Millie turned their hands over and kissed the back of Veronica’s hand. “I don’t mind. Please stay.”
Veronica feathered her hand over Millie’s brush cut. “I’ll stay.” She glanced at the clock on the dresser. “We missed staff meal. And you made me hungry. You have anything to eat?”
“I’ve some crisps, and I’m pretty sure there is a tin of soup in the kitchen.”
“You know how to woo a woman, don’t you?”
Millie laughed and left the bed. “I know you aren’t with me for my cooking skills.”
Veronica crooked her finger. Millie leaned down and rested her palms on either side of the mattress, framing her. Veronica cupped her cheek and kissed her. “Nah, but I sure as hell like your other skills.” She deepened their kiss.
Millie broke their kiss and raised an eyebrow. “You kiss me again and we’ll never get to the crisps. Or the soup.”
Veronica slid out from under Millie’s arms and crossed to the bathroom. “I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”
She finished in the bathroom. She plucked Millie’s shirt off the floor and pulled it over her head. Veronica lifted the collar to her nose and inhaled the faint sent of Millie that clung to the shirt. Her stomach rumbled. She gave up on finding her briefs and followed the delicious scent of beef and potatoes to the kitchen.
MILLIE WORE A black tank top and her faded jeans rode low on her hips as she stirred a small red pot of soup. The smell of potatoes and beef filled the tiny space that served as the kitchen.
“Beef stew?” Veronica peered into the pan.
“Scotch Broth. Barley, potatoes, beef, mutton, peas, carrots, some onion.”
“Sounds like my grandma’s beef stew, except she doesn’t put mutton or barley in hers.” Veronica’s stomach growled.
Millie pointed at two bowls on the counter. “Hand me those and I’ll serve. I lived on this at Uni.”
Veronica passed her two bowls and Millie ladled the soup into them. “Spoons?”
“Top drawer. Crisps are in the cupboard.”
Veronica collected two spoons and pulled a lurid orange and yellow bag from the cupboard. “Nik-Naks Nice ’n’ Spicy. What the hell are these things? Nice and Spicy. What does that mean? Are they really?”
Millie tilted her head at Veronica. “You’ve been here four months and not had Nik-Naks?”
“I’ve been a little busy.” Veronica rested a hand on her hip, raised an eyebrow, and met Millie’s gaze.
Millie shook her head. “Forgive me. I have been remiss in your education.” Her put-on posh accent made Veronica laugh.
Millie stuffed two napkins in her back pocket and picked up their bowls and led the way to the couch. She placed the bowls on the table in front of the sofa before she sat down. Veronica tossed the bag of crisps to her. “Should I get us something to drink?”
Millie inclined her head toward the refrigerator. “If you like beer I have some.”
Veronica removed two cans from the refrigerator. “Tennent’s. That’ll do.”
She placed the two cans on the table and then passed a spoon to Millie. They ate in companionable silence.
Veronica spooned the thick soup into her mouth. Too hungry to savor it, she finished her serving hastily and placed her empty bowl on the table. “That was good.” She wiped her mouth with her napkin before she stuck her hand in the bag of crisps. She pulled one out and eyed it before taking a bite. “Back home we’d call this a chip, and these are not so spicy.” She took another crisp, ate it, and chased it with a sip of beer.
Millie pulled the bag toward her and fished a crisp from the bag. “See. Now you know what you’ve been missing.” She ate her crisp in two bites and leaned back on the couch and finished the last of her soup. She placed the bowl on the end table before she turned to Veronica and trailed a finger down her shoulder. “I like you in my shirt.”
“That’s good because I couldn’t find mine.”
Millie picked up her beer and tilted the top toward Veronica. “You look like you want to say something.”
Veronica glanced up at the ceiling before she brought her gaze back to Millie’s eyes. “My sister’s wedding is in November.”
“And? Are you worried about time off? I’m sure we could cover the stables. Martha would have final say, but I’m sure she’d approve it.”
“It’s not that. I mean it is, sort of. But I don’t want to go.”
Millie frowned. “Why? You and your sister are close, right?”
“What I meant was I don’t want to go by myself.”
