surprise.
Flushing and humiliated, Ingrid bit down on her lip and looked away stubbornly.
“Is that a promise, Ingrid?” He asked, and his voice was husky and low.
“Damn you,” She spat. She heard him chuckle before she felt small hands wrap around her sides and help her up.
Now standing, Ingrid faced her two captors, and watched as Leo beckoned Nadya forward with a gentle curl of his fingers. Nadya responded immediately and approached him.
To Ingrid’s confusion, Leo took in the woman’s chin in his palm and looked her face over, as though registering damage like a doctor would a patient.
He gave her a small smile and pulled a strand of golden hair that had gotten loose over her face during the scuffle back in place.
“I’m impressed,” Leo said before signing something to the maid. The movement was rapid and it only made Ingrid all the more surprised but she quickly stamped it down. Of course he knew how to sign.
Nadya nodded, signed something back before disappearing into the bathroom.
“You’ve managed to land a hit on Nadya. Not many people can.”
“I’ve learned what I had to.”
“Live a pretty dangerous life, Ingrid?” She really wished he stopped saying her name so easily. It bothered her.
The question did make her bristle and the reminder that what was waiting back home wasn’t any better than where she was. Still, at least back in that town, she had better understanding of her opponents and the people that threatened her.
This guy on the other hand…
To her relief, Leo was motioning her to go into the bathroom.
“I guess that’ll be a story for another day. Nadya should be filling the tub, and I’ve instructed her to make sure to tend to your wounds.”
At that, Ingrid clenched her fists in an attempt to hide the cuts over her fingers. She didn’t want him to see.
“I’ll see you at breakfast to…discuss further our previous conversation.”
Ingrid scowled at him, watched him give her a nod before he turned on his heel and began to walk off, sauntering about with the grace of someone well mannered.
Damn him.
Chapter 10
Ingrid took her time in the bath. After showering, she had sunk into the hot water and allowed the stream of the jets soothe the knots in her neck and lower back.
Her body had had no luck resting easily since her capture and while her hands stung from the soapy water, Ingrid allowed herself to slide until she was chin deep in the tub.
Nadya had stayed by, watching her with that same expression of disinterest. Insisting to watch even after Ingrid had been freed of the cuffs and given enough leeway to shower on her own. This was to be expected, even if being watched as she bathed was unnerving.
She wanted nothing more than to stay in the water, let the jet streams of the tub wash all her pain away, but as soon as Nadya appeared over her Ingrid felt her free time run up.
She didn’t want another scuffle with the slim woman, and she wasn’t about to see how much force the maid could push over her.
Reluctant, Ingrid pushed out of the water, keeping her hands over her body where she didn’t want the maid to see.
Towel-dry and even given permission to use various body creams (that no doubt cost more than her monthly rent) Ingrid was finally given a bathrobe.
Of course, the cuffs came back on and the walk back was uneventful.
Ingrid refused to wear anything the maid picked out, defiant to at least keep that much dignity to herself. It took some time but she was finally forced into wearing a comfortable sundress—one that hugged her body like silk.
It was beautiful and shimmery, fresh and green and looking like something a fairy would wear, and Ingrid hated the fact that she liked the way she looked in it.
She had expected breakfast to be in her room, but she was led away from the confining space and for a moment, Ingrid was torn between relief and worry all over again.
They walked down the halls and Nadya kept up a brutal pace. Ingrid
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