"That man sold me out," I protested after everyone has left the table, with only Midas and I staying behind.
"That's what I told him to say," Midas informed me coolly, as if it was no big deal.
"Why would you do that?" I cried out. "Were you trying to convince my parents that I can run a whorehouse?"
"I think they know that themselves. I don't need to convince them of anything. What I need to know how we can help that girl, Lin. Madeline seems to think you have something to say," he casually said, brushing away my words.
I held my tongue. "The first option would be to try and talk to Mother about it but she doesn't like it when people interfere. She probably isn't happy with how this was all discussed over breakfast."
Midas leaned forward. "Aimee was the one who approached me with the matter. Lucas will not stop bothering me with her girl. She has to be sent away?"
"It looks to me like you didn't do enough research before you came here, Mr Kennedy," I said, getting comfortable before going into a lecture. "The most prosperous families gain their wealth not from the accumulation of assets such as farms and mines, but from the number of slaves they own."
He cocked a brow at me as if to say I sounded ridiculous. "Slaves? How come this is the first time I'm hearing about it?"
"There is a nicer way to say it. See, as the Southside began to fail, some had access to resources and most who weren't. Naturally, those who had resources had power compared to those who did not. To be fair, or to extinguish any rebellions, they offered the less fortunate ones refuge. For example, the Claw Clan has a lot of estates, farms and mines. So they take in some people, get them to sign a contract and provide them with food, shelter, employment and health benefits for them and future generations," I informed him.
"That's a good thing," he reasoned.
I nodded. "However, they got a little greedy, demanding that they shouldn't leave after heaving gotten help. Some of them were spies or even thieves. To protect themselves, they made changes that made the person stay but in the case that they wanted to leave, they had to pay for the hospitality. It was a reasonable amount for their freedom."
"I still don't see where the slavery comes in."
"Over the years, it became more reasonable to stay with a particular houses hold, especially with the increase of crimes, rebels and disease. Such protection was becoming rare to find as the contract allowed children born to the workers to be part of the contract. In Lin's case, if she ever wants to be free, she needs to pay the 'debt' of seven generations. She doesn't get paid enough to save for an entire lifetime so she is bound to my family. Does that still not sound like slavery?"
"No, it doesn't," he deadpanned. "Now, how do I get the girl?"
"If you mean how to save her then it's very simple. All you have to do is discreetly go to the magistrate's office and make a trade with him," I said with a shrug.
"A trade?"
"I would say to pay him but we don't have a currency here. So find something to trade. He's such a corrupt old block. He'll say yes right away," I explained.
He scowled. "You should have just said this to me from the start. Anyway, I'll think about it. Stay out of trouble."
"Wait," I stopped him before he could stand up, leaving my chair to pace behind him. "There is something you need to know. Lin can never live a normal life here, even if you help set her free."
"Is that what we're doing?" he asked, even though I couldn't tell if it was a joke or not.
My heart was beating excitedly in my chest as I faked tripping on my feet and perfectly fell onto his lap. As I wrapped my arms around his neck, I took in the shock and surprise of his beautiful green eyes. Up close, he was way more beautiful. More so, I felt a warm buzz everywhere my skin touched his, and it was exhilarating as if I hadn't been living until now. I wasn't going to wait for him to stop me, so I surprised both of us by kissing him. It was a moment of boldness because i had never kissed anyone before but it just felt right. His lips were so soft against my own. At first, I just pressed my lips against his but slowly and unsurely began to move. So did he, and it urged me on. My tongue prodded his lips until they opened for me as I deepened the kiss. It became heated and passionate.
My fingers tangled in his soft, brown hair as I pulled him closer. His hands were on my hips, holding me in place. Things had taken a turn I was not expecting but was thoroughly enjoying. My eyes were closed as I basked in bliss, something in my chest pulling me towards him so hard that it was almost painful, making me moan. That little sound did something to him because his chest rumbled in a growl, his grip becoming tighter a d pulling me flush against his hard chest. Heat rushed to my cheeks as I felt moisture gathering down south and I wriggled against his lap.
