“Ironington, I am aware of the conversation you are referring to, as well I am aware of Addison’s presence at the chateau with my lady that evening.” Ashton’s white eyes cut like a serrated edge as he gazed at Lord Ironington. “I would suggest you find another much more viable scandal which will allow you to spew your venom someplace else. But let me assure you of this. Lady Trinity has no association with Jacqueline other than one of friendship. She is unblemished, and if I hear of you disparaging her name or making inappropriate comments such as you made that evening at the chateau, I shall without remorse choke the life from your worthless body,” Ashton said with his fake smile. I observed Ashton run his hand down Ironington’s tie, straightening it. “Thank you for joining us this evening.” Then Ashton walked off as if nothing had occurred.
As the guest cleared out, I stood at the door, hugging all of my sisters. Alec had returned, assuring them they were only forty-five minutes away so there was no reason for another bout of parting tears.
“Jacqueline,” I whispered into her ear as she hugged me, “can I come visit? I need to see your physician. It’s time for another birth control injection.”
“Of course, my petit. I shall ring you for tea in a week.”
“All right, I will see you then. Thank you,” I said.
“I wish to see the grounds as well as the house locked up tonight,” Ashton instructed Remington. “I am not convinced we shall not receive another visit from Addison.”
“Yes, my lord,” Remington replied.
“Mom. Aunt Jane. I hope you enjoyed your evening. I’m sorry about the disruption,” I said.
“Trinity, we should talk about what’s going on with Reid,” my mother said. She had that look of concern.
“We can talk tomorrow. It’s late, and you both have had a long trip. I’m tired as well. Would you like Claudia to show you back to your rooms?”
“No,” Jane said. “We will find our way.”
I hugged them. “You both have a good night. I will see you at eight for breakfast.”
“Good night, sweet,” Jane said.
“Good night, my love,” my mother said.
“Ah…” Ashton crooned, coming to my side. “Tonight was wonderful. I am so proud of you, my dove.”
“Well, it would have been wonderful if Reid hadn’t showed up.”
“Let us not think upon him. I wish to think upon only you.”
“Archer,” Barrington called, “do you fancy a round of cards?”
“Only if you fancy a sound whipping,” Ashton quipped.
I slid my hand over the lapel of Ashton’s suit. “You go have fun. I’m tired; I think I will go to bed.”
“Are you too tired for a visit later?” he whispered.
“Why, my lord, what are you suggesting?”
“I am suggesting all kinds of debauchery.”
“In that case,” I said, leaning in to kiss his lips, “see me when you finish playing with your friend.”
“You are my little minx,” Ashton said seductively, gazing into the depths of my eyes.
“Indeed,” I replied. I peeked around Ashton’s shoulder to see Barrington puffing on his cigar. “Good evening, Thaddeus.”
Barrington bowed his head. “Good evening, my lovely Lady Trinity.”
“Claudia,” I called. “I am sorry for the mess in the foyer. Thank you for cleaning it up.
“Of course, my lady,” Claudia replied with a curtsy.
“Good night, Claudia.”
“You as well, my lady.”
Barrington had managed to find his way to Ashton’s side. I cocked my head and glanced over my shoulder, hitting Ashton with a seductive grin before looking over to Thaddeus. “You two boys play nice.”
“Come, Archer,” Barrington said, clapping his hand upon Ashton’s back, “tell your cock to stand down, we have a round of cards to play, some cognac to drink, stories to tell, and some more of these fabulous cigars to smoke.”
Ashton let out a guffaw. “Barrington, you are lucky I call you friend and brother. You do see what I am passing up to placate you this evening?”
“Yes, but you have the rest of your lives together, one night from her bed shall not kill you,” Barrington replied. “Besides, I need to win back the money you stole from me last spring on that wager with the horses.”
“You made the wager. You shall not whine like a school girl now for making such a foolish bet.”
“Pish posh, I was distracted when I made the wager.”
“By your cock you were distracted. However, you cannot blame your lack in judgment on your infamous member, my friend,” Ashton chortled.
“Archer, that woman was fabulous, naked and shaking her succulent glittered bum in my face when we made that wager. You tell me if I was not at a disadvantage?”
“Perhaps, however, a wager is a wager therefore if you want your money returned you must win it back.”
“I intend to do just that, my brother,” Barrington assured.
I shook my head, leaving Ashton and Thaddeus to their games and their banter.
****
I was awakened by the feeling of warmth surrounding me. Ashton had slipped under the covