14. Generous Master
“ W e are almost done for the evening,” Prince Adrian told her as they headed back to the palace. They’d just left the cordwainer, where the Prince had purchased three new pairs of shoes for her. She wore the most comfortable pair of slippers, her old ones having been tossed out by the shoemaker much the same as the seamstress had her dress. “Once you sign your contract at home, we will be free to relax.”
“I have work, sir.”
“Did you not hear me reprimand Javier? You have no more work this night. I am taking a rare night off, and we are spending it together.”
Not sure what to make of that, Rose turned to watch the night pass by through the window. The streets were busier now with the vampire public, but none seemed to notice their carriage. They were just one among the others rolling by. It was surprising but shouldn’t have been since the Prince had taken a more nondescript vehicle.
When they made it back to the palace, she was full of nerves. Wearing the rich dress, she followed Prince Adrian to his office. She made sure to keep her posture straight and tried not to draw attention to herself. Prince Adrian seemed to be taking lesser-known hallways, and she appreciated that because she wasn’t yet sure how to act around the staff.
In his office, he had her new things set on a chair before dismissing the human male who’d carried them. He then lighted the lamp on the table by the door and picked up a document from the top of the stack on his desk. Sitting in one of the cushioned chairs before it, he motioned for Rose to join him.
“I had my lawyer draw this up for when your situation changed.” He handed the contract to her. “Since you can read, I will not do so for you. All the terms of your employment are clearly stated.”
“I will be paid?”
“You will receive the normal wage, lodging in the maids’ quarters, uniforms, meals, and a day off every week.”
She was pleased he took her question seriously instead of laughing at her. She felt rather out of her depth. It grew worse when she realized all that he’d said.
“That’s a lot,” she mumbled.
“Indeed. Normally, maids get one day off every month. However, I’d like your time off to be spent”—he reached for her hand, holding it loosely—“with me.”
“But . . . Why ?”
“Because I am drawn to you, sweet Rose.” Bringing her hand toward his mouth to kiss, he thought better of it when he saw the dirt on her skin. Flushing with embarrassment, she pulled her hand away. “We will take care of it after you sign,” he assured her, reaching for a quill and handing it to her. “Just one more thing to get used to. Regular baths.”
Narrowing her eyes, she snatched the pen. Typical master, blaming everything on the slave when he was the one who hadn’t supplied soap .
But as she thought about it, she realized he’d offered her chances to get clean more often than anyone else ever had.
“Are you not amenable?” His hushed voice brought her from her thoughts, his thumb stroking the inside of her wrist, making her wonder when he’d taken her hand again. When she gave a little shiver, he grinned boyishly. “You should be, for I am the most eligible bachelor in the kingdom. All the females scurry for my affections.”
Rose cocked an eyebrow. “Is that supposed to make me want you, Your Highness? Because it only makes me see you as even more of an arrogant, insufferable ass.”
Prince Adrian laughed, that boyish expression still on his face. “Such guts you have now to curse in my presence. That fire in you is one of the things I most enjoy.”
“Yes, well, perhaps I shall keep my fire to myself since you have so many other females.”
He chuckled. “Neither of us will share, nor will you serve as a donor in the Blood Room.”
“Why?”
“I do not want you feeding others.” He stared at her neck, where her pulse beat.
Needing a distraction from his shining eyes and confusing words, Rose raised her contract to begin reading. “This contract shall be a binding agreement between Rose , henceforth an employee of the Royal Palace of Crimson City , hereinafter their employer . . . Shall be a maid under His Royal Highness Prince Adrian . . . Compensation for labor shall be three copper coins every week . . . Lodging shall be in the appropriate wing of the attic in a private room with another of the same sex . . . Uniforms and private wardrobe . . . Bathing rooms shared between four rooms . . . Maids shall clean their own space . . . Weekly inspections by the Head Housekeeper . . . Meals . . . Days off . . . Medical treatment, sickness, and injury . . .” Those provisions meant she wouldn’t have to rely on the Prince’s generosity.
“There shall be no blood-letting. Private feeding for Prince Adrian only . . .” She paled at that, wondering if it would entail fangs in flesh, but ignored the image it evoked. “Employee may accept tips for outstanding work in addition to wages—that’s nice—but loyalty must always remain with the employer—of course . . . Notify employer of any attempt by another to requisition employment . . .” Her voice trailed off as she thought about that. She looked up at Prince Adrian. “That means if someone else were to try to . . . hire me?”
“Yes.”
Rose nodded, happy she’d figured it out, and looked back to the contract. “The employee will not requisition employment elsewhere . . . Protocol if the employee is proven to work for another against their contract . . . If, at the end of the term of this contract, the employee desires employment elsewhere, ample notice of resignation is required—herein defined as three weeks . . . Protocol for disclosure of untoward conduct by visitors or fellow staff . . . Termination policies . . .”
Her tone was amused, a smile lighting her face as she read one of the final clauses, “Employee must satisfy the royal pet Larkin of all attention he demands.” Looking up again, her eyes danced in the lamplight as she laughed. “Is that necessary, Your Highness?”
“I do not want any issues to arise, so yes, it is necessary. Writing is definitive.”
“Okay.”
The last clause stated the contract was binding for a year and could not be broken unless an agreement was signed by all parties. Rose stared at the signature lines. It was smarter to leave, she thought, smarter to get away from the palace and the temptation of the Prince. The last thing she needed was drama or scandal.
But so much was being offered. And it was only for a year. She could leave at the end of her term, or any time before that if she followed procedure. She wasn’t stuck. She wasn’t trapped.
