<i>"Why is this one different...?"</i><br/><br/>The question made her cringe. She knew that she would not be so lucky as to have him miss the alteration of the invitation. Her eyes lifted to him and her breathing quickened when she saw his gaze shift to settle on her. She opened her mouth to speak but stopped when the questions continued. She swallowed nervously.<span style="color: indigo"> "No Master. Of course I-I would never mean to imply that the will of another carries more weight than your own. It is just that... Lady Hargrave... frightens me. I have heard stories of her cruelty a-and she showed interest in me when she was a business associate of my father. Please forgive me, I meant no offence I simply wished to state more firmly that you are the one who controls what is done to me, not her." </span>Zoey's ample chest rose and fell more quickly now and she looked on the verge of panic at the thought of being at the other woman's mercy.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>