Chapter 3

Draco

***

I watched her leave the room from beneath lowered lashes and felt that new frustration that's been riding me for days. I wonder what secrets she's hiding behind those amazing doe eyes of hers? What bugs me even more is why she has such an effect on me.

It's not like she's some raving beauty, not that she's not gorgeous, she's more than a little bit pretty, but the world is full of such women. Why then does this slip of a girl make me think of things that no one else before her ever has?

Why are my eyes always drawn to her whenever we're in the same room together? Almost like a compulsion, even when I fight it I lose.

I watch her all the time now, there's something…I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something about her that's more than meets the eye. It could be that old world quality that makes her stand out from all the other females I know, but somehow I think it's more.

I'd seen her hurrying back through the rain when I happened to look out my upstairs window. For some reason seeing her worn clothing sticking to her, and her hair matted from the rain, had pissed me off no end.

The anger was irrational and completely overblown. I knew that even as I bounded down the stairs. I probably would've lit into poor Kate some more if she hadn't spoken up.

That voice. Just the sound of it evokes such strong feelings in me. And they all seemed to gravitate around me bundling her up and keeping her safe.

I don't know her life story, but I know it can't be good. I mean why else would someone who looks like her be working as a servant in my family's home?

Plus the fact, that she was very young. Nope, there was definitely a story there, but so far I hadn't heard any whispers that would give me any insight into what that story might be.

Her shyness intrigues me, so much so that it makes my girl seem brash in comparison. Funny, I'd been happy enough with Charlotte for the past two and a half years, was even thinking of popping the question now that I'd finished my last year of college.

Now I'm not so sure and it bothers the hell out of me that my new change of heart might have something to do with her; the girl with the sad eyes. Damn, those eyes.

It was two hours later when I saw her again. Today seemed to be the day for run-ins. I was about to call out to her but stopped when I noticed how nervous she was as she looked around.

It was already coming on dark and no one was ever back here on the estate this time of night. The stable master would've left not too long ago unless…I felt anger rise up inside me once again at the thoughts that ran through my head.

I moved forward before I could think better of it, murder on my mind. There was no reason to my thinking I just knew that if she was in there with him they were both dead. Why else would she be sneaking around back here if not for some sort of tryst?

I moved quietly but swiftly into the stables behind her. What a place to bring a woman to fuck, the bastard. Couldn't he afford a motel room at least? And what about her, didn't she think any better of herself?

I heard rustling like she was removing her clothes and sneered at the fact that he didn't even say hello, at least I hadn't heard him. Was he blackmailing her or some shit?

I know some men would take advantage of a young girl in her position. New to the country and not too savvy. But I never would've expected that of Billy. He just never struck me as the type, but what the fuck do I know?

I walked into the open stall door, fists at the ready to beat the shit outta him and came up short at the sight before my eyes. "Merciful heavens you sleep here?"

She almost flew out of her skin and her eyes widened in fright. She clutched her dress in front of her, hiding the thin slip behind it. She was so thin I could see the sharp protrusion of her shoulders, and her skin was very pale, almost too pale.

"I asked you a question." I held my ground just inside the door since it seemed like she would jump out of her skin if I came any closer.

I looked around for any evidence that this wasn't a one-time thing, but somehow I didn't think so. "I…I…" She had to swallow, as her words seemed to get trapped in her lungs.

I waited for her to compose herself and stop shaking. "I'll turn around so you can get dressed." That seemed to relieve her a great deal if the huge sigh was any indication.

I gave her enough time. "Are you decent?" Her mumbled ‘yes' was barely above a whisper before I turned around.

She'd put back on the same dress but I noticed a nightgown of sorts peeping out of the bag at her feet. "Who knows that you're here?" At the sudden fear that leapt into her eyes I could see how misleading that question may sound.

"That is, who gave you permission to sleep out here?" She shook her head and looked down at the straw strewn floor, her cheeks red with shame and embarrassment.

It was that look that sealed my fate and in that moment that my world changed. I'd known something like this was coming, knew it the first time I looked at her with want. Whatever was growing inside of me for her, had decided to make itself known now.

I felt an actual shift in the air and in my heart. "Come." I held out my hand to her in the most nonthreatening way I could. She hadn't told me much of anything, in fact she hadn't told me anything at all, but I couldn't leave her out here like this.

She finally built up the courage to take my hand before grabbing her bag from the floor. "I take it you have no place to go?" She shook her head as she tried to keep up with me. "Look I know you can talk, I've heard you so would you please answer my questions?"

"What will you do with me?"

"That my dear is the sixty-four million dollar question." A sudden thought hit me as I pulled her along the back lawn behind me. "Did you eat?" The staff had left a while ago and I knew though they had lunch they never had dinner at the house. She ruffled through her bag and came up with a half eaten apple.

That shit pissed me off though I had no idea why. The amount of food my family and I waste on any given day is obscene. Seeing someone like her surviving on so little made me feel…something, and I'm not one for feelings.

As we reached the house I came up short. I had no idea what to do with her. We had a ton of spare rooms in the house, but mom would freak if I let one of the servants stay in one of them. Not to mention the staff came early in the mornings, and she was bound to be found out. But there was no way I was going to leave her out in the cold.