Chapter 66 - Sixty Six
Suzy trailed behind Doris, her steps uncharacteristically slow. Her cheeks still burned faintly from the encounter with Ryan, and a strange flutter filled her chest. Why was she feeling this way? She hadn’t done anything wrong, had she? A stray thought of Ryan’s touch on her lips sent a shiver down her spine, and her heart hammered against her ribs with a beat that was far from normal.
They reached the grand ballroom, and Suzy straightened her posture, pushing away the confusing emotions. There, in the center of the room, stood Miss Adeline, still barking orders at the flustered servants. Her voice was rude, sharp and commanding, her movements efficient and precise.
"Miss Adeline?" Suzy called out, her voice clear and surprisingly calm.
Miss Adeline turned around, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face at the interruption. "What’s it now, Duchess?" she snapped, her perfectly arched eyebrows raised in a question.
Suzy met her gaze unflinchingly, a subtle smile playing on her lips. "Your services are no longer required, Miss Adeline," she announced, her voice laced with a newfound authority. "You may use the door."
Adeline’s eyes widened in surprise. The arrogance with which she’d been treating the staff and Suzy herself seemed to falter for a moment. "I don’t take orders from you," she countered, a hint of defiance creeping into her voice. "Only from His Grace."
Suzy’s smile widened, this time with a hint of amusement and something a little more dangerous. "Do you know, Adeline," she began, her voice dropping to a low, dangerous purr, "I have a bad habit of slapping the faces of... unfortunate people." She paused, letting the weight of her words hang in the air. "Do you want to be unfortunate, Adeline?
Miss Adeline stared at Suzy, a mixture of shock and fear flickering in her eyes. Suzy, relishing the effect she was having, leaned in even closer, her voice a mere breath away.
"Don’t be unfortunate Miss Adeline." Suzy purred, her words laced with a veiled threat. "Or wouldn’t you prefer to leave with your dignity and your brain intact? Because trust me, darling, if you push me, my hands will be quite happy to introduce your cheek to the closest wall, and your brain may experience a rather abrupt... reset."
The playful facade had vanished, replaced by a steely glint in Suzy’s eyes. The air crackled with tension, and Adeline, for the first time since arriving at the castle, felt a sliver of fear pierce her confident facade.
Suzy’s words, delivered with a calm yet terrifying firmness, left Adeline speechless. Gone was the arrogant young woman who’d been ordering everyone around. In her place stood a frightened girl, suddenly unsure of her footing.