

“Time to get up and get dressed,” Netta all but chirped.

“You horrid woman—why won’t you leave me alone?”

“You missed dinner and breakfast, but your midday meal is ready.”

“Why should I go downstairs? It’s not as if I will be allowed to eat anything.”

“You’ll get up and go about your business like a lady, that’s why. I won’t have you going to Lord Basingstoke as if—”

“Fine. I’ll do anything you want if you just stop talking.” Listening to Netta’s hectoring voice was enough to make her vomit. “Ring for Mary and then get out of my room.”

“That slut is gone.”

Julia sat up. “What? She never said anything to me about leaving.”

Netta fussed around her room, gathering scattered clothing andtuttingto herself.

“This is most irregular,” Julia persisted. It was true that Mary was timid, lazy, and useless in a lot of ways, but Julia was fond of her. “Did she say anything to anyone about leaving?”

“No, she just left.”

“How will she find another position without a letter to recommend her?”

“That is her concern, not yours. I’ll engage a proper maid for you.”

Julia glared. “I’ll choose my own maid, thank you very much.”

“The master already told me to do so.”

Julia opened her mouth to argue but then, quite suddenly, lost all energy to do so. After all, what was the point?

Not only was she exhausted and weak with hunger, but she couldn’t forget how her father had threatened Richard’s future and his happiness. Julia never would have believed that a father would do such a thing to his own child. She’d always known that Thomas Harlow was ashamed of his oldest son—hiding him away, denying his existence, and calling him an idiot and lackwit when Julia had begged him to allow her twin to come and live with them—but to threaten to send him to a sanatorium was sickening.

Her father had always been coldblooded but had become even worse over the past few years and she was convinced his cruelty was Nadine’s fault. If Nadine had her way. Julia wouldn’t have been allowed to even visit Richard once a year or exchange letters with Nanny Potter.

In any case, arguing with Netta wasn’t only pointless, it was dangerous. It would be wise to toe the line with both her parents until she was married. Until then, Richard’s future wasn’t secure.

“Well, you’d better engage somebody quickly, Netta,” Julia said. “Don’t forget I’ve got dinner with Sebastian and Lady Winthrop tomorrow night.”

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