Callum returned to the downstairs, a place he’d visited more in the last few days than in his entire life, it seemed. Immediately, his staff stopped their work and gaped at him before dropping into requisite bows and curtsies at his appearance.
“No, no, as you were. All of you,” he said gently, recognizing instantly their discomfort at his presence. Still no one moved, instead looking from one to another as though uncertain as to what to do with the Marquess of Bellton standing in the kitchens.
“My Lord, how can we be of assistance,” Lloyd asked, speaking for the staff.
“I’m come once again to speak with the woman. I hope she’ll see reason and avoid an unnecessary fate,” Callum replied, still looking at the uncomfortable and even fearful expressions on the faces of his servants. He frowned slightly when he saw one maid in particular who looked as though she might cry at any moment, putting distance between them as she retreated slowly away from him.
“Perhaps a different approach is required, My Lord,” the butler said. “Might I suggest that we take an alternate course?”
“What do you mean?” Callum asked.
Lloyd looked to the staff and jerked his head only slightly. In a quiet rush of footsteps and fabrics, the servants happily obliged and left the room. Lloyd then gestured to a chair for the marquess, and Callum sat down on the rough wooden seat.
“My Lord, your captive has an obvious disdain for… well, for you. Not you personally, of course, but rather your station. I fairly believe she takes particular delight in knowing that she holds some sort of power over you.”
“Over me? Are you mad?” Callum asked, but the butler only chuckled softly.
“Not actual power, My Lord, but the perception of it,” Lloyd explained. “Every time she refuses you the most simple of requests—who has your property—you must be the one to turn and leave the room without that which you seek. Nothing has changed for her at all, you see.”
“Ah, I think I do understand your meaning,” Callum finally admitted. “But what am I to do about it?”
“You might bring her out here,” Lloyd said, gesturing to the kitchen. “Talk to her at this very table, let her see you as a human being who is deeply grieved by this incident. Remember, all she sees is a man who appears to have everything that she could never have… yet would bring her harm in order to have onemorething.”
“Wait a moment, you think I’m being selfish?” Callum demanded, his fury rising again. “You forget yourself, Lloyd!”
“Not at all, My Lord,” Lloyd said carefully. “But perhaps she does think so? After all, she knows nothing about you save that you’ve bound her up and brought her here. She does not even know your name, I assure you, and you’ve only just learned her first name yourself. Between the accusations and the threats, both of you remain at an impasse. I only meant that another approach might have far better results than you’ve achieved so far.”
Callum relaxed slightly, admitting there was some wisdom in the butler’s advice. Still, he doubted how effective this new tactic might be, though he had to admit his efforts had been fruitless so far.
“Fine. Have her brought out here and see that the servants do not disturb us,” Callum said. “You’re very right in that she does seem to despise me for my station, so I should think that servants and staff meandering about their tasks would not endear me to her any.”
Lloyd bowed slightly and headed down the hallway to the room where Beatrix remained. He directed the servant to unlock the door, and bid the woman inside to follow him. Callum could see down the length of the hallway that it took some persuasion on the butler’s part, and he worried that the woman might refuse out of spite.
Finally, she emerged, her sour mood evident in the way she carried herself and the way she walked towards him. Callum watched her, struck again by how even her current wretchedly low state had not diminished her comport. Evidently, Lloyd had explained the purpose for her removal as she came at once to the table and threw herself down without waiting for an invitation to sit.
“Why don’t you have a seat then?” Callum asked sarcastically, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips.
“I believe I already did,” the young woman replied.
“That you have,” he replied quietly, then he paused to think of something further to say. Lloyd’s suggestion had been sound, but not fully directed, he realized.
Thankfully, Lloyd and the man who’d served as the guard had left the room, leaving the two of them to their discussion. Callum had no doubt they waited nearby in case she turned vicious, but they at least had adequate privacy to talk.
“I’ve asked you out here to speak with me,” Callum began, but he stopped when the woman laughed derisively. “What’s so funny?”
“Asked?” she replied, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms in front of herself defiantly. “I don’t recall you asking me anything except ‘where’s my precious little toy?’”
Callum took a deep breath and gritted his teeth. “I shouldn’t have toaskfor it back, it’s my property. You had no cause to take it.”
“Perhaps you should have held onto it better if it mattered so dearly to you,” she answered, enjoying tormenting him.
“Look, it is a very important item, but I assure you, it is not worth much in terms of monetary value. I only need it back because it was something that belonged to my late mother.”
“Aw, are you going to tug at my heartstrings now?” the woman said with a sneer. “I’ve got news for you, you’re certainly not the only creature alive in the realm who doesn’t have a mother.”
He ignored her callous explanation and said, “This was very special to her, and she entrusted it to me.”
“Then perhaps she should have chosen more wisely,” Beatrix shot back, recoiling only a little at the wounded expression her words inflicted. “But answer me this. Do you truly expect me to hand over my family to be arrested so you can have your mother’s… thing, back in your possession? Do you even hear your words?”
