Well Kept Secrets (The Adventures of Xavier & Vic Book 4)

by Liza O'Connor

  No one replied, which only made her feel worse. Was it wrong to expect one’s employees to obey orders? They obeyed Xavier. Why should she be ignored? They were equal partners, even if the place was still called Thorn’s Private Inquiries, rather than Thorn and Hamilton’s Private Inquiries. She’d broached Xavier once about changing the name, but he insisted her name was too long and would make the sign overly large and undignified.

  Her attention returned to Xavier. She pulled back his lips to study his gums, opened his mouth, and pulled at his tongue so she could see it better.

  She was instantly knocked to her side of the bed and his long strong fingers wrapped around her neck. Tubs pulled them away before Xavier could hurt her.

  Xavier woke with a start. “Bloody Hell, Tubs! Have you lost your mind?”

  Tubs released him. “Sorry, sir. You were trying to strangle Vic in your sleep.”

  “No, I wasn’t. I was strangling the damn butler…”

  Vic threw herself on top of his chest and hugged him tightly. He was alive and fine. Her grumpy curmudgeon was alive and fine.

  “Pup, you’re back.” He wrapped his arms about her. “A little privacy if you don’t mind,” he snapped at his audience.

  Tubs, Jacko, and Ben hurried from the room.

  “God, I’ve missed you,” Xavier said between the kisses he covered her face with. After the fifth kiss, he grimaced and wiped his lips. “I’d forgotten how horrible makeup tastes. Any chance I can entice you to wash your face before we make love?”

  Vic was off the bed and at the washstand in an instant. If Xavier was well enough to make love, then he was truly all right.

  Upon removing the makeup, she tore away her damnable dress and warm underclothes and returned to their bed, naked and more than willing.

  Finding him completely dressed, including shoes beneath the blankets, she complained through her somewhat rough removal of his clothes. “Lucky for you, my nose has shut down,” she said. “Otherwise, I suspect I would be demanding you take a bath before we make love.”

  The moment she removed his pants, he yanked her against his chest and rolled on top of her. “Thank God your nose has up and quit then. Otherwise, we’d likely drown. God, you smell intoxicating!”

  She wanted to argue with him that his nose was in worse shape than hers because she hadn’t bathed once since beginning this mission. Instead, she released all her pent up passion onto the man she loved more than life.

  ***

  Dr. Connors entered the room and quickly closed the door behind him. He cleared his throat so the two lovers would cease their frantic lovemaking and hopefully pull up the sheet.

  He had known for a year Vic was not male given the lack of an obvious Adam’s apple. However, he’d never suspected such a womanly body hid beneath Vic’s slender frame. How the hell had she been hiding those fabulous and rather outstanding breasts?

  He cleared his throat a bit louder. When they still failed to realize they had an audience, he resorted to speaking. “Exactly why was I taken away from the Castille’s dinner party?”

  Vic yelped and buried herself beneath the sheet.

  Xavier just glared. “For God’s sake, Connors. Have you never heard of knocking?”

  “Yes. I rather regret not having done so, myself. However, it’s nothing I haven’t seen before, all perfectly natural.”

  “It is far from natural for men to pop into my bedroom when I’m making love. What the bloody hell are you doing here?”

  “I was urgently taken away from dinner with the Castilles. Davy said I had to come at once or he’d be fired.”

  Vic uncovered her face. While beet red, it showed great remorse. “Sorry, Connors. I came back to find Xavier in bed at six in the evening. Xavier never takes evening naps. Then Davy said he’d been poisoned, and I thought Xavier had convinced them not to call you, insisting all he needed was a nap to recover, so I threatened Davy if he didn’t bring you back I’d get my own driver.”

  Xavier huffed in outrage. “I’ll have you know, the moment I realized I’d been poisoned, I had Davy take me directly to Connors. I am most injured you would think me so daft as to think I could sleep off the matter.”

  She stroked his cheek with such love that Connors felt most uncomfortable watching them.

  “I wasn’t thinking straight,” Vic said. “You were taking a nap at six. I was certain something was wrong.”

