I set my fork on the plate looking at him curiously. “I don’t understand what you mean?”
Savo chuckled darkly, pulling my attention to him. While his words sounded cold, his gaze told me something quite the opposite. “The good butler is offended by the sound of you taking pleasure in your meal. Makes me think he hasn’t gotten any pleasure of his own in quite some time.”
“Mr. Bakal, I understand you are not required to follow the rules of etiquette in this house, but you will refrain from speaking of such vulgar things at the dinner table,” Arthur remarked.
Savo raised a brow. “Yet, I’m allowed to treat her as I see fit, correct? Train her in all the ways you clearly would never be able to teach.”
“That is not dinner conversation. If you wish to discuss that topic at another time, you may. Not at the dinner table,” Arthur ordered.
Part of me was glad to see that the butler treated everyone with disdain, but I didn’t like that he was speaking to Savo like that in the least. The same protectiveness I felt for my pack rose in me, pushing me to say something. However, I knew it would only get me in trouble.
“I will keep my thoughts to myself, but only because there is a lady present and she deserves more respect than you’re giving her,” Savo challenged as he twirled his dinner knife in his fingers.
Spencer had mentioned Savo had been in the military and seeing how confidently he handled that utensil, I believed him. What had me more worried was what he’d just said to Arthur. Was I mistaken or did he just say that he had free rein to sleep with me if he wanted? Sex might be a new part of my life, but that didn’t mean I was unaware of sexual innuendos.
Savo couldn’t be like that, not the man that had held me in his arms and let me cry. No, the person who’d sung to me as he made sure I felt safe wouldn’t act that way. The man I’d experienced was the truth, and this was an act, it had to be. My heart wouldn’t be able to take it if I had no ally.
Feeling it was best to move on and act as if nothing was wrong, I continued to eat, making sure to keep my noises to myself. When I was finished, the plates were cleared away and a salad was presented. I’d never been one to shy away from vegetables and it looked rather tasty but for fear of getting smacked again, I waited. Sure enough, there was another lesson. Keeping my attention on Arthur, I listened and watched as he explained the complicated nature of eating a damn salad.
It was no wonder all the fine ladies I saw pictures of were so thin. The effort to eat was so great I’d forgo the activity altogether. Even though the portions were smaller than most, having so much at once was a struggle. Marius’s words telling me that I didn’t have to finish my plate ran through my brain, but my too full stomach told me that might not be the case here.
“Arthur,” I ventured, not sure if I was allowed to speak.
“Yes, Miss Cambrie?”
“What is the etiquette if you are getting full and you’re unsure if you can eat the remaining courses?” I questioned.
Arthur looked at me slightly surprised. “These portions are made so they won’t be overly filling. There should be no reason you can’t finish what’s given to you, especially with how emaciated you are. We need to get you looking more presentable before we can ever hope to match you with a pack.”
“I see,” I murmured and resumed the arduous task of finishing my food.
When the salad was replaced with a small filet of salmon and a bit of seasoned rice covered in a cream sauce, I panicked. The mere smell of the food had my stomach revolting, there was no way I could finish my whole plate. I knew Arthur was droning on talking about this or that rule but I couldn't focus on him.
Out of the corner of my eye I noticed movement where Arthur was seated and it wasn’t until I saw the shadow descending I knew a hit was coming. Instinct born from a lifetime of abuse had me ducking, covering my head with my hands, sending the dish of salmon flying. The blow fell on my shoulder as the sound of a plate shattering echoed in the room. A hand grabbed my arm and hauled me from the chair, but I couldn’t act. Everything was frozen in fear, so instead of getting to my feet like I’m sure I was supposed to, I fell to the floor. Shards of the china plate sliced into my bare knees but I didn’t care. My mind had taken me to that place deep inside where nothing hurt and no one could touch me.
Chapter 4
Aroarlikealion startled me out of my daze, eyes focusing on a sight that didn’t make sense. Savo had Arthur by the throat, and he was bellowing at him, spit hitting the butler’s face as the words flew out of his mouth.
“You lay one more goddamn finger on her, and I will rip off your fucking hand. Do you understand me?” Savo demanded.
Arthur just gurgled, his hands scrabbling against Savo’s grip as his face turned funny colors.
“Don’t be rude now,” Savo snarled, shaking the man. “You speak when someone asks you a question.”
It seemed Savo let up just enough on his hold for the spluttering butler to speak. “Yes,” he croaked out.
Savo tossed the man across the room. “Glad we’ve got that cleared up. Now find a first aid kit and bring it to my room.”
Turning on his heel, he marched over to me but slowed when he got close and crouched down, leaving space between us. “Come here,Keksík, I’ll keep you safe.”
Instantly, I threw myself into his arms, not caring that the action drove the shards deeper into my skin. More than anything right now I needed to feel safe and Savo was just that, my shelter in the storm.
He cradled me to his chest and rose, then faced Arthur once more. “I don’t want you to step foot near Cambrie without me present. In the event that should happen, and any harm comes to her, I will consider your life as payment. All I‘d need to do is inform her father you tried to kill her. It is my job to keep her safe from any and all harm, including you.”
With his threat still lingering in the air, Savo left the dining room and headed up the stairs. I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face against his chest, breathing in his leathery scent. It was a balm to my soul, and my whole body shivered as I began to relax.
“It’s going to be alright,Keksík. I won’t let that bastard hurt you ever again,” Savo whispered into my ear, then pressed a kiss to my hair. “I should have ended it sooner, but I didn’t think he would go that far. Has he laid a hand on you before?”