The Vanity of Roses

by Lily White

  After using the bathroom, I’d climbed back into bed, my body sore from what we’d done the night before, my thoughts racing as to what it could all mean.

  He’d carried me up here, I remembered that. But I was so tired, I must have fallen asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

  I breathed deep as I buried my nose into the sheets, the rich, earthy scent of his body still present despite my being alone in the room.

  Time passed, minutes becoming an hour with no knock on the door and no instructions as to what I should do. Would I be a maid today? Or would I be locked away?

  I had no clue, and after enough time passed, I crawled from bed to search for a uniform or anything that would guide me to the answer. The only thing I found were my suitcases.

  Starving by that point, I dressed in my normal clothes and left the room, taking care to peek out the door before fully exiting just in case a guard stood by to force me back in, or worse, Franklin was around to snap at me.

  Unsure what was going on with my uncle, I crept out to find the common area of the family suites was empty, the halls quiet as I made my way downstairs.

  I reached the staff dining hall to find that everybody had already moved along to whatever task they’d been assigned that day. But there was still food in the breakfast bar, so I made myself a plate and was halfway finished eating when a voice caused me to jump in place.

  “Is there a reason you’re eating in here this morning?”

  Twisting around, I saw Gretchen walking toward me, the click of her shoes finally grabbing my attention.

  I must have been tired to miss that sound. It was so distinctively her that I would always associate it with a woman who ran a tight ship while also building my spirit during moments when all I saw was darkness.

  “Good morning,” I answered after swallowing a bite of toast.

  “I assumed I should be in here because nobody came to tell me what I should be doing this morning.”

  Giving her a pointed look as she rounded the table to sit down opposite me, I dropped my fork to my plate and sat back.

  Gretchen stared across at me, an amused glimmer in her eyes despite the scowl that was also distinctively her. Her silver hair was pulled into a strict bun, her deep navy blue shirt bringing out the blue color of her eyes.

  I’d never paid attention to her facial features before, but I noticed then that she was a beautiful woman, age doing nothing to hide a bone structure that I was certain had captivated men when she was younger.

  “How are you feeling this morning? I heard you were released from your punishment in the lower floors.”

  Heat tinged my cheeks a healthy pink, my thoughts racing back to the punishment Callan gave me during the hours we spent alone in the dungeon.

  As if intuiting my thoughts, Gretchen’s eyes scanned my skin where it was exposed, most likely looking for more of the marks Callan often leaves during sex.

  She wouldn’t find any new ones, at least not in places visible to her eye.

  “I’m good, a little confused, though.”

  “Why’s that?”

  Fidgeting in my seat, I looked around the dining hall, unable to hold her stare for long.

  “I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be doing. It’s weird not having an escort.”

  Soft laughter shook her shoulders.

  “You’re a Rose, Lisbeth. Not a maid. Not a slave. Callan came to me this morning and explained that you’ve been restored your freedom.”

  Shock stilled me in place. My first thought was that this was a trick...a test of sorts. Much like the night Isabelle offered to help me escape. Although Callan and I didn’t discuss it, the signs were clear after I’d been caught.

  Even if this was a test, it wasn’t one I would fail again. Not that it was due to fear of Callan, but because three days locked in a room had given me enough time to realize I didn’t want to be away from him.

  “Why?” I finally asked, unsure what to think or do.

  “My advice? Don’t ask too many questions. My opinion, however, is that Callan has finally realized what all of us already knew.”

  “What’s that?”

  She gave me a funny look, practically calling me an idiot without saying the word aloud.

  “He loves you, Lisbeth. Always has. Regardless of whatever war you two have been fighting, I happen to think the feeling is mutual on both sides.”

  If the way my heart hammered to think of him were anything to say about it, she was right.

  Silence ticked past while Gretchen and I sat in comfortable silence. She watched me with what I believed was pride behind her eyes. Why that was, I didn’t know. I hadn’t accomplished anything special.

  Unable to bear the quiet, I confessed, “I don’t know what to do.”

  Her eyes snapped to mine, the scowl fading when her lips twitched at the corners.

  “What do you mean?”

  Tossing up my hands, I leaned back in my seat and laughed to myself.

  “I have nothing to do. Am I supposed to wander around all day?”

  A gentle smile.

  “Careful. It sounds like you actually enjoyed being a maid.”

  I didn’t hate it. Maybe at first, but eventually the easy friendship I’d found with Holly made the hours move fast. The work wasn’t unbearable, and there was an odd sense of accomplishment in it.

  If being a Rose meant my days would be filled with walking around on my own and having nobody to talk to, I wasn’t sure I wanted my freedom back. It reminded me too much of my childhood, of the loneliness that crept in every time I realized I was a bauble to be showed off by parents who never really loved me or spent time with me.

  “I think I did,” I answered, a smile stretching my lips.

  “Do you enjoy what you do? Working all the time? Have you always managed a household?”

  A shadow fell behind her eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

  “Not always. Believe it or not, my employment with the Rose family is the first time I’ve been in charge.”