  Xavier’s hand slid across her body, causing the sheet to slip and give Connors yet another view of her large breasts.

  “It appears that I am not really needed here, so I will return to my dinner now.”

  “Please do,” Xavier stated before crushing his lips to Vic’s mouth.

  Connors slipped from the room to face Tubs. “Under no circumstances disturb them. Xavier seems to have recovered his energy. Where’s Davy? I would like to return to the dinner party. With luck, I will make it in time for dessert.”

  Davy pushed his way around Tubs. “Let’s go. Sorry for dragging you from your dinner.”

  “How did you even find me?” Connors asked.

  Davy snorted. “I’ve worked half my life for the greatest detective in the world and you ask how I found you?”

  Chapter 15

  Xavier ran his fingertip around a rosy swollen nipple, topping the most magnificent mound of white flesh he’d ever seen. Vic’s breasts seemed to have doubled in size in the week she’d been gone.

  Leaning in, he suckled the rosebud closest to him.

  Vic gently pushed him away. “Don’t.”

  He tilted his head, awaiting an explanation. She’d always enjoyed that before. Alice’s letter came to his mind. He watched her chew her bottom lip, looking as if guilt were tearing her up inside. He decided to gently try to move matters along. “Sometimes, when on a mission, things happen, which normally we’d never do.”

  Her eyes turned intense. “Did Jacko tell you about the kiss? It meant nothing. I was just playing the part I was given.”

  He stroked her cheek, glad he was saved from decades of prying to get her confession. It was proof the kiss had indeed meant nothing. Yet, her eyes still harbored guilt.

  “If it’s not the kiss, then what is it that bothers you?”

  She sighed heavily. “Did he tell you the reason he kissed me? That I smelled like Alice?”

  Xavier was about to declare that absurd, but actually, she did smell a bit like Alice. How odd.

  “He has this theory as to why, but it’s stupid, because we have always been careful.”

  “Careful how?” he asked.

  “You know. Using those vulcanized rubber coverings when we make love.”

  “Not always,” he countered. “We failed to do so just now.”

  Her brow furrowed. “But what if I were to have a…you know. It would ruin everything.”

  “It wouldn’t have to.”

  That earned him a painful slap on the chest.

  “Says the man who could go on with his life. But what about me? My life would be ruined.”

  He gripped her hands and kissed them, then held them tightly to his chest so he would incur no more pummeling during their conversation. “I’ve given this matter a great deal of thought, Vic. If the time came we no longer could disguise the fact you are a woman, we would leave London and travel about Europe. I would be the doting husband and you my pregnant and most beloved wife. You would have our child. We’d acquire a satisfactory nanny and return to London as two men with a baby.”

  “And how would we explain our new appendage?”

  “Well, I plan to tell most people it’s none of their damn business where the child came from. However, I will admit to a few, like Stone, that during a mission, I was required to show my undying love for a young lady and she returned a few months later in great distress. I convinced her the dangers of an abortion were too great. Agreeing, she traveled incognito on an extended continental vacation and had the baby in secret. You and I followed later and took possession o
f the infant.”

  “But why would you want it?” she challenged.

  “Since this is likely the only child I will ever father, I greatly want it.”

  “You do?” her voice quivered with uncertainty.

  His eyes met hers, so she could see his sincerity when he responded, “With all my heart, I want our offspring.”

  A radiant smile burst forth, and then she buried her face upon his chest. It took him a moment to realize she was bawling wet soggy tears.

  “Here now, what’s this?”

  “I didn’t expect you to want it. I thought this was going to tear us apart.”

  “Never!” he kissed the top of her head. “And for you to even think such a thing, clearly means you have no clue to the depth and intensity of my love for you.”

  She pushed herself from his chest and smiled. “I do now. You love me as much as I love you.”

  He was tempted to scold her for doubting him, but her scent and beautiful breasts were too enticing. Instead of lecturing, he pulled her on top of him so she could take lead in further lovemaking. Vic loved to be on top.

  ***

  Jacko paced the kitchen floor. The walls weren’t thick enough that any of the occupants in the kitchen remained clueless as to what was going on in Xavier’s bedroom.

