Chapter 54: A Reprieve
Keenan swore as he shut the door behind him. Barely a few feet away from him was Maya approaching the stairs—the same stairs he was about to take.
She froze as she noticed him. He hadn’t exactly exited quietly. Her eyes darted around, and then she bowed her head before rushing toward the stairs. She was clearly running away from him.
He walked behind her without saying a word. He was still angry from the interaction with Claude; he was bound to say more than he needed to if he were to speak to her now.
He still couldn’t figure out why she had been the one to serve the tea. Not only that, but she had also worn the apron and the cap that the maids were dressed in.
He narrowed his eyes as he watched her. Did she deliberately try to show herself to Claude, and to what end? Did this have something to do with the coming meeting?
There were too many things he didn’t have information on. Not only did he have to keep a watchful eye out and prepare for the coming meeting, but he also had to watch Claude closely.
She got to the top of the stairs without looking back at him. Keenan was close behind her; if he were to walk slightly faster, he would reach her in seconds. He was tempted to, but he forced his hand back.
He didn’t expect her to tell him what her plan was, and he didn’t have enough clues to know if she was lying or not. He also couldn’t interrogate her without drawing Claude’s attention. The stairs were only a few paces away from the drawing room; Claude’s keen ears and nose would notice if something was amiss.
At the top of the stairs, she immediately took the stairs leading to the second floor, and Keenan stopped walking, his gaze darkening some more.
He didn’t think much about it because he truly did not care what room Alaina had placed her in. If she had left Maya in the cellar still, he wouldn’t have batted an eyelash.
He didn’t think Claude knew she was on the same floor as him, or else he wouldn’t have insisted so strongly that he wanted to see her. But Keenan was certain his ignorance wouldn’t last. He didn’t want to think of what Claude would do when he was aware.
This bothered him. He couldn’t have her on the same floor as Claude, and considering she had also sought him out, Keenan had reasons to be cautious.
Maya’s heart was in her legs as she walked to her room. It felt like there were chains around her ankles. Even though she was on the stairs leading away from the first floor, Maya still couldn’t escape his gaze.
She had feared he would approach her; that was the only reason she had been able to make her legs move despite the debilitating fear she felt at running into him.
His eyes were digging holes in her back, and with each step, Maya feared he might rush at her and slam her against the nearest door.
She knew he was angry at her intrusion, and she couldn’t help but expect some kind of punishment. The lack of it was scarier as she was expecting at every turn.
When she was finally away from his eyes, Maya’s legs almost gave out, but she forced herself to make it to her bedroom before she fell onto the hard floor.
She was still holding the hairbrush tightly, bringing it to her chest as she curled into a ball. She had escaped the situation unscathed, but it didn’t feel that way. It felt only like a reprieve.
The only saving grace she had was that at least in this room, she was safe—but for how long? She didn’t know what Alaina could be planning next. She might send for her and ask her to do another humiliating task in front of Claude.
Maya jumped as she heard a knock. She had been lying on the floor gripping the hairbrush for quite some time now. She didn’t even realize that much time had passed.
She scrambled to her feet and slowly approached the door. A part of her was scared it was Alaina. She wouldn’t be surprised if she wanted her to serve Claude lunch.
Maya’s stomach twisted. Claude’s actions bothered her. If he had been courteous, he would have ignored her; that would have been the right thing to do. But he had spoken to her normally and even gone as far as to ask how she was coping in Verlassen.
It was insulting. She was dressed in shabby clothes serving him, and that was the question he asked. She wasn’t sure she would be able to face him again; he was likely to ask her more embarrassing questions.
Maya pulled open the door to see Palmer standing outside with a tray of food. Her expression lightened instantly, and she was smiling before she thought about it.
"Here," Palmer said, but she didn’t shove it in her face as she usually would.
"Thank you," Maya said and took the tray from her hands. The relief made her hands shake slightly.
"Leave the tray outside when you’re done."
"I will." She started to withdraw into her room, not wanting to delay Palmer any longer.
"If—"
She paused and lifted her head. "Yes?" She asked with a confused expression.
Palmer’s gaze darkened, but it was almost as if she was embarrassed while also being angry.
"Agnes said if you need anything, you should let her know—as payment for making the tea."
Maya’s eyes opened a little wider. She wasn’t expecting compensation. Besides, the hairbrush and lunch were enough compensation.
She did understand, though. Agnes had asked her directly to make the tea. She was sure the older woman didn’t want to feel indebted to her.
"The lunch and hairbrush are more than enough," Maya said with a warm smile.
Palmer’s gaze only worsened as she looked Maya up and down. "Agnes wouldn’t like that. When you think of something, let me know."
Without waiting for Maya’s response, she turned around and walked back the way she had come, leaving Maya standing by her door.
