I continue to the back of the house, passing the drawing-room where I hear more voices. I don’t pause as I keep going to a place I will find silence.
Turning up the knob of my stereo, I blare my music in my soundproofed room. Pulling off the navy jumper, I place it on the wooden bench. Switching my trousers and shoes for black jogging pants and sneakers, I wrap my hands.
I don’t hold back as my punch bag becomes Henry. I punch it, picturing his glasses crumbling under my fist. The impact of my next punch sends the bag sailing back, and I’m ready for the impact when it returns. My fist jabs the side of the bag, Henry’s ribs crack, but not before I get a sickening hit into his other side. The bag swings back and when it returns again, I focus on Henry’s face, hit after hit, bones smashing and crushing under my fists.
I’m panting hard, sweat coating my naked torso, but I still have more. All the faces I let melt together; each punch is Henry, my father, even Mark. I keep hitting until the image changes to nameless faces. My fists are raw and no longer enough. My knee impacts, swinging the bag back. I keep going until exhaustion has me puffing and holding onto the bag for support. The music pounds into my head, not allowing anything else in there. Just the way I like it. My fists cry out, my knee stings, I focus on the pain.
My ears ring for a moment even as the music ends. I straighten and look over at Mark who stands up straight.
“All seven ladies have arrived, Master Lucas.”
“Turn back on my music.” I don’t have much energy left, but I return to punching the bag. It’s not as vicious as it was before, but with Mark’s presence here it fuels me.
“Your father left me instructions….” I turn and stretch out my hands. Fresh blood seeps into the bandages. Mark’s eyes flicker to my damaged hands and his lips curl up in disgust. He doesn’t budge.
The fabric comes away easily as I unravel it from my hands. “My father isn’t here and won’t be for four weeks.” I take a step towards Mark. “So why don’t you and George occupy the ladies. In any way at all,” I wink.
His eyes widened. “That isn’t my role, Master Lucas.”
“What? Sleeping with them?”
His eyes grow hard.
“I promise I would never tell. Take your pick.”
“This is not a joke, Master Lucas.”
“Master Lucas,” I repeat while throwing the bloodied bandages in the bin. “If I was your Master, you wouldn’t be here.”
I grin up at Mark and he holds firm in his stance.
“Your father will be expecting a report, Master Lucas.”
I sense a tone in how he says my name now. I want to point it out, pull him up on it, but I’m getting tired.
“What did you come here for?”
“You need to greet all the ladies.”
“Let me shower first.”
His eyes roam my bare torso. “Yes, that would be best.”
Mark turns to leave but stops. “I would suggest a pair of gloves, Master Lucas.”
I would suggest he leaves quickly before I lose my temper.
The door closes and I glance down at my damaged hands. I grin.
I have no intention of making this easy for them.
CHAPTER THREE
ELLA
Five suitcases. I keep counting them as if the numbers might dwindle. “Who are they?” his words are on repeat in my head. The way he looked at us. My cheeks darken now and my eyes sting. It was him from the picture, but he didn’t seem happy to see us. He wasn’t what I had thought he would be. I sit on the edge of the four-poster bed and look around my room. It’s how I pictured it. At least something has turned out right. The lush cream carpet gathers around my bare feet. I wiggle my pink painted toenails.
I had thought one look at me and it would be love at first sight. It’s how it always went in the fairy tales. I had felt … scared. His raised voice was harsh, his eyes held something that was so dark. I shiver now and get off the bed. I know the cold isn’t coming from the soft breeze that comes from the opened double windows, but I’m going to pretend it is.
The window bay is large and one single reading chair sits in a stream of light. Like someone took the time to watch what way the sun fell and positioned it there. Red velvet curtains hang either side, reminding me of the curtains on a stage. I close the windows and stare out onto the gardens. They are endless, a maze of plants and flowers. I see an actual maze made from a hedge far beyond the lawns. It’s just like the one I’ve seen in the storybook Alice in wonderland.
“Hi, Ella, who isn’t Bella.” Hannah knocks softly on my door as she speaks. Her smile is still wide. “May I come in?” She bites down on a red plump lip after she speaks. I know I shouldn’t but I also have to watch my P’s and Q’s. Mother’s orders.
“Of course.” I turn away from the window fully and slip on my beige heels. I didn’t want to appear sloppy. I need all the girls to know that I am a real threat in this competition.
“All the girls are talking about Lucas.” She wiggles her eyebrows, as she kicks off her shoes and sits on my bed. She is messing up my room. I can’t help but bend down and pick up her shoes, placing them alongside the high skirting board. That is much better.
“What are they saying?” I can’t stop the curiosity I feel.
“How gorgeous he is? Vicky said she’s going to sleep with him first.”
My stomach sours at her words. “Who is Vicky?”
“Oh, yeah. You haven’t met the other girls. All seven of us are here now. So Vicky is the tall one, you can’t miss her.” She bites her lip again as she smiles, it’s like she’s trying to contain herself.
“I thought Lucas was rude.” I quickly cover my mouth once the words leave them. Oh my God. “Please don’t…”
She’s laughing. “Don’t worry. I think he was rude too. But he’s still hot.”
A smile pulls at my lips. “He is very handsome.”
Silence in the room feels uncomfortable. I don’t want to break it. I shouldn’t be speaking to her in the first place. I can’t encourage this. Whatever this actually is.
A small blond head pops around my open door. “Ladies. We finally get to meet him.” She steps fully into the room. She’s pretty too, with a wave in her blond hair that reaches her shoulders. She isn’t in a dress like Hannah and I. Instead, she wears a pair of high-waist white trousers, and tucked into the waistband is a simple black shirt. She looks sophisticated and older. All of a sudden I feel childish in my green dress.
Hannah slides off the bed. Her cheeks flushed. “Well, Ella and I have already met him.”
I glance at Hannah, wondering why I've been brought into this conversation.
“Is that so?” The blond-haired girl stares at me and her once soft blue eyes now seem a bit sharper.
“Well, he walked into the drawing-room when we were there.”
I glance behind the blond girl as four more girls wait to hear what I have to say.
My stomach twists and I curse Hannah. “What did he say?” A brunette steps into my room, she is so tall.
“That’s Vicky,” Hannah says with a wink.