Page 76 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 1

"There are ways to make sure that you come back under House Rothorne's control," Bastian mutters, taking a seat.

"It's generally frowned upon to make threats towards a member of the royal family," Bella says.

"What do you know?" Bastian snaps. "You're married into a House so far beneath ours that it's not even worthy of the name."

An odd expression comes over Bella's face. "Lord Vermouten is ten times the man you'll ever be."

Bastian bangs his fist on the table, making me flinch. "Watch your tongue."

"That is my wife you're talking to, Lord Bastian," Thomas says, a surprising amount of steel in his voice. "And you're not to speak like that to her again."

"I will speak how I please." There's a darkness in Bastian's voice that I've never heard before.

It seems to put Pip on edge too as she growls from under the table, the rumble surprising me.

"If you don't get that mutt out of here, I'll remove you both," Bastian snaps.

"I'll save you the bother." I scrape my chair back. "Come on, Pip." She scampers out from under the table and hurries alongside me.

My heart is pounding as I leave the dining room, with Bastian glaring into my back.

Somehow, I think leaving this room isn't going to be enough. I need to get outside the Rothorne apartments.

Jemima appears, a surprised expression on her face. "Are you not having lunch, m'lady?"

"No. But I will take my cloak and Pip's lead back please."

She nods. "They're hanging by the door, I was going to send them for cleaning."

"Thank you." I sweep over to where she's indicated, finding them both. I clip Pip's lead in place and swing my cloak over my shoulders. Though I'm not really sure where I'm going to go. I can't just walk around the courtyard for a few hours, especially when I'm actually still hungry.

But the only place I know of where I can have food delivered is to Linc's private library room. Though I don't know how that's going to be possible without him there, and we're not meant to meet for another couple of hours.

Though considering I've just left the Rothorne apartments with no plan on where to go, and nowhere safe, I think it's going to have to do.

FOUR

It's only as I'm pulling out the key to Linc's private room that I start questioning whether this is really a good idea, especially as I have no idea if Pip is supposed to be in the library at all. I should have asked someone at some point. I just have to hope that Linc isn't too annoyed at me for bringing her when he does show up.

I fumble with the key and slide it into the lock, allowing me to push open the door and step inside.

"You need to be a good girl," I say to Pip as we step inside. I crouch down to undo her lead. "There's a fire, you'll be able to keep warm," I say.

"Beatrice?"

Pip is racing off to Linc in seconds. He looks at her with confusion on his face before leaning down to scratch her head, his face lighting up as he does.

"I-I didn't realise you were here," I say.

He looks up, a strange expression on his face. "But you wanted to come here?"

I bite my lip. "I didn't know where else to go," I admit, turning away. "My brother is angry about his betrothal and he's taking it out on everything."

"Are you not angry about yours?" Linc steps closer, but I don't dare face him.

"Yes," I whisper. "But I know that screaming and yelling at everyone isn't going to change it. If I'm going to find a way out of the betrothal, then I have to think rationally."

"But you want out?"