Mara returned later in the day as the sun was slowly setting. I was still confused about why I had been given this room—this almost luxurious space. A slave was worth less than a dog, so why offer me this?
A bad feeling settled in my stomach, and when Mara arrived, the look in her eyes made that feeling tighten into a knot. I didn’t like where this was heading.
“Where are we going?” I asked as we left the room.
“To her ladyship. She wants to see you,” she replied.
Her words made me stop in my tracks, and Mara turned to look at me. We stood there in a silent exchange, her eyes filled with a sadness I couldn’t quite place. Was it years of slavery that had dimmed them, or was she sad for… me?
“We can’t keep her waiting,” she whispered.
But I didn’t move.
“What exactly does she want fr
