My heart jerks in my chest.
For a variety of reasons.
First, this is a very specific question. And the answer to it is no.
I do not live at the manor.
I live in the carriage house, rightacrossfrom the manor, also known as the servant’s quarters. Truth be told, I haven’t even been inside the manor yet.
And second, because I’ve decided to lie and tell him yes anyway.
I do realize that lying is bad.
My parents are going to be very unhappy about it, if they ever find out.
But I have thought about it and lying is the only logical next step.
If I tell him that this is my house and my property, he’s going to be intimidated. He’s going to be afraid of me and that should take care of his stupid smug expression. Plus it might also stop him from carrying out his nefarious — also known as wicked, sinful, appalling, odious and so on — intentions.
So it’s a win-win really.
It’s lying for a good cause.
Breathing a lungful of air, I reply, “Yes.”
His eyes narrow as he studies me for a second or two. It’s okay. It’s understandable.
He’s likely stunned by my revelation.
And the fact that he’s messing with the wrong girl.
A powerful girl.
“So you’re one of the Davidsons then,” he says.
“I am.”
I am not.
I’m one of the Adlers — Echo Adler — who work for the Davidsons. My mom’s one of the new cooks and my dad is the new head groundskeeper. But he’s not going to know that. He’s…
Wait a second.
What if he does know?
I mean, he’s here, isn’t he? On the Davidsons’ estate, and what if he knows all the Davidsons? What if he’s friends with them, with one of their sons? I hear they have two, both older than me and both living out of town, one in college and the other in a boarding school.
Oh my God.
Oh myGod.
“Have you… do you know th-them?” I ask, or more like squeak really.
He’s silent for a second or two and I think I see a smile, or rather a smirk, forming on his mouth but it vanishes so quickly that I definitely think I imagined it.
Shrugging, he says, “Heard of them.” Then with his eyes sweeping across my face, “Didn’t know they had a cute little Bubblegum living among them though.”
Okay, thank God.