Kady Cross - The Girl in the Steel Corset

London, 1897

The moment she saw the young man walking down the darkened hall toward her, twirling his walking stick, Finley Jayne knew shed be unemployed before the sun rose. Her third dismissal in as many months.

She tensed and slowed her steps, but she did not stop. She kept her head down, but was smart enough not to take her gaze off him. Perhaps he would walk right by her, as though she were as invisible as servants were supposed to be.

Felix August-Raynes was the son of her employer. At one and twenty years of age, he was tall and lean with curly blond hair and bright blue eyes. Every woman who saw him called him an angel. Most who knew him thought him the very devil.

The other maids in service had warned her about Lord Felix her first day in the house. A mere fortnight ago. He belonged to a gang of privileged ruffians known for their facial piercings and lack of respect for anyone else, especially females. She had been hired to replace the previous girl hurt by the young lord. Rumor had it that the maid had required serious medical attention.

Finley didnt court trouble, but part of herthat part that was going to keep her safe, yet get her firedhoped hed try something. It was horribly delighted at the prospect of the violence to come.

The rest of her was terrified. Were it not for the steel boning of her leather work-corset, she fancied her heart might slam through her ribs it was pounding so hard.

Lord Felix smiled, teeth flashing in the dim light as he stopped just a few feet in front of her, blocking the only route to the servants quarters where she slept. The tiny brass bar that bisected his left eyebrowand proclaimed him a member of the Dandiesglinted. Hello, my lovely. I had hoped to run into you.

Finley hesitated. Maybe hed move out of her way and let her pass.

Or, a voice in her head whisperedher voice you could kick his teeth in. She lowered her gaze, not wanting him to see the bloodlust there. Silently, she willed him to let her pass. For his own safety.

Instead, he closed the scant distance between them.

Youre new, arent you? he inquired, moving closer. He was already much too close for propriety and there was no one around to make sure he didnt overstep his bounds. The light on the wall above them flickered as though attuned to the fluttering in Finleys chest. This close, she could smell stale ale, cologne and the undeniable oily scent of mech-boxing on his fine suit. Lord Felix was a great patron of the sport. Though why anyone would want to watch automatons pound the gears out of each other was beyond her.

Please, my lord, she said softly, wincing at the pleading in her tone. Please dont make me hurt you. I wish to retire. Its late.

It was after three in the morning, to be exact. She would have been in bed hours ago were it not for the fact that the darling debutante of the house had demanded her pink riding habit be laundered for the morning. As Lady Alysss maid, it was Finleys job to take the ensemble down to the laundry where the air was thick with hot steam and the smell of overheated gears. She had washed the clothing and set it to dry. Right now her blouse and short skirts were damp, and her feet were sweating inside her high, thick-soled boots. She wanted nothing more than to unfasten the many buckles and take them off, along with her corset. She was going to be up early to collect the habit for Lady Alyss to wear.

And now this annoying twit stood in her way. Finley didnt like it. The thing inside her truly didnt like it. She used to think of it as an imp on her shoulder, urging her to be naughty, but lately shed come to think of it as less mischievous and more dangerous.

Dangerous to whoever threatened her.

Lord Felix propped a palm against the plaster by her head, turning so that he pinned her against the wall with his own body. Whats the hurry? he asked, beer breath hot on her face. Dont you like me?

Finley held her tongue. If she opened her mouth shed tell him exactly what she thought of him, and she needed to keep this employment. She needed to get out of this situation without either of them getting hurt.

He slid his other hand behind her, down her back to her backside and squeezed. Dont you want to make me happy? Smart little girls want to make me happy.

Finley turned her head as his face came down toward hers, and narrowly escaped being kissed. His wet mouth landed on her ear instead. She shuddered. Please, my lord. Let me go. For your own sake.

His lips fastened on her neck instead. Nausea rolled through her stomach and then suddenly stopped as she felt his palm against the striped stockings that covered her thigh. He wasnt going to cease. He wasnt going to let her go. He was going to take what he wanted, because thats what rich young men did to girls under their control.

But she wasnt under anybodys control. Not even her own. She could feel it fracturing as something deep inside fought to get out.

Finley brought both hands up and pushed hard against his chest. He flew backward, hitting the opposite wall with enough force to crack the plaster.

Lord Felix stared at her, in both shock and outrage. You nasty tart, he snarled as he brushed dust from his sleeves. Like a bit of the rough, do you?

Youve no idea, Finley heard herself reply coolly. But make no mistake, my lord, I do not like you, so keep those damn hands of yours to yourself.

The young mans face reddened and his eyes shone with anger. Bitch. No guttersnipe servant talks to me that way. He straightened and took a step toward her, shrugging out of his purple velvet frock-coat. Someone needs to teach you a lesson.

She didnt see the blow coming, but she certainly felt it when it hit. Her head jolted back under the force of his fist, striking the wall. Lights danced in the darkness of her eyes as pain shot through her skull. But she did not pass out.

It would have been so much better for Lord Felix if she had.

She could feel blood trickling from her mouth and she wiped at it with the back of her hand. Vision finally clear, she saw that Lord Felix had also removed his waistcoat and was now rolling up his sleeves. The excited glint in his eye told Finley exactly what kind of lesson he intended her to learn.

Something inside her stretched and pulledstill fighting to get out. There was no point in denying it anymore. She had been raised in a loving home with her mother and stepfathera kind and honest man who doted on them both. He would never dream of such violenceno good man would.

But Lord Felix August-Raynes was not a good man. And it was time someone taught him a lesson.

The warm rush of familiar power brought a slight smile to her battered lips. She gave up all attempts to keep it reined in. It was the only way shed survive this night with her virtue and bones intact. It was as though she was watching herself from a perch on the ceilingall she could do was observe as her other self took over. Her boots shifted on the bare floor, right foot forward, left foot back and pointed out. She raised her fists.