The intensity of the kiss and the emotions that we were both throwing into the kissing left me breathless. I held his cheeks as I pulled away and rested my forehead against his. He was panting, just like I was, thick, long lashes resting against his flushed cheeks as he closed his eyes. My hand slid from his hair down to his chest and rested against his beating heart, marvelling over how it beating in tune with mine.
"Amaya," he breathed out, his eyes still closed.
I smiled as I stared at his swollen lips and whispered his name. "Midas."
The rest of the world was non-existent. My mind was yet to register that we were out in the garden. Mother would see us and she would be infuriated. The other servants would gossip about me. But I did not care. This man, this handsome man holding me was all that mattered. Nothing else mattered but the sparks running up and down my skin just from touching him. Was I making this up? It felt so real.
"Go," he said, his eyes still closed.
I frowned. "No."
"You have to go, Amaya. Right now, please," he forced out through gritted teeth.
"Fine," I relented, sliding off his lap. "But this isn't over, Midas. Its just beginning."
He was silent as I walked away. When I turned to look back, he was still in his chair, in the same position I had left him. I proceeded into the house but rolled my eyes when I caught Aimee's glare. I felt too good to apologise for what I had done. A number of servants gathered around, staring at me. I gave them all a cocky smile and then felt a sharp sting on my cheek. Aimee had slapped me, quite hard too. I looked at her, feeling the hostility she radiated but ignored her. I couldn't ruin my good mood because of her. I couldn't even wipe my smile off my face.
If I thought Aimee was angry, Mother was even more so. I let her drag me away toward Father's office. I laughed like a mad man, not really bothered by it. Father provided the worst punishments. I should have been scared.
"I cant handle your daughter anymore!" Mother yelled as she all but threw me inside the office. "Do you have any idea what she has done?"
"Unfortunately, yes," Father said as he casually leaned back in his chair. "Its not something a father has to know."
I giggled but quickly quit it when Mother looked at me. "Are you supporting her right now? Do you think its funny?!"
"Marian, I didn't support anyone. I'm just answering-"
"What if she ruins things?! Aimee was so upset!" Mother yelled.
"Then what am I supposed to do about it?" Father asked, rubbing his temples.
"Why don't you talk to her? She only listens to you," Mother said.
"Amaya is basically an adult. And you don't have to worry about Kennedy. I'm pretty sure he knows Amaya well enough by now. I'm surprised you don't. Now, can we not talk about his? I'm feeling very uncomfortable," Father dismissed, barely looking my way.
Mother stomped her foot before dragging me out, again. This was becoming tiresome.
"You're going to go to your room and think about what you have done. Then you're going to apologise to Aimee and Midas and I'll decide what happens next," Mother instructed before storming off.
"In that particular order?" I called after her but didn't get a reply.
I skipped to my bedroom, happy that my mother hadn't scolded me and that I had done it. I had kissed my crush. Now, it had developed into something new. My aim had only been to touch him but this also served the purpose. I wasn't letting go of him now that I had a taste of what it felt like to be with him.
Now, how do I win him over?
A knock brought me out of my thoughts. It was Macy and she looked around my room after I let her in. I did not let it bother me how she touched some of my things.
"I saw someone leaving your room earlier, just thought you should know," she told me.
I frowned. "Who?"
"I can't say for sure. Just check if everything is in place."
I looked around, not finding anything out of ordinary. "I'll keep a lookout."
Macy nodded. "Hey, I've been hearing things. I know it's a mess with what happened to Lin. Some are saying you made it happen but knowing you, you wouldn't go out of your way to do something like that."
I sighed, sitting on the bed. Macy had started working for us a couple of months ago, three to be exact. She was nice to everyone but I was grateful that she at least knew this bit about me.
"Thank you," I tell her with a grateful smile. "Anyway, if I find something in here, I'll tell you. We should tell Mother as well. Thanks again."
I groaned as I lied back on the bed. Who was in my room, and why? Macy was someone I could trust, or at least she hadn't done anything to suggest otherwise. If she had to say something, then it had to be important. Something did not sit well with me.
Right, apologise.
I should probably start with Aimee. I do not get why I have to. There's a possibility that she might marry Midas, but she also might not. So why do I have to apologise?
