So she is the one who is going to sleep with him first. I stand straighter now and focus on Vicky. But I’m no match for her height. She has to be over six feet.
“He was busy, so he didn’t say much,” I answer honestly.
“He was angry and it was so hot.” Hannah takes over and all the girls smile and giggle at her expression. Before they just stared at me like I was boring them to death.
“He was up in Mark's face, I thought it was going to turn into a fist fight. Ella and I witnessed the whole thing.”
I glare at Hannah and her nonsense.
She winks. “Anyway. He was only looking for Henry.”
“Who’s Henry?” Two girls ask at once.
Hannah shrugs. “A mystery we will have to solve, girls.” She claps and they all giggle.
“Well, we better get down to the drawing-room. Now we all get to meet Lucas.” The blond bats her lashes dramatically and more giggles burst forth.
I wait until everyone has left my room before running to the mirror. I look terrified. Oh, God. I take a few deep breaths before leaving my room.
We enter the drawing-room again. Vicky and another brunette sit on the Chaise Lounge. I opt for a high back leather seat. Hannah quickly sits across from me, while the blond and another two brunettes sit on a large couch at the back. We are spaced out but still close to each other. My heart drums as I sit straight and cross my legs, only to uncross them again.
Don’t fidget.
A man dressed in the same black suit that Mark wore enters the room. He must have been in his eighties. He smiles kindly at us all and I relax instantly.
“Thank you, ladies, for gathering. Master Lucas will be with you shortly.” Two more ladies arrive, dressed in black skirts and tops. They hold trays high above their heads.
I accept the drink that is offered to me, but I can’t take my eyes off the door, waiting and hoping that we get to see Master Lucas, the gentleman. Everyone has a bad moment. Maybe Henry, whoever he was, really upset Master Lucas. Maybe that’s why he was so angry.
Once everyone has a drink, the ladies leave the room, the door closes behind them and the old man still stands at the head of the room. I place my drink on a small table to my right. My stomach is too queasy to accept the liquid.
“A few rules before we get started.” Everyone quiets down.
“We don’t allow phones or any other technological devices during the selection period.”
I never had a phone to begin with, so that rule didn’t bother me. As I glance at the other girls, I see their eyes widen.
“Will we hand them over now?” Vicky asks.
“All will be collected after your first meeting with Master Lucas. The second rule is you can’t leave the property without permission.”
No one says anything.
“Thirdly, you are only allowed into your assigned rooms, which are your own quarters, the drawing-room, the library, and the main kitchen. Any questions?”
“Can we watch TV?” This is from the brunette who sits beside the blonde girl. Once again I notice how pretty she is. Chocolate brown hair with matching eyes, even her skin looks like light chocolate. Her voice is soft.
“Yes, TV is permitted.” I face forward, looking away from the girl just as the door opens. My heart beats too fast and my hand flutters to my throat to try to calm it down as Lucas steps into the room.
“Master Lucas. I was just informing the ladies of the rules.” The old man smiles at Lucas, but Lucas doesn’t smile back. He looks as angry as he did earlier. When he stares up at us, his dark eyes are tight at the corners with irritation, like he really doesn’t want us here.
“You told them not to wander around my home.” His voice is deep and hostile.
I want to look at the other girls to see if their hearts are beating as hard as mine is.
“Yes, Master Lucas.” The old man sounds disappointed as he speaks.
Lucas glares at us all like we are the enemy in a war I’m not aware of. I try to smile when his dark eyes land on me and his eyes narrow. He rubs his jaw and my breath catches at his damaged hands. I can hear someone inhale quickly, so I am not the only one who noticed the cuts.
He grins, but it’s sinister and filled with loathing. For us? I’m not sure what is going on. But right now I am caught in a trap as he continues to stare at me.
“Anyone have any questions?” His deep voice rumbles through me and his words sound more like a dare.
Two beats pass and no one speaks.
“Let me introduce the ladies, Master Lucas.” The old man sweeps his arm towards us.
“If you insist, George.” Lucas’s drawl sounds bored. Each time he opens his mouth my dreams disappear at an alarming rate.
“This is Vicky O’ Sullivan.” Vicky stands at the mention of her name. But Lucas doesn’t take her hand that she raises slightly. He gives her a sharp nod and my stomach twists as she sits back down.
“This is Mary Walsh.” Mary stands and straightens her red knee-length dress. She looks pale like she might pass out. Lucas gives another nod while placing his damaged hands in front of him. I think we are all distracted by them.
“This is Ella O’ Leary.” My heart thumps as I rise and face Lucas. This moment was meant to be perfect, it was meant to be everything I had spent all my nights dreaming about, instead, he gives me a nod just like he had to the other girls. Even as my heart beats wildly, and I see George open his mouth to introduce the next girl, I take a step toward Lucas and reach out my hand. “Pleased to meet you.” I try to smile, I try to pretend that this moment is the perfect moment. He stares at my hand and my smile wobbles. I pray that he takes it.
A large warm hand encases mine, my eyes snap up to Lucas’s. He tightens his fingers around my hand igniting pain, I pull back but he won’t release my hand. I try again and this time he lets me go. I stumble back but catch my balance. Giggles erupt from the room and my eyes burn. Why would he do that? I’m staring at him as I sit down in a daze.
“This is Sandra Crowley.” George continues as if nothing just happened. The only blond amongst us stands. She sits the minute he nods. She doesn’t try, like me, to shake his hand.
“This is Hannah Fitzgerald.” I don’t look at Hannah as she stands. “You can call me Ann.” She doesn’t sound as happy as she normally does and when I glance at her our eyes meet. Her plump red lips are turned down.
Hannah sits without looking at him.
“This is Jessie O’Connor.” The beautiful girl with the chocolate skin stands and then the final girl is introduced.
“This is Bernie Collins.” Bernie rises and quickly sits back down. Lucas doesn’t miss a beat, he’s out the door and the silence that is left in the drawing-room is suffocating.
CHAPTER FOUR
LUCAS
The lights are dim as I enter the basement. Chairs are being set up in a circle. Half of the floor is slated, the recent coat of fresh gloss is making my shadow stretch out in front of me.
A fresh coat of paint was recently given to the one wall that wasn’t stone. Yet, it still didn’t disguise the smell that I think would forever remind me of Declan.
George is here. He glances at me as I enter the room. He doesn’t speak. I was hoping we could avoid this painful conversation. George is old school and wouldn’t have liked how I treated the ladies. The servants, who are setting up the room, don’t raise their heads as I walk past. They continue to keep setting up the room, yet they stiffen as I pass. With my father not here, I was now their leader. Not everyone liked it, especially the older members, but they had no power to say otherwise.