is

lmost nervous, but they couldn't have been more nervous than me. I tried hard to keep my pos

of my hands were nearly dripping with sweat. I attempted to

robably wondering what was wrong with

a long while, Mr. C

ody began silencing almost immediately and fo

sly. He wasn't looking at anybody suspiciously, but he had a

ly," Mr. Carson began, scanning the crowd. I swallowed hard, praying that he didn't look at me again. "It appears t

reath, trying to keep

nd an extra tip for your dedicated work. He was pleased with the overall o

ke me away; he wasn't here to take anybody away or berate a

ollect their tips. Melody still stood tall next to Mr. Carson, and she was eyeing me with suspicion

en in my tracks as I watched the other maids stand in l

our tip?" She asked as s

from Melody. I managed to give Beth a small

, stepping beside

ollably. Mr. Carson looked me over carefully, and I started feeling nausea fill my stomach. I needed to get out

wed my head in thanks to him as I turned to walk away and join Beth

n began. "Have any of you met w

Clattering on the ground and around my feet. It made an unnecessarily loud sou

slight darkness as Mr. Carson took a step toward

g his tone low with a slig

shaking too bad and I turned to face him. He was much taller than me and I always felt intimidated by h

d with fury as she stared at the coins

ough she was about to slap me across the face

again. "Did you meet with

I swallowed another lump that formed in my throat and pr

him more confide

last night?" He aske

at the ceremony, I went to

oing to meet her eyes. She knew I was lying. She knew me better than almost anybody at the palace. Plus, she s

ppened; she just didn

e, Mr. Carson finally broke eye contact w

pset with the girl. It was

ue with Mr. Carson. But nodded respectfully

her the coins I had dropped bef

kindness," Melody hissed to me. At t

w my fear to meet e

" I told them, bowing politely before j

s lips against my skin. The warmth of his breath gave my body goosebumps and the fact that my body was so obedient to him was something I had never exp

have been more disgusted. Yet, I

dy reacting i

at led to our rooms when Mr. Cars

wed to leave yet

embellishing my features and the

was hardly audible, but it was lo

," he said, staring amongst us.

h who also looked c

d?" I m