  I didn’t remember Gretchen from my childhood. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t here. It wasn’t often I paid much attention to the staff. The only servant I ever noticed was Callan.

  “When did you start working here?”

  Her hand went to her necklace to slowly move the charm back and forth over the chain.

  “Franklin hired me shortly after the night of your ball. After the unfortunate loss of so many staff members, Edward and I worked diligently to find replacements. And,” she said shrugging a delicate shoulder, “I’ve been here ever since. I watched Callan grow up from a fifteen year old boy into the man he’s become.”

  “He’s different,” I said, my voice almost a whisper on the observation.

  “Now, I mean. He’s not the same person he was from when I knew him.”

  “We all change.”

  Tapping her palm on the table, she straightened in her seat and asked, “What will you do with your day, Ms. Rose?”

  “Don’t call me that.”

  It was the first time I saw Gretchen smile.

  “You’re technically my boss now. I’m only showing you respect.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Respect is earned.”

  Silence, and then, “Yes, it is. And you’ve earned it from me.”

  Surprised by the comment, my brows tugged together. “I haven’t done anything.”

  Another slash of the charm against the chain.

  “You’ve done more than you know. But then, from the moment I first met you, I knew you were stronger than you looked. It only took a little prodding on my part to remind you.”

  Nodding, I stood from my seat.

  “I guess I should figure out some way to fill my time. Do you know where Callan is?”

  Gretchen remained seated, her eyes tipping up to me with an odd smile stretching her lips.

  “He’s in the gym. There’s a fight tomorrow.”

  My heart sank at the thought.
“Is he-“

  “I believe Jacob will be in the ring. You have nothing to worry about.”

  A sigh of relief blew out of me.

  “Then I guess I shouldn’t bother him.”

  I glanced at Gretchen and grinned. “Would I be allowed to steal Holly for the day? She could keep me company.”

  The scowl was back.

  “She’s working, and we don’t show favoritism in this house. Not the way I run it.”

  “But I’m your boss now.”

  She shook her head in disbelief when I wiggled my eyebrows as a tease.

  “Nice try. You’ll have to find something else to do, at least until Holly is done for the day.”

  “Fine,” I grumbled, her soft laughter following me as I left the dining hall to wander around.

  After fifteen minutes of walking the halls and growing bored, I decided to head downstairs to the dungeon to see if Haley could talk.

  As soon as I stepped foot inside the main area, my cheeks blushed to see Colton working with one of the women, the open intimacy jarring.

  She didn’t notice me as I rushed through, but I didn’t miss how Colton’s eyes lifted to watch me walk through the room, his brows pulling together in confusion.

  Refusing to fully look their direction, I ran down the hall to the bedrooms, the door to Haley’s pulling open before I finished knocking.

  Her eyes widened and her lips stretched into a wicked grin.

  “You’re back! Come in.”

  She practically dragged me across the room to sit on her bed. “So?”

  “So, what?”

  Rolling her eyes, she smacked at my leg.

  “Spill. What happened last night? I’ve been thinking all about that sexy hunk of man ever since he waltzed in last night and all but claimed you.”

  Her gaze shot to the door and back to me, her voice lowering to a whisper.

  “Between you and me, Isabelle is probably planning your murder. She was pissed. Especially after we were told to go to our rooms to leave the dungeon empty.”

  Her brows jumped. “That’s why I know you have a story to tell.”

  Although she was right that there was a story, she was wrong in thinking I would admit all the details.

  I shrugged a shoulder as if it were no big deal.

  “We made up, I guess. I found out this morning that I’m free to do whatever I want. I’m officially a Rose again.”

  Leaning back against a wall, Haley’s eyes rounded.

  “Holy shit. You must suck a good dick to make something like that happen. Scrambled his brain good. I’ll have to come to you for tips.”

  My cheeks were on fire. “Shut up.”

  “Seriously, though. What are you going to do now that you’re officially a Rose? Go shopping all day? Arrange tea parties? Do whatever it is the hoity-toity of the world do? Forget all about us in the process?”

  She was describing my mother, and the thought of becoming like the woman that raised me didn’t sit well.

  I’d always appreciated Mom for keeping me from being sold off by my father, but that didn’t make her a saint. She was mostly absent my entire childhood, and she’d damn near ruined me after spending everything we had while on the run.

  “No. I have no interest in that. Honestly, I have no clue what I’ll do now. I haven’t had a lot of time to think about it.”

  “You know what I’d do?”

  I stared at her, a grin stretching my lips to see the mischief in her face. “What?”

  “Raise hell. That and spy on the men around here. One, in particular.”

  Haley told me about her relationship with Jacob the first night we met, and it was obvious she adored him. It only made my stomach sink to know his life was in danger.

  “He’s fighting tomorrow night.”

  While I was nervous, she didn’t appear fazed by the threat.

  “I know. Who do you think is the slave girl being given to him once he walks out of there?”

  My thoughts went to the night I watched Callan carry Isabelle out of the ring. It had only been a week, but it felt like an eternity ago.

  “What’s that like? Having to face them after they’ve-“

  “Killed someone?”

  I nodded. “Yes.”

