"Never let your guard down."

Paulina was startled to find Williams very close to her and even more surprised that he was asking her to eat with him.

"Uhm... t-thank you, Milord. B-But I'm not... hungry," Paulina stuttered. It wasn't even a second after she said that when her stomach rumbled in protest, disagreeing with her. She did not eat the previous day because, at first, she was too worried about her unconscious mistress, and after that, when she became hungry, she was too scared to go and ask the other servants for food, considering what had happened to Beth because of her mistress. 

Paulina winced as she looked down in embarrassment. She immediately dropped her painting brush and used her hands to press down on her belly, as if stopping the embarrassing sound from coming out again. 

"Look at me," he said quietly. As if hypnotized, she immediately raised her head and looked up at him. 

"Let's eat," Williams said in amusement before he stood up and turned away from her.