Chapter 3

"Watch what you say before I throw you into the wine cellar," Graham warned, swiftly putting himself between Rose and Silvia. He'd been longing to see her since she left last night.

"Master Graham," Silvia greeted him, panicking internally when she saw how angry he looked, "We were only playing-"

"Did I say that you could speak?" He questioned her while his gaze remained focused on Rose. Last night, he wanted to keep her around a little longer, but his quest ruined it.

Silvia bit her lips and lowered her head. He was angry.

Rose flinched when Graham touched her hair. She turned her face away when he tried to touch her cheek.

Internally, Silvia was livid. Graham didn't punish Rose for her behaviour! If it had been anyone else, things would have been different. Fuelled by jealousy, Silvia wanted to ruin Rose. She wondered who she should send to Rose's room tonight.

Graham smiled, entertained by Rose's usual defiance. She was a lot more obedient now than years ago. Soon, she will grow accustomed to his touch. He was in no rush to sleep with her when he enjoyed their little game.

Rose was his precious flower in this dirty brothel, and no one can take her away from him.

"Shouldn't you be preparing for your dance tonight?" Graham questioned, lazily turning to Silvia.

She earned the brothel a lot of money and was mostly obedient. But she just can't keep her hands off Rose.

"Go now or I'll send those cheap bastards your way. All of you," He warned all the other women who lingered around. They didn't have time to stand around and chat like this. They had work to do.

Silvia faked a smile and excused herself.

Rose took the opportunity to slip away but Graham caught hold of her arm, "Oh, not you."

"Unless you're ready to perform for me? Look up at me when I'm talking to you," He said while forcing her to look at him, "Did you like my guest last night?"

"No," Rose answered.

"Good, then stay away from those foreign bastards. Don't let me catch you looking at them. I would love to punish you, but don't give me the chance to do so," He warned while running his fingers through her hair.

"We've come a long way, Rose. It's a cruel world out there. Men won't treat you well like I do. Here," He took her hand and placed a few coins in it. "Treat yourself something nice when you follow the women into town."

She never liked accepting things from him, never knowing if it would add to her debt.

"I expect to see you in my quarters tonight. Do think of me, won't you?" Graham said, before kissing the back of her right hand.

Rose wanted nothing more than to wash her hands to rid the sensation of his touch. She wanted to throw away the money he gave her, but she could not. Instead, she hid the money as she had always done.

"If the other women trouble you again, ask me nicely and I'll get them to stop. Now, take the water back to your room and prepare to go for the walk but remember to cover your face," He said.

Rose was still on edge even as Graham walked away from her. She didn't want to visit his room.

"Please let him have a visitor," She whispered.

She took her jar of water back to her room. On the way, she overheard two women talking.

"Did you hear? The foreigners are staying here! The king's men are coming to town too to ensure they don't cause trouble."

This could be her chance! Whenever the king's men were in town, things would get busy. It was another chance for her to escape. All she needed to do was to slip past the guard that Graham placed to watch her.

"I can run to the mountains to hide," She plotted as she continued walking back to her room.

She ignored most of the taunts by the other women along the way.

"Rose."

She slowed down to see who it was. That was a mistake, she picked up her pace once more.

"Come now, aren't we friends, Rose?" It was Jonathan Bailey, one of Graham's acquaintances. He was blocking her path.

Rose didn't like him at all. Especially when he made comments about buying her should Graham ever grow bored with her.

He blocked her path, but she tried to walk around him, causing him to grab her hand. If she had her knife, she would have stabbed him.

"Let go of me," she said.

"His interest in you has made you bold, Rose. You should be grateful for our friendship. I promise to treat you well when he throws you aside," Bailey promised.

Rose was no fool. Men who visit brothels never have good intentions. She had been here long enough to see how they trick and fool others into a sense of security.

"Let go of me or I'll scream," She threatened, knowing he wouldn't want to get Graham involved.

Jonathan Bailey was amused. A whore was threatening him. Laughable!

"You need to be broken in."

"I can help you with that, Mr Bailey," Silvia said, smiling as she approached him, "I know where her room is. She wouldn't dare reveal she had another man as her first. Graham would kill her. After that she would become so much more obedient, don't you agree?"

"I like the sound of that. Show me to her room tonight and I will reward you handsomely."

Silvia's biggest reward was to see Rose ruined. Perhaps she might even need some comforting after Mr Bailey was done with her.

Taking advantage of the moment, Rose wriggled her hand out of Jonathan's grasp and ran back into her room. She didn't stop until the door was closed behind her. She put down the jar of water and scrambled to find her knife.

She slumped onto the floor, back pressed against the door.

It was going to be another long night.