At these words, Andrew Shaw's heart, which had just settled, leaped back into his throat.
'I knew it! I just knew it! How could she possibly not have heard? Her hearing is so sharp, and she was right behind me at the time.'
'She's just doing this on purpose. Waiting for me to let my guard down, then saying something like this to put me back on tenterhooks. She's just torturing me!'
His face crumpled as he sidled up to her. "My lady, my lady, I was wrong! I'm scum! Please, just forgive me!"
"What are you so afraid of? It's not like I'm going to kill you."
Stella Sterling walked ahead, her voice laced with amusement.
Hearing this did little to improve the look on Andrew Shaw's face.
'She wouldn't kill me, no, but she'd definitely find other ways to torture me.'
'Like eating delicacies in front of me while I get nothing but steamed buns.'
'Or deliberately messing with me in some way. In short, she'd always keep me off-balance.'