"She doesn't want to see you," Ms Angel informed me after opening Aimee's door.
I thought she was my nanny?
"Well, Mother said I should," I argued.
"I don't think she wanted you to force Aimee into this discussion," Ms Angel said sternly. "But give it a shot."
Aimee was brushing her hair in front of a mirror. She did not look as upset as she was at first, which was a relief. She even smiled at me. I'm beginning to smell something fishy.
"What can I do for you, Amaya?" She said, looking at me through the mirror.
"I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings."
She smiled. "You didn't hurt my feelings. I'm sorry I hit you. I was just surprised. I didn't expect you to do that."
"You mean, to kiss him?"
I caught Aimee's flinch. "To throw yourself at him. Everyone knows you liked Mr Kennedy but you went out of your way to make a fool of yourself."
I brushed my fingers against my lips. "I think it was worth it."
"I don't understand why you would do that when he's leaving so soon," Aimee said, putting down the brush.
I felt as if I was punched in the stomach. "Leaving?"
"Yes, the day after tomorrow. Didn't you know?"
~•~•~•~•~•~
ISOBEL
"We need to talk," Lady Isobel said as she walked into Lord Bailey's office and stood at his desk.
He sighed, putting his pen down. "If it's about Amaya, I don't think there's much to talk about."
"Well get to that later," Isobel said, shaking her head. "It's about Aimee."
"What about her?"
Isobel gracefully sat down on one of the plush chairs in front of the desk. "Is she still getting married to Mr Kennedy?"
"Yes," Howard sighed, leaning forward. "We have discussed the alliance. We need this to work out to receive anymore benefits."
"Do you trust them?" Isobel asked, hiding her nervousness behind her voice.
"Not one bit," Howard Bailey confessed. "That man, Midas Kennedy... He's dangerous."
"Then why are you letting this marriage happen?!" Isobel protested, her voice rising a notch. "We don't know if Aimee will be safe with them."
"You're right. However, I think it's better if Aimee gets married to him. He can't possibly hurt her. That would initiate a war, which is unnecessary. If we don't, I have a feeling that Mr Kennedy would achieve his goal either way," Howard explained, rubbing his shaved cheeks.
Isobel leaned back, curious. "His goal?"
"Before and during his time here, Kennedy's men have been roaming around, I'm not exactly sure why. Also, he's been accepting many of our proposals quite easily, without asking for anything back. He just wants his people to be able to move around freely," Howard continued.
"He's searching for something," Isobel noted.
"We don't know what that could be. The worst case scenario is that he is looking for the weakness of ours to hold against us," Howard said.
"But what could he even want from us? We have nothing!" Isobel pointed out.
"To add to that, there has been a rise in recent rebel activity which points to a movement towards here, the capital," Howard added.
Isobel gasped. "Howard!"
"They have never been so bold before. I need you and Amaya to stay safe. Hopefully, I won't have to worry about Aimee when she leaves for the North," Howard sighed once more.
Isobel shook her head. "This is a mess. What are you going to do?"
"Triple security, keeping a lookout and hoping for the best is all we could do," Howard smiled at his wife. "We have an internal and external threat but we don't know what either wants from us. Our hands are tied. We can only hope for a miracle."
"But you can't insist on not doing anything about Amaya," Isobel insisted. "She's acting out of turn!"
"It's not surprising, considering who her mother is," Howard joked.
"That's not even funny!" Isobel protested. "Aimee is getting upset by it all. How will she be with the man her sister is pining after like this? If were we're careful, Amaya could sleep with him if the opportunity arises!"
"Lets hope it won't. I'll talk to her," Howard relented. "But maybe don't let your problems blow out of proportion. I can't believe you had to bring Kennedy into all of this."
"It wasn't me," Isobel sulked. "I trusted Aimee with handling the household for a while. I didn't think she would go this far!"
"Then maybe you should talk to Aimee," Howard suggested.
Isobel pursed her lips. "I could do that but..."
Howard sighed. "Fine. I'll talk to her and keep an eye on the Northerners and the rebels. My wife won't even help me."
Isobel shook her and keep her husband's antics as she began to leave. "Then I better do something to reward your hard work."