Tangled Webs by Lee Bross

friend a day before the fire. I waited for him to accept my generous offer, and had also hoped he would convince you to join us as well. Things…took an
unexpected turn, though, and I assure you that I’ve not been in contact with him since.” Arista watched Wild carefully. Was that a tic at the corner of his eye? It happened so fast she
couldn’t be sure. Perhaps the fog in her head was clouding her judgment.
    “I will have a few men ask around, discreetly of course, and if they hear any word, you will be the first to know. For now, you must concentrate on your recovery. You are alive and free,
my dear. The world is at your feet. All you have to do now is take it.” Wild smiled again. His eyes sparkled and Arista found herself caught up in the vibrancy she saw in them. Her own lips
lifted in response.
    “I have not made my decision yet.” Her reply was a test. To see if his charm would be replaced by anger.
    But his smile did not falter. “Perhaps after you’ve eaten we can discuss the terms more clearly in the garden?”
    Arista glanced at the window, and saw it was dark outside. Time remained tangled in her head.
    “Thank you.” He was giving her a choice, something no one else had ever done. Her entire life had been dictated by other people, for their own gain. It slowly started to sink in that
with Bones gone, Arista
was
free. Free to do as she wanted.
    She could
choose
to work with Wild, and it would benefit her in ways she had only ever dreamed. Nic had wanted the power that went along with the money, and though she denied it, there
was always a measure of satisfaction when Lady A brought a member of the aristocracy to their knees.
    If
Wild were telling the truth. That remained to be seen. So far, he had done nothing to make her think otherwise.
    A knock came at the door. The maid hastened to open it at Wild’s nod. “I have business to attend to, but I’ve asked the staff to draw a bath for you to enjoy at your leisure.
The door locks from the inside for your protection. When you’re ready, just ask Cecily to show you to the garden.”
    A line of servants marched into the room. Each carried two steaming buckets of water. They disappeared behind a painted screen in the corner, and poured the water into something back there.
After the last person left, the maid from before moved beside Arista. “Would you be needing help, miss?”
    “Help?” Arista’s gaze darted between Wild, the maid, and the screen.
    “With your bath, miss?” The maid crossed the room and folded the screen back. A waist-high copper tub sat in the corner, steam rising from within. They expected her to bathe in
that…monstrosity?
    She’d never had an actual bath before. Not a
get completely undressed and submerge yourself in a tub of hot water
bath.
    “No.” Arista looked between Wild and the maid, who then glanced quizzically back at Wild. Panic made her skin feel tight. She pulled the quilt to her neck. Would they force her into
that thing if she refused? Her gaze slid to her knife.
    “I can have your friend sent over to assist you, if that would make you more comfortable,” Wild said softly. “At least she might help you wash up?”
    Yes, she wanted to see Becky for herself, and could use the basin to wash her face and hands. “That is fine.”
    The maid hurried out of the room and Wild followed. At the door, he hesitated. His eyes were unreadable when he looked over at her. “I’ve just realized that I know you only by one
name. The prudence of calling you Lady A outside of your disguise might make for unwanted gossip. As we’ve not yet reached a deal, I think it wise to remain silent regarding that information.
Don’t you?”
    She nodded, but not because a deal had been made. If word got out she was Lady A, if they knew what she looked like under the mask, there would be nowhere to hide. The chances of getting killed
would be high, whether she took Wild up on his offer or not.
    Wild waited and Arista