  “Fucking amazing.”

  At the shock in my face, she winked. “Seriously, you have no idea. Seeing them come at you with sweat and blood covering their bodies, the adrenaline making every muscle flex and shift, it’s a sight. But then I get to be the lucky girl that bleeds away Jacob’s aggression. Let’s just say it’s difficult to walk the following morning, but in a good way.”

  I laughed, a flutter in my stomach at the thought of watching Callan come toward me like that.

  “Do you really want to spy? I was told the guys are in the gym now.”

  She sighed. “Good luck getting me past Colton.”

  Haley must have been a devil on my shoulder. Being around her made me want to test my limits.

  “I mean, I am a Rose. I think that makes me Colton’s boss.”

  Her lips stretched into a mischievous grin. “No shit. It does, doesn’t it?”

  Jumping up to her feet, she grabbed my hand to tug me along behind her. “Let’s go test the theory, shall we?”

  Why did it feel like I was about to get my ass tossed down here permanently? Unsure how Callan would react to me breaking the rules, I was too wrapped up in Haley’s enthusiasm to say no.

  “Let’s do this.”

  She laughed and led me out into the hall, her arm wrapping with mine as we walked through the main room toward the door.

  Colton looked up from the woman again, his body straightening as he called out, “Exactly where do you think you’re going?”

  Haley and I stopped in place, her green eyes looking to me for an answer.

  Tilting my chin with as much authority as I could, I said, “I’m taking Haley upstairs with me. And I’m a Rose, so I don’t think you have the right to question-“

  “Laying it on a bit thick there, aren’t you?” Colton grinned. “Whatever. Have fun.”

  Haley and I glanced at each other, both of us moving quickly to leave the room.

  As soon as we burst into the hall, we broke down laughing. It took a few minutes to gather ourselves again, our arms linking together as we practically ran down the hall to see what type of trouble we could get into next.

  Callan

  Jacob swung out at me, and I dodged left, easily countering his strike with my own. His body pulled back at the hit, eyes narrowing on me as he lunged forward again only for me to dodge him. It was pissing me off.

  “What the fuck is going on with you?”

  My voice was tense, my anger practically boiling after the conversation I had with Franklin that morning.

  In the mood I was in, it would have been better to have Connor spar with Jacob this morning, but I decided to step in instead, if for no other reason than to bleed out some of the aggression inside me.

  Jacob’s eyes met mine as he bounced back, his fingers stretching before curling into a fist again.

  “Me?”

  We circled each other, sweat dripping down our bodies from the hours we’d spent fighting already.

  Toward the back, Connor watched silently, a quiet presence that waited his turn for the day he’d first walk into the ring.

  “Nothing is going on with me,” Jacob answered, his fist shooting out to barely catch me on the shoulder.

  “You’re the one being an asshole today.”

  I laughed, catching him off guard when I lunged forward to sink a well-placed hit to his gut. It wasn’t enough to hurt him. I’d restrained the force behind it. But I didn’t appreciate how I’d been able to land such a critical punch.

  “You’re fighting for real tomorrow. Don’t think the guy you’ll face is less of an asshole than me.”

  I shoved him back when he came for me again, our bodies colliding and sliding off one another as we retook our po
sitions to start again.

  Behind us, feminine laughter burst out, Jacob’s eyes scanning right toward the sound. I took advantage and lunged forward again, catching his foot with mine to trip him and take him down.

  Jacob fell like a sack of rocks, but his teeth slammed together, a low groan climbing up his throat before he signaled for me to step back.

  “Fuck!”

  He sat up to grab his ankle, his jaw ticking furiously.

  “Son of a bitch. What the fuck was that?”

  Chest and shoulders moving with heavy breath, I looked down at him just as Haley came running into the room.

  “Jacob?”

  She went to her knees beside him, and I turned to find Lisbeth standing at the doorway to the room, her eyes dancing between Jacob and me.

  Pissed that Jacob’s focus had broken enough for me to take him down, I snapped at Lisbeth, my voice far too harsh.

  “What are you doing here?”

  Lisbeth jumped at the tone of my voice, backing up so that half of her was hidden behind the doorway.

  Below me, Haley was whispering to Jacob, her hands going to his ankle that he shoved away.

  “Is it broken?”

  Jacob’s eyes lifted to mine. “No. Just give me a second.”

  “Haley, get the fuck out of the way.”

  She shot a look at me, her expression tight with fear. Without hesitating more than that, she jumped away from Jacob while I reached down to grab his hand and pull him up.

  Once on the foot, he limped back, his teeth gritting.

  It was all I needed to make a decision I knew he’d hate.

  “You’re not fighting tomorrow,” I barked, unable to control the anger in my voice.

  “The hell I’m not.”

  My eyes shot down to study his ankle. Already there was swelling.

  Ignoring the look Jacob gave me, I shook my head and turned to Connor.

  “Get your hands taped and come back to spar with me. You’re going in place of Jacob tomorrow.”

  Jacob rushed forward at me, but the second his injured foot hit the ground, he fell back. “Goddammit.”