Millie pressed her lips together in a firm line. “You have to go.”
“I know. I’m going to go. Would you go with me? I’d like you to meet my family.” She studied Millie’s expression.
A flash of anxiety crossed her face before her expression shuttered. “No. I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?” Veronica lifted her beer from the table and rolled it between her hands.
“I’m not so good with parents.”
“Oh. Um. Okay.” Veronica took a quick swallow of her beer to stem the burning sadness in her throat. “Just a thought.”
Millie circled the edge of her beer can with her fingertips. “You’ve made friends here. Maybe someone else would go with you.”
Veronica’s stomach clenched. Not enough. Loves me but not enough to meet my family. “Yeah, sure. I’ll figure it out.” She tipped her beer back and finished it in one long swallow.
VERONICA GLANCED AT the barn clock. Shouldn’t have had a second cup of coffee with Millie. She forced her thoughts away from Millie’s refusal and the accompanying ache in her chest. She settled the saddle pad over Luna’s back.
“Don’t bother tacking Bella.” Elaine’s wicked-sharp voice cut the air. “Roxy will not be joining me today. Or any day.”
Veronica stepped around Luna to ask why. Elaine’s face was pale, jaw clenched, her shoulders rigid. Her glare was the coldest thing Veronica had ever seen, and she turned away from it. “Uh. Okay.”
Elaine huffed out a breath. “I’ll wait outside.”
Veronica placed the saddle on Luna’s back and tightened the girth. Moving steadily, she replaced her halter with the bridle and buckled it in place.
She tucked Elaine’s hard hat under her arm and led Luna out to the mounting block.
Elaine was pacing with her hands clasped behind her back. She glanced up when Veronica and Luna appeared. Without a word she stopped and mounted the block, her hands on her hips.
Veronica walked Luna to the block and Elaine mounted her horse. After settling herself into her saddle, she leaned down and adjusted her stirrups before she picked up the reins.
“When should I expect you back?” Veronica released her hold on Luna’s bridle.
“When I get here.” Elaine’s voice dripped acid. “I don’t recall having a curfew.”
Stung by Elaine’s attitude and tone, Veronica silently offered Elaine her hard hat.
Elaine waved it away. “Not today. I’m not in the mood.”
Veronica frowned at her. “To be safe?”
“We all have to die of something.” Elaine’s voice was raw. She dug her heels in, Luna responded, and they charged out of the yard and through the front gate. Luna’s hooves clattered on the drive, Elaine bent low over her neck, her flame-red hair trailing loose behind her.
Veronica clutched the hard hat in her hands as she watched Elaine until she rode out of sight. Where’s Roxy? What the hell happened? Should I go after her?
VERONICA TOED OFF her boots and placed them under the peg for her jacket. The smell of fresh baked bread made her mouth water. She washed her hands in the small lavatory off the mudroom and hurried into the kitchen. “That’s the best smell in the world.” She grinned at Robin as she took her seat at the table. “Second only to good coffee brewing.”
Robin gave her a tight smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Coffee’s ready, and I’m glad someone’s in a good mood today.”
“I saw Elaine off on her ride. I’ve never seen her like that. What the hell happened?” Veronica poured herself a cup of coffee and helped herself to a thick slice of bread.
Robin shifted her gaze from Veronica’s face. “Roxy’s leaving.”
“What? Why?” Veronica spread butter over the slice of bread on her plate.
“I don’t know.” Robin traced her finger over the wood grain on the table. “If Elaine asked me to wear her collar…” Robin blushed. “I’m gossiping, and I promised myself I wouldn’t.”
Veronica touched the back of Robin’s hand. “Sorry I asked. You care for her, don’t you?”
Robin quirked her mouth. “Does it show?”
“Only a bit, and your secret’s safe with me.”
“I owe her so much. I don’t know what would have happened to me if she hadn’t given me a second chance.” Robin stood and wiped her hands on her side towel. “I’ve got to start on the chocolate tarts for dinner. I promised Mistress Lucia I’d make them.”
“Will I be in your way here?” Veronica took another sip of coffee.
