she could reach for another pair, the door to the closet burst open, slamming against the wall with such force that Sophie nearly screamed with surprise.
âOh, goodness, you gave me a fright,â she said to Araminta. âI didnât hear you coming, andââ
âPack your things,â Araminta said in a low, cruel voice. âI want you out of this house by sunrise.â
The rag Sophie had been using to polish the shoes fell from her hand. âWhat?â she gasped. âWhy?â
âDo I really need a reason? We both know I ceased receiving any funds for your care nearly a year ago. Itâs enough that I donât want you here any longer.â
âBut where will I go?â
Aramintaâs eyes narrowed to nasty slits. âThatâs not my concern, now, is it?â
âButââ
âYouâre twenty years of age. Certainly old enough to make your way in the world. There will be no more coddling from me.â
âYou never coddled me,â Sophie said in a low voice.
âDonât you dare talk back to me.â
âWhy not?â Sophie returned, her voice growing shrill. âWhat have I to lose? Youâre booting me out of the house, anyway.â
âYou might treat me with a little respect,â Araminta hissed, planting her foot on Sophieâs skirt so that she was pinned in her kneeling position, âconsidering that I have clothed and sheltered you this past year out of the goodness of my heart.â
âYou do nothing out of the goodness of your heart.â Sophie tugged at her skirt, but it was firmly trapped under Aramintaâs heel. âWhy did you really keep me here?â
Araminta cackled. âYouâre cheaper than a regular maid, and I do enjoy ordering you about.â
Sophie hated being Aramintaâs virtual slave, but at leastPenwood House was home. Mrs. Gibbons was her friend, and Posy was usually sympathetic, and the rest of the world was . . . well . . . rather scary. Where would she go? What would she do? How would she support herself?
âWhy now?â Sophie asked.
Araminta shrugged. âYouâre no longer useful to me.â
Sophie looked at the long row of shoes sheâd just polished. âIâm not?â
Araminta ground the pointy heel of her shoe into Sophieâs skirt, tearing the fabric. âYou went to the ball last night, didnât you?â
Sophie felt the blood drain from her face, and she knew that Araminta saw the truth in her eyes. âN-no,â she lied. âHow would Iââ
âI donât know how you did it, but I know you were there.â Araminta kicked a pair of shoes in Sophieâs direction. âPut these on.â
Sophie just stared at the shoes in dismay. They were white satin, stitched in silver. They were the shoes sheâd worn the night before.
âPut them on!â Araminta screamed. âI know that Rosamundâs and Posyâs feet are too large. Youâre the only one who could have worn my shoes last night.â
âAnd from that you think I went to the ball?â Sophie asked, her voice breathy with panic.
âPut on the shoes, Sophie.â
Sophie did as she was told. They were, of course, a perfect fit.
âYou have overstepped your bounds,â Araminta said in a low voice. âI warned you years ago not to forget your place in this world. You are a bastard, a by-blow, the product ofââ
âI know what a bastard is,â Sophie snapped.
Araminta raised one haughty brow, silently mocking Sophieâs outburst. âYou are unfit to mingle with polite society,â she continued, âand yet you dared to pretend you are asgood as the rest of us by attending the masquerade.â
âYes, I dared,â Sophie cried out, well past caring that Araminta had somehow discovered her secret. âI dared, and Iâd dare again. My blood is just as blue as yours, and my
Cat Patrick
Nichelle Rae
Cyna Kade
Lara Adrián
Ali Sparkes
Khelsey Jackson
J. S. Abilene
Natalie J. Damschroder
Anthea Bell
William Sutcliffe