And the thought of leaving Larkin threatened to break something inside her.
“You wish to make no alterations or negotiate any clause?”
Rose hadn’t realized she could. “Is the . . . private feeding negotiable?”
The Prince frowned. “You do not wish to feed me?”
“I wish to be able to deny you the right if I so choose.”
An amused smile tilted his mouth. “Of course.” Reaching into her lap, Prince Adrian made a note and initialed it, motioning for her to do the same. “Anything else?”
“You request time spent together. That is obviously outside of this contract so would be . . . personal?”
“Yes.”
“So, I can refuse that as well.”
The Prince frowned, all amusement fading. “Why refuse something we both want?” he asked lowly, seductively, trailing light fingertips up her arm.
Rose pulled away. “Your charms do not work so well on me, Your Highness. I refuse to be part of your harem.”
“Harem?” Prince Adrian laughed. “What harem?”
“All the females scurrying for your affections,” Rose replied with a flit and wiggle of her fingers. “I will be no mouse following you for a dropped crumb. If you need attention, go to one of the others happy to entertain you. It shan’t be me.”
She signed the contract with a flourish and then frowned. “I don’t have a last name. ”
“That is quite alright.” The Prince took the document and stood to put it and the quills back on his desk. When she stood, too, he reached for her hand, which she pulled away. His lip twitched. “I suppose we could call you Rose the Tan, or Rose of the Pink Eyes , or,” more quietly, as he took her hand again, holding tightly so she couldn’t pull away, “ Rose the Free. ”
“Stop sweet-talking. I am immune to such things.” That was a blatant lie. Even now her heart fluttered at his flirting. “Should you show me my quarters? Who will I be staying with? When do I get my uniforms? What time do I start my shift?”
“So many questions. Didn’t I say we were going to relax after business? Business is now concluded. I was thinking . . . how about a bath?”
Rose stared at him, distracted as his fingers played with hers. “A bath?”
“Nice and steamy with scented oil, maybe some bubbles since I hear females enjoy that sort of thing. You can luxuriate while our meal is being prepared.”
It sounded heavenly, and she badly wanted to say yes. She stared at his long fingers playing with her dirty ones. How much different would they look if she were clean?
“Come, Rose, give me the time I crave. If I am abhorrent, you may leave at any time.”
The hot, silky water in the Gold Room’s deep tub felt luxurious. Rose let herself soak for many long minutes, the heat relaxing her as she’d never experienced. Her wrists, ankles, and neck all tingled slightly. When she examined them, she was shocked the marks from her manacles weren’t nearly as livid.
How peculiar.
Washing, actually washing her hair and body with soap , felt heavenly. She felt like a new person as she dried herself while humming the tune of the lullaby from her dreams. There was lavender-scented lotion with the bath products. It was calming and reminded her of the garden back home. The scent of the plants had always drifted in her window and helped her sleep.
Still humming, she dressed. She struggled with the laces, but managed, and then brushed her curls, liking how the bristles slid through her hair. There was a toothbrush near the washbasin. Cleaning her mouth felt almost as good as the bath had.
When she exited the room, she expected there to be an escort but found the hallway empty. As she contemplated where she should go, a figure stepped from the shadows. Rose blinked because he’d literally stepped from the shadows.
She’d heard some of Prince Adrian’s closest guards had special abilities. It appeared this one could shadow-walk, or at the very least, camouflage.
Rose blinked again when the male bowed. Searching the hallway behind her, she found it empty. Surely, he couldn’t be bowing to her .
But then the vampire in tight leather armor said, “His Highness is waiting. Come.” He led her to the breakfast room where she’d eaten earlier. At the entry, he gave another slight bow while backing away. “Enjoy your night.”
What a strange male, she thought as she watched him fade into the shadows again, something about him niggling at her. Shrugging it off, she entered the room where Prince Adrian stood with Larkin the hawk on his shoulder. Both gazed out at the moonlit garden. They turned when they heard her, and Larkin flew to Rose’s shoulder, where he pinched her sleeve with his talons.
Rose chuckled. “It is strange, isn’t it? Me, in real clothes. Who would have thought?” She stroked his pretty breast as he rubbed his head on her cheek in the endearing way she loved. His gentle coos filled her heart with light. “I missed you, too, dear friend. Did you have a good hunt?”
While he made little sounds in her ear, Prince Adrian motioned to the table. Sitting when he pulled out her chair for her, she said a quiet thank you. A spread similar to earlier sat on a silver tray in the center of the table. An opened bottle of wine and two glasses accompanied it.
“I didn’t do anything near as exciting as terrorizing mice,” she told Larkin, “but look. Did you notice?” Her fingers went to her neck as she lifted her chin, where Larkin lovingly rubbed her with his head. When he nuzzled her wrists, the leftover tingle from her bath intensified. “He is a very generous master,” she agreed, turning her eyes to their Prince, who was pouring wine. When his eyes met hers, she blushed.
The romance of the moment—being alone in an enchanting garden soaked in moonlight—must be getting to her head. Because it was a place for lovers, and she and the Prince were far from that.
The thought made her blush deepen.
But then she chuckled softly at Larkin, scratching his head. “I bet you are fat and drowsy after such a meal. Off with you then, lazy bones. Go nap and I will see you later.”
After another snuggle, he shifted to a dormouse and scurried away. Rose watched him and then turned to the Prince. He nudged the wine toward her, so she picked it up to sip. Wine was such an indulgence, and paired with the weight of those ruby eyes, heady.
Slipping out of her depth, into a realm she’d never dreamed possible, she sipped more for bravery.