Her Borrowed Life

and my personal study were located. My breakfast was a cold piece of toast and weak coffee, a stark contrast to the feast laid out for Julian. It was a pet

cking a stone against a wall. He looked

the library," I said, s

issus Gable con

lets her." It wa

uld see the faint bruise forming on his arm where the governess had grabbed him last ni

ried to wheedle her way back into Julian'

her dismiss a maid with a cruel word for being too slow. I saw the fear in the eyes of the staff when she passed. She wasn't just

After putting Leo to bed, she would retire t

m and opened the do

n her hand. She looked up, startled, then

ng of this intrusi

d locked it. The click of the

at," I said, my voice

a hint of unease creeping into her co

r chair, forcing her to crane her neck to look up at me. "You will never, ever lay a hand on that boy a

thority here. Mr. Vance trusts me complet

even temporary amuse

rabbed her glass of sherry, and poured th

sherry dripped down her face and onto h

o her collarbone. She was surprisingly frail up close. "You think because I'm a woman, I'll fight yo

a small side table, knocking over a lamp with a crash

ly warning. The next time you hurt him, I will hurt you.

, the smell of alcohol a

on," I said, my voice

jerky, te

pened it. I paused and looked back at her, a pathetic, sherry-soaked heap

n't been with a quiet conversation. It had been with a locked door, a ruined dress, and a very clear threat. Leo wasn't the only one who looked sho