Serve Me, My Lord

fingers tore at the thin fabric. The phantom weight of a thick, coarse rope still crushed his windpipe. He choked. A wet, ugly sound ripped

sharp pain shot up his legs. He gasped again, and this time, air flooded his lun

ches. He grabbed one and struck it against the wood. The sudden flare stabbed his eyes. He sq

ed at t

ber

ee days. He was exactly three days away from the afternoon Al

in the hallway. A second later,

ed through the thin wood. "

membered Rory choking on his own vomit, dying of a fentanyl

taste of bile in his mou

voice sounded like gravel,

e small mirror above the plastic sink. He grabbe

skin was smooth and young. It was the face of a naive boy who thought hard work wo

uniform of a lower-tier footman. He pulled the trousers up. He buttoned t

ned th

ubbed his eyes. "They put me on la

't smile. He just stepped

?" Rory reached out to

dropped his shoulder and twisted his

. "What's yo

late," Emmett sai

concrete walls felt like a prison. Above them, heavy foot

f the staff cafeteria. The smell of bur

c tray. He walked t

" Moira yelled. She slammed her tray d

nd pulled his

r and sat down. He wrapped his cold hands around the hot mug. He kept his head down, but his ey

en. Mildred Finch, the he

nt. Over forty servants stood up.

lack shoes clicked on the floor. S

d in. He smelled peppermint on her breath

e kept his breathing perfectly even. H

om his neck. She frowned. His tie

She let out a sharp

eeting ended. Elias, the head bu

om. Polish the antique

e wooden cleaning box. He stepped into the hidden servi

ked up. Emmett's

lemon polish and expensive flowers. The massive crystal chandelier

rug. His throat tightened. This room

on white cotton gloves. He picked up a heavy silv

remembered the sound of the judge's gavel. He

of the dining ro

coat and white breeches. He held a leather riding

idn't look

ed. His face turned red. "Move the funds from the Swiss acco

. He breathed heavily. He sto

med. He slammed the ridi

large silver tray. The tray fl

the edge of the heavy tray right before it hit the floor.

g. He turned his head.

. He looked at Emmett like

the tray against his chest. He t

re ice cold. He stared at Alistair's expensive

nd and shoved the telegraph disp

d. He walked out of the ro

table. He picked up the riding crop. He ran his thumb o

cloth. He went

silver tray. His face

ulled up. He smiled. It wa

y chimed seven times. The heavy

ned. He star

s. That was all