would be the first, and she knew that the verdict was not yet in on her induction.
They
did
need her. She felt it deeply. They needed her, and even more girls in training, for there was an entire side of life that the male Liars were excluded from. Rose knew that a wife, a sister, a daughter, could be every bit as involved in traitorous activities as a man, yet who would see those activities but another woman? Especially an invisible woman like a housemaid.
So much depended upon her success within the club. Her deeds would decide a great deal for the women behind her, and she felt the weight of that keenly. It wasn't fair, nor even especially sound, but it was true all the same.
So it was with knee-knocking dread that she waited for Collis to join them.
Chapter Five
« ^ »
Collis tossed his coat and hat to Denny, then turned to face the parlor doors. The Sergeant stood at hand to open them for him, as if he were a stranger in his own house.
When he entered to see Rose's pale face among the others, he wished he'd come in with her. Her usual saucy bravado seemed quite snuffed out. He ought not to have made her face the lion's den alone.
He felt a vibration against his hip and looked down to see his dead hand trembling slightly at his side. Perhaps he was a tad nervous as well. Smoothly he clasped his hands behind his back, although he usually tried to avoid the strange sensation of feeling only half his own handclasp. He smiled winningly at all concerned. Full gallop forward, even over a cliff.
"I do hope I didn't keep you all waiting?" He went on without waiting for a response. "Good. Now, what may I do for you all this afternoon?"
Simon, at least, wasn't impressed. "You may sit. And if you are capable, you may listen."
Collis debated answering that one back, but the glint in Simon's blue eyes decided him against it. Though Simon was a bastard born, a child of the streets even beneath the level of Rose herself, he wasn't impressed by the Prince Regent, much less Collis Tremayne, former soldier and future—
Future what? Ah, that was what was being decided today, wasn't it?
Collis bowed briefly and seated himself near Rose. She continued to regard him gravely, only turning her attention away when Simon began to speak again.
"I could waste our time with a recitation of the offenses the two of you have committed on the school, but I think we've all heard enough about that. What I am concerned with is what you two intend to do about it?"
Collis didn't answer, but he saw Rose glance his way before she ventured to reply. "Clean," she said slowly. "And sew a new mat… but I have no idea how to replace the chandelier."
Simon's lips quirked, and Collis saw his expression ease as he looked at Rose. At least it didn't look as though she was in as much trouble as he was. Collis was grateful for that. He turned back to Simon. "Why don't you tell us what we are to do, sir?" He threw one arm back over his chair and crossed his ankles. "I'm sure you've thought of something suitably nasty."
Collis felt the growl coming from his uncle more than heard it.
Conduct unbecoming an Etheridge
. The familiar words thrummed inside his mind. He'd certainly heard them enough in the years since his parents had died and left him to the care of his mighty lordship.
Simon only smiled. "Dismount that high horse, Collis. You'll like this, I promise."
Dalton
spoke at last. "Actually, I'm quite sure he'll hate it. Not that I mind, of course." He left his stance at the mantel. Collis felt as if he were looking in a mirror of himself in ten years, if he were still whole and if he were decidedly more grand.
Many would only see the cool and distant outer demeanor, but Collis knew well this uncle who might as well be a brother. They shared more than the Etheridge darkness and the Etheridge eyes—they also shared that inborn sense of distance from others, one even deeper than the reserve of the average Brit.
Dalton
had overcome it after he'd
They
did
need her. She felt it deeply. They needed her, and even more girls in training, for there was an entire side of life that the male Liars were excluded from. Rose knew that a wife, a sister, a daughter, could be every bit as involved in traitorous activities as a man, yet who would see those activities but another woman? Especially an invisible woman like a housemaid.
So much depended upon her success within the club. Her deeds would decide a great deal for the women behind her, and she felt the weight of that keenly. It wasn't fair, nor even especially sound, but it was true all the same.
So it was with knee-knocking dread that she waited for Collis to join them.
Chapter Five
« ^ »
Collis tossed his coat and hat to Denny, then turned to face the parlor doors. The Sergeant stood at hand to open them for him, as if he were a stranger in his own house.
When he entered to see Rose's pale face among the others, he wished he'd come in with her. Her usual saucy bravado seemed quite snuffed out. He ought not to have made her face the lion's den alone.
He felt a vibration against his hip and looked down to see his dead hand trembling slightly at his side. Perhaps he was a tad nervous as well. Smoothly he clasped his hands behind his back, although he usually tried to avoid the strange sensation of feeling only half his own handclasp. He smiled winningly at all concerned. Full gallop forward, even over a cliff.
"I do hope I didn't keep you all waiting?" He went on without waiting for a response. "Good. Now, what may I do for you all this afternoon?"
Simon, at least, wasn't impressed. "You may sit. And if you are capable, you may listen."
Collis debated answering that one back, but the glint in Simon's blue eyes decided him against it. Though Simon was a bastard born, a child of the streets even beneath the level of Rose herself, he wasn't impressed by the Prince Regent, much less Collis Tremayne, former soldier and future—
Future what? Ah, that was what was being decided today, wasn't it?
Collis bowed briefly and seated himself near Rose. She continued to regard him gravely, only turning her attention away when Simon began to speak again.
"I could waste our time with a recitation of the offenses the two of you have committed on the school, but I think we've all heard enough about that. What I am concerned with is what you two intend to do about it?"
Collis didn't answer, but he saw Rose glance his way before she ventured to reply. "Clean," she said slowly. "And sew a new mat… but I have no idea how to replace the chandelier."
Simon's lips quirked, and Collis saw his expression ease as he looked at Rose. At least it didn't look as though she was in as much trouble as he was. Collis was grateful for that. He turned back to Simon. "Why don't you tell us what we are to do, sir?" He threw one arm back over his chair and crossed his ankles. "I'm sure you've thought of something suitably nasty."
Collis felt the growl coming from his uncle more than heard it.
Conduct unbecoming an Etheridge
. The familiar words thrummed inside his mind. He'd certainly heard them enough in the years since his parents had died and left him to the care of his mighty lordship.
Simon only smiled. "Dismount that high horse, Collis. You'll like this, I promise."
Dalton
spoke at last. "Actually, I'm quite sure he'll hate it. Not that I mind, of course." He left his stance at the mantel. Collis felt as if he were looking in a mirror of himself in ten years, if he were still whole and if he were decidedly more grand.
Many would only see the cool and distant outer demeanor, but Collis knew well this uncle who might as well be a brother. They shared more than the Etheridge darkness and the Etheridge eyes—they also shared that inborn sense of distance from others, one even deeper than the reserve of the average Brit.
Dalton
had overcome it after he'd
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