From High Society To His Service

te webs of deception that permeate the household, takes a moment to reflect in the solitude of her room. With a determined sigh, Lily rises from her reverie, her m

n, Lily greets the kindly Miss Owen, her face a w

Lily says with a weary smil

r hands on her apron. "The cook's got the dinner all prepared, if you

d, a knowing smile

of maids bustling about as they prepare the evening's meals. The scent of roasted

e accepts a bowl of steaming stew from one of the maids."Oh, thank you, Marie," Lil

gins, her tone serious and inquisitive. "Have you noticed anything unus

f is on edge because the young madam will be arriving soon, Miss Lily. She c

is new information. "That makes sense, I suppos

Miss Lily, don't worry too much about the young madam. She can be a bit rough ar

l, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to give her a chance, would it? After a

a hint of warmth

reasingly uncomfortable. Her skin felt hot to the touch,

said, fanning herself with her

hed into her features,

d, her voice a gentle lilt of worry. "Maybe you

t racing, nods in agreement and care

ice a bit breathless. "I'm not quite sur

Lily's face for signs of ill

ted, her voice a soft murmur of reassurance. "Let

her face, hands Lily a glass of w

voice betraying her anxiety. "Could you be having an allergic

ath, shakes her head, a look of confusi

wen. I haven't eaten anyt

takes Lily's hand in hers, a ge

gentle but firm. "Let's just take this one step at

hivers, closes her eyes, try

er voice trembling. "But I don't feel

retired to your room for the evening," she says, her voice calm and reassuring. "I'll let Mr. Davis know that you're

ll spinning, nods

e," she says, her

y make her way to her room. The pair move slowly through the corridor

n helps her to the bed, carefully r

nd of hair from Lily's forehead. "I'll check on you

the softness of her bed, mur

her eyes fluttering closed. "You'r

still resting on L

, her voice soothing. "I'll let you

ps from the room, leaving Lily t

nner, his gaze cold and calculating, Miss Owen approa

slightly. "Miss Lily is not feeling well toni

ooks up from his plate, his

emotionless. "Very well. Have the

t heavy with concer

tor examines Miss Lily first thing tomorrow,"

y, returns to his dinner, dismissing Miss

his tone matter-of-fact. "I'd l

concern, withdraws from the dining

ghts, Greg turns his att

authority. With the rest of the household long since retired, he is the undisputed king of this domai

sky, the amber liquid catching the light as he swirls it in the glass. The click

furrowed and his hand pressed against his forehead in frustration,

silently approaches Lily's door. Clu

the cup on the floor, the metal hitt

ut the spy quickly retreats into the darkness

utter open at the sound, confus

ers to her feet, her head spinning

s to tilt and sway around her. But something about the sudden noise has

ith the knob. Slowly, she turns it, the hinges creaking as she p

avering, calls out

her heart pounding in her

lowing her words. Lily takes a hesitant step fo

in, her voice growing

nse, only the unsettling

ifies, her mouth dry and parched as

herself, her voice raspy and we

e kitchen but in the dimly-lit bar. A bottle of whisky stands o

her eyes fixed on the

r mind a whirlpool of confusion and thirst. Her hand, shaking with fa

its way down Lily's throat, she begins to cough uncontro

f the bar for support as her vision blurs and her

as she strug

h the mansion, Greg reacts with a sudden burst of energy

ding and sharp, his eyes scanning the shadow

f the sound, his body tensed and alert as he prepares to confr

Greg finds not an intruder but a familiar

ween them he knelt beside her, hi

irm as he pats her back, his movements rhythmic and

s once a flushed and fevered countenance has now become a pale shade of pink, the beads of sweat

n his throat as he realizes the gravity o

ing, the tension mounting with each passing s

Lily's face in his hands, his fingers gently brushing agai

orry as her eyelids flutter open, But as she meets his gaze,

er voice hoarse and breat

g his features as he tries t

cal explanation for Lily's condition. He scans her body, his eyes lingering

r from the fog of fever. "I need you to focus. How long hav

with chills, struggles to

with the feverish heat, her hands fumbling to free

reaking with each labored breath. "

ins to tug at the fabric, her body twisting and

o the tantalizing vision unfolding before him. The thin material peels away from he

y of need that sets Greg's heart racing. He feels a tension building

ce a mixture of concern and

e carries her towards the stairs.With an almost supernatural grace, Greg glides up the stairs, Lily's slight form cradled in his arms as if she w

ng her, but from the restraint it takes to keep his hands from tracing the curves