“No. I’d like the company if you don’t mind talking to my back while I work. Myfanwy is otherwise occupied this morning.” The wistful tone in Robin’s voice was unmistakable.
Veronica smeared her bread with butter. “I don’t mind, and I’m half starved.”
“I noticed you and Millie missed staff meal last night.” Robin glanced over her shoulder at Veronica and smiled, a real smile this time. “I trust it was worth it.”
Veronica flushed. “Yes. And no. She won’t go to my sister’s wedding with me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Would you go?” Veronica hated the pathetic sound of her voice.
Robin turned from the butter she had been chopping into small bits. “I can’t leave here. It’s not safe for me.”
“Why?” Veronica placed her coffee cup in its saucer. “What do you mean?” Her skin prickled with goose flesh.
“I was forcibly involved in a scheme to extort money from the house. I confessed to Martha, told her everything I knew. The people behind it were not happy.” Her voice grew quiet. “They found the other woman involved, or rather what was left of her, in a barrel of acid in a Glasgow warehouse.”
“That’s horrible.” Veronica sat back in her chair, appetite gone. Fear twisted inside her like a living thing.
“I was afraid Martha and Elaine would turn me in or take matters into their own hands after I confessed, but Mistress Elaine gave me a place here. She saw the good in me even if I showed her the bad first.” Robin peered at Veronica from under her lashes, her chin on her chest. “Do you think differently of me? Now you know?”
“No. Robin, look at me.” Veronica met Robin’s gaze. “You’re my friend. You’ve been kind to me since I got here—well, after you stopped being afraid of me.”
Robin chuckled. “You have to admit you can be very intimidating.”
Veronica smiled. “You mean stuck up? Acting like I was better than anyone else here?”
Robin snorted. “You weren’t so bad. Ashley was far worse and still is.”
“Do you think Millie is afraid of meeting my family? Afraid it’s too soon?”
“I think Millie is like all of us with a past we’d like to forget. I can’t leave here, at least not until Miss Pomroy has taken care of things.”
Veronica shuddered as she remembered Jaya’s warning when she signed her contract and imagined the way Jaya would take care of things.
Robin pushed up the long sleeve of her chef coat. Track marks and small scars stood out under the bright kitchen lights. “But even then, I’ll be worried I’ll run into someone who remembers me from before. Someone who’ll remember me as a young girl, working on dirty street corners and in back alleys trying to feed my habit. I can’t speak for Millie, but maybe she needs to know you won’t be swayed by your family’s opinion, you won’t change your mind no matter what they think of her.”
Veronica stood up and walked to Robin and gave her a quick hug. “Thanks for breakfast. And the advice.”
Chapter Sixteen
VERONICA ROLLED BACK the door to the barn. Luna’s tack was on the rack by the crossties. White lines of dried sweat edged the saddle; stark evidence of how hard Elaine had pushed Luna on their ride. Several grooming brushes were scattered along the bench. She picked them up and replaced them in the grooming box and tidied the area around the crossties. She heard murmurings coming from Luna’s stall. She walked softly until she reached her stall. Elaine was standing next to Luna, her forehead resting on the horse’s shoulder. Her clothes were mud-splattered, her hair wild and tangled about her shoulders.
Turn around. Don’t intrude. Let her work it out. She’s hurting. Damn. I’d want someone to ask, to listen.
“Come to see how the mighty have fallen?” Elaine kept her back turned to Veronica.
“No. I came to see if a friend needed to talk. I’m sorry about Roxy.” Veronica took a step into the stall.
Elaine turned to her. “I don’t need your sympathy. And since when am I your friend?” She glared at Veronica.
“Wasn’t offering sympathy.” Veronica glared back. “And fine, but you sure look like you could use a friend.”
Elaine snorted. “You would be the first person to ever express that opinion.”
“Well, you don’t make it easy, but you’re still less intimidating than my former roommate, Tiny, so whatever.” Veronica tilted her head at Elaine and smiled. “Come on, even the hardest ass needs to soften up sometimes.”
Elaine laughed then, a genuine laugh. “Are you offering to soften my ass up?”