  “Did Xavier say what he needed me to do? Because I’d much rather be out there doing something, then up here listening to them.”

  “Good thing we sent Ben home for a bath,” Davy muttered.

  Jacko ran his hands through his oily hair. “Wish I could do the same.”

  Tubs smiled. “I could take you to Vic’s house. I’m sure Gregory would let you have a bath. He’s a very nice man.”

  The gypsy was about to refuse when Tubs added, “And you can say hello to Pete. I’m guessing he’s missing us by now. I know I miss him.”

  Jacko did want to see the boy. He liked the little fellow a great deal. Had from the first time they’d met. “I’m not comfortable with going to a person’s house and asking to bathe, but I would like to see Pete.”

  Davy rose. “I’ll drive you. Otherwise you’ll have to walk. None of the cabbies will pick up Tubs anymore.”

  He couldn’t blame the hired carriage drivers. Four hundred pounds had to be hell on the leather suspensions.

  Jacko didn’t expect a giant, a grumpy driver, and a former pirate to receive an overly warm welcome when they arrived at Vic’s house. However, Gregory surprised him with what looked to be a genuine smile.

  “Please come in. Peter will be so pleased to see you.”

  Jacko grimaced at the gentrification of L’il Pete’s name. Poor boy was no doubt in desperate need of rescue from this place.

  Gregory led them to the parlor where Vic’s sister, Claire, was reading aloud about colored moths. Pete sat in quiet misery on the sofa next to some poor dope clearly bewitched by the petite beauty. While Jacko had never met Vic’s sister before, he was prone to dislike her from the stories his wife had shared.

  Claire looked up from her reading and frowned at their arrival. “Vic isn’t here. How can you not know that?” She showered her scold upon Tubs. “I was under the impression it was your job to watch over him.”

  “Vic’s with Xavier, so we came to visit Pete,” Jacko replied, resenting that this hothouse flower dare scold Tubs about anything. She clearly didn’t appreciate the difficulty of the fellow’s task.

  Pete jumped from the sofa, his smile stretching from ear to ear. “You came for me?”

  “We missed you,” Tubs stated.

  The boy ran to Tubs and wrapped his arms about the giant’s leg.

  “Peter, stop that. One does not go about hugging…people.”

  Without a doubt, the lady had intended to say servants. Jacko was no longer on the fence regarding his opinion of her. His wife was right. Vic and Claire were exact opposites, with Vic having a genuinely good heart while Claire possessed only a false veneer of the same.

  The besotted fellow stood and approached Jacko. “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m David Brown, Claire’s husband.”

  Gads! Someone married her? He shook the fellow’s hand. “Jacon Bienora.”

  “He’s the pirate Alice married,” Claire said.

  Jacko eyed her, then returned his focus to David. He seemed like a nice fellow, shame he’d married so poorly. “Former pirate. I’m reformed now.”

  David laughed heartily. “Claire didn’t mean her words to be a criticism. Her intention was to let me know we have something in common.”

  Jacko studied the thin, somewhat bookish fellow. “You were a pirate?” He didn’t see how that was possible. His crew would have picked the fellow up and tossed him to the sharks just for laughs.

  “Good heavens, no!” Claire snapped. “What on earth would make you think such a thing?”

  “I’m a dentist,” David explained. “But in the eyes of society, you might actually rank above me. At least you’re interesting.”

  “David, you know that’s not true.” Claire’s voice was no longer tainted with arrogance and contempt.

  To Jacko’s ear, she genuinely seemed to love her socially unacceptable husband. How odd. Perhaps she wasn’t as reprehensible as he believed.

  He turned to Li’l Pete, stilling hugging Tubs’ leg, and knelt down. “Do you remember me, Pete?”

  “It’s Peter,” Claire said.

  Jacko rolled his eyes, to let the boy know what he thought of his new name. The boy laughed and stepped forward, holding out his tiny hand. “I do remember you. I brought you news that helped save Mr. Thorn’s life. I’d hoped to win the ten thousand pounds you promised, but instead you gave me twenty and a job.”

