“Devious?” Scarlett hissed in outrage. “I’m not devious, but I am in the dark. I was just trying to get a little background on you.”
“My life and my past are none of your concern. You’ll mind your own business in this house, Ms. Terini. Perhaps it won’t hurt you to learn to respect others while you’re with us. Maybe I can send you back to that worthless rat-bastard a better person.”
Scarlett blinked at the tears that suddenly filled her eyes. No one had ever spoken to her in such a hateful way before. “Why are you speaking to me like this? Where did you get the impression that I’m devious and have no respect for others?”
“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” Carter said cryptically. “I know you and your type, and I’ve never liked it. You’re a spoiled rich girl who’s always gotten her way, and you don’t know how to treat people who you feel are beneath you.”
Shaking her head in confusion, Scarlett whispered, “That’s not true. I’m nice to everyone, except you,” she said with sudden spunk.
“Yes, I’ll bet you’re real nice.” He snorted. “Tell me, have you ever given any of your old clothes away to the maids, or the servants’ children? I’ll bet you also make sure they get at least half a day off on Christmas, and one day off a week,” he said with a heavy dose of sarcasm.
Scarlett shifted uncomfortably. She did pass along her clothes to Marcia and the other staff, and she always tried to make sure they alternated who worked Christmas. He was making her good deeds sound selfish and unimportant. “What’s wrong with that?” Her chin inclined a notch.
“Did it ever occur to you to make sure your maid had enough money to buy her own clothes, or even to ask her if she wanted your cast-offs? Did you ever think that your staff has a family and a life too, and they might not want to spend their holidays waiting on your family?”
“Look at this house.” Scarlett swept a hand around. “It doesn’t run without a large-sized staff either. Can you say that all of your servants have Christmas off?” she queried in a biting tone.
“No, but when they are forced to work holidays, they’re allowed to participate in the festivities. Have you ever invited anyone in your father’s employ to join you for dinner?” Carter lifted brow his brow, his expression skeptical.
Scarlett dropped her eyes, unable to say that she had.
Carter’s voice returned to its normal cool drone. “I didn’t think so after seeing your surprise the night of your arrival when Darren joined us for dinner.”
“So, I’m just shallow and spoiled?” Scarlett asked in a choked voice.
“How can you be anything else when you are Rocco Terini’s daughter?”
Scarlett nodded, folding her napkin in deliberate squares. “Will you please have Darren return me to my room?” She couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes.
He didn’t respond for a moment and she looked up at him, his eyes had softened but there was still anger beneath the surface.
“I want to go to my room. I don’t want to sit down here with you anymore, don’t you see that? Or you can’t, because you’re so cruel?”
The last line made him move. Darren appeared only a few moments later and helped her to her room where she found herself crying into her pillow.
By the next morning, Scarlett was truly miserable. She’d spent the rest of yesterday in her room to avoid running into Carter. To her humiliation, his words had wounded her, and she’d spent an hour weeping over them. After the tears abated, she felt even worse, and her throat was so sore she couldn’t eat her dinner.
Ann, the maid, whose name she finally asked, brought her another tray for breakfast, but Scarlett waved her out after asking for her to bring a glass of apple juice instead. She was huddled under the covers a few minutes later when there was a knock at her door. Carter entered imperiously without waiting for an invitation. “Listen, princess, Ann has better things to do than wait on you hand and foot. If you don’t want to eat what you’re offered, you can come downstairs and get it yourself.”
“Get out of here,” Scarlett managed to croak out, keeping her back turned to him.
“If you’re on a hunger strike, it won’t work,” Carter said blithely. “All you’ll do is lose your pretty figure and make yourself ill, but you won’t soften my attitude. Fits and tears won’t get you home any sooner.”
Tears seeped from her eyes again, and Scarlett wondered why he was being so harsh with her. That night at the hospital, he’d been so kind to her, had even apologized for letting her get lost. Now he seemed determined to tear her down and hurt her at every opportunity. “I’m already sick,” she managed to force through her swollen throat.
Carter’s mouth snapped shut, and he sat down on the bed beside her. She felt his presence but didn’t respond. He gently rolled her over to face him. Carter placed a hand on her forehead. “You’re warm. I’ll call Dr. Weiss,” he said in a gentler tone.
6
Carter
Dr. Weiss examined her while Carter was waiting outside her room, pacing nervously. “How is she?”
“It’s pneumonia, but a mild case. She’ll be fine, Mr. Braxton. I’ve left her some tablets, and she should recover in a few days. Just keep an eye on her fever. If it gets above one-hundred-and-three degrees, I want you to call me.”
“You aren’t taking her to the hospital?”
Dr. Weiss shook his head. “There’s no reason unless she worsens. She’ll be just as comfortable here at home. In fact, she begged me not to admit her.” He ignored Carter’s arguments, battling his way to the front door a short time later.