Veronica rubbed the back of her neck with her hand. “No. We’ve established that is not happening, but I’m happy to listen, if you want.” She met Elaine’s gaze. “I truly am sorry about Roxy leaving.”
Elaine shifted her gaze to the floor. “As am I.” She clenched her fists. “I can’t believe she…”
Veronica waited.
Elaine lifted her face to Veronica. “You have anything to drink in this barn?”
“Millie showed me the emergency supplies the first day I was here. Come on.”
Elaine latched Luna’s stall door and followed her down the aisle.
Veronica opened the door to the office, tugged open the bottom file cabinet drawer, extracted a bottle of Talisker and two squat glasses. Elaine threw herself on the sofa and draped her arm over her forehead. Veronica had to stifle a giggle at her theatrics as she poured two glasses of the whisky.
“Here.” She offered one to Elaine.
With an aggrieved sigh Elaine pushed herself to a sitting position and took the glass from Veronica. Her fingers were white where she gripped the tumbler as she tipped the glass back and took a large sip. Veronica studied the large irregular scar covering the back of her hand, the edges pink in contrast to the shiny white scar tissue. The scar flowed over her wrist and disappeared under the sleeve of her shirt.
Hell of a fire. That is some burn. Veronica sat on the opposite end of the battered sofa and tucked a leg under her as she turned to study Elaine.
Elaine pursed her lips. “I should have seen it coming. Roxy leaving.” She lowered her chin to her chest. “Do you know what she said?” Elaine took another sip of her whisky. “She said I wasn’t committed. Said I couldn’t commit to a chair let alone a person. Bitch.”
Veronica took a sip of her whisky, savoring the smooth sweetness and slight burn as she swallowed.
“She said…” Elaine took another big swallow of her whisky and emptied her glass. With an imperious nod of her head she indicated Veronica should refill it.
Veronica scrambled from the couch, grabbed the bottle off the desk, and refilled Elaine’s glass.
“Leave the bottle.”
Veronica placed the bottle on the floor next to Elaine’s muddy boots.
Elaine tilted the glass back and chugged it.
A waste of good whisky, but I’m not buying so
whatever. Veronica balanced her drink on the arm of the couch.
Elaine picked up the bottle and refilled her glass. “She told me she never said anything about wanting to wear my collar or be exclusive.” She turned and faced Veronica. “She laughed when I asked her to stay, to wear my collar.” Elaine shook her head and blew out a ragged breath, her fury palpable in the small room. “Of all the… Do you know how many women have asked to pledge to me? To be mine alone?”
“Err, a lot?” Veronica took a small sip of her drink.
“So many I’ve lost track.” Elaine took another large swallow of her drink. Her face was red now, her eyes glassy, the whisky hitting her hard. “And do you know why I never agreed?”
Veronica stared at Elaine. “No.”
“Roxy. I thought she felt the way I did. That she wanted what we had together. I thought she wanted it, to be as free, as was I.” Her sad bitter tone was back now. “I’ve never wanted to be exclusive. I love the feeling of a new conquest or an old one revisited. Damn Martha and Lucia and Myfanwy, damn them and their happy little threesome. I never thought anyone could be happy in an exclusive arrangement. Until I saw them. Every damn day, so damn happy.” Elaine twisted and glared at Veronica, a snarl on her face. “Are you and Millie committed to each other?”
Veronica frowned at Elaine’s fierce expression. “We haven’t discussed it. But I think so.”
Elaine grabbed her hand. “Don’t take her for granted. Don’t take anything for granted.” She finished her glass of whisky. She let go of Veronica’s hand and stood. She swayed as she straightened.
Veronica rose and put a hand on Elaine’s shoulder to steady her. “Let me walk you back to the house.”
Elaine pursed her lips and shook off Veronica’s hand. “No need. I’m perfectly capable of making my way to the house.” She bent over and picked up the half-empty Talikser bottle, took a step, and stumbled.
Veronica caught her before she fell. She ignored Elaine’s moue of disappointment as she took the bottle from her hand and placed it on the desk. She slung Elaine’s arm over her neck and grasped her wrist to keep it there. “What is it with everyone here drinking themselves silly when they’re upset? Why?”
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