  “Jacko, how could you!” Claire snapped.

  Jacko ignored her, but L’il Pete answered. “That’s all right. Me mum made me give back the twenty anyway. She said I couldn’t work for him needer.”

  “Neither,” Claire corrected. “You must articulate your words correctly. And don’t say ‘me mum’. It’s ‘my mother’.”

  L’il Pete’s eyes grew glassy with tears. “I’m not changing what I call me mum. Otherwise, she won’t know it’s me talking to her in heaven.”

  Claire sighed heavily and picked up her pamphlet. “I was reading Darwin’s publication on moths. You may be seated and listen if you wish.”

  Jacko answered for all but besotted David on this matter. “No thanks. We’ll just take Pete to the kitchen and visit.”

  “Yeah!” Pete said with genuine happiness.

  Claire frowned at the boy and then looked at David as if expecting him to do something about their unruly guests kidnapping Peter.

  David went to Claire and kissed her on her head. “Let Pete visit with his friends. I, on the other hand, would love to hear more about Darwin’s findings.”

  “All right, but no sweets, Peter. You know how restless it makes you.”

  The boy’s smile faded as he gripped Jacko’s hand and hurried from the room. He led them post haste to the kitchen and climbed upon the bench. “Thank you for saving me,” he whispered.

  Jacko ran his hand through Pete’s coal black curly hair, so much like his own. He’d always had a soft spot for the little fellow. The kid reminded him of himself when he was a boy.

  Instead of being outraged to have her kitchen invaded by a giant, a servant, a pirate and a street boy, Mrs. Yarrows, the cook, smiled warmly as she brought out a great deal of meats and sweets from their newly installed refrigerator.

  No one mentioned Claire’s forbiddance of sweets, so Pete soon had a chocolate covered smile.

  “So where’d you go for so long?” Pete asked.

  Jacko explained he’d gotten married and lived in the country now.

  “What do you do out there?”

  He discussed Alice’s work in agriculture.

  Pete listened most attentively, never interrupting, but when Jacko finished his explanation, the boy’s head tilted heavily to the left. “That sounds like she�
�s really happy. But what do you do out there?”

  Out of the mouth of babes…

  He sighed. “To be honest, not much. No one really needs my skills in the country.”

  Pete patted his hand. “You’re a fish outta water, just like me.”

  “Where’d you hear that expression?” Jacko asked.

  “Mr. David said it…only not to my face. He said it to Miss Claire.” Pete frowned. “Do you think he’s right?”

  “Living here? Definitely.”

  The boy’s brow furrowed and his lips puckered. “Don’t fish out of water die?”

  Jacko’s heart ached for L’il Pete. He knew all too well the pain of losing a mum. It had happened to Jacko, as well. And to be dropped in Claire’s lap while grieving had to be close to hell.

  He leaned in and whispered, “We’ll get you out of here, Pete. Just hang on a bit longer.”

  The boy’s little hands gripped his arm. “How much longer?”

  “By the end of the week. I’ll have a plan by Saturday.”

  Pete rewarded him with a smile. “I can survive a week more, I guess. But don’t disappoint me.”

  Jacko ruffled his hair. “I won’t. By the end of the week, I’ll bust you outta here.”

  He glanced up at the cook, worried she’d report the conversation to Claire. The woman smiled at him. “You two could pass for father and son, you know. A father can always claim his son. Don’t matter if a rich lady wants the boy. A judge will favor the father.”

  “I never had a father,” Pete said.

  “Oh you had one,” the cook insisted. “And if someone were to claim you, someone who looked like you, the judge would believe it. Men are always making babies and going off, never knowing what they’ve done.”

  “You mean I have a father, but he doesn’t know I exist?” Pete asked.

  The cook nodded then hurried to the counter and began a frenzy of cleaning. Jacko glanced behind them, wondering if Claire had entered the kitchen. He’d be shocked if she had.

  The figure looming in the doorway was the butler and his worried eyes were on Pete.

  Pete turned and spoke, evidently assuming the butler had been listening to the conversation. “Mr. Gregory, do you think it’s possible I have a father out there who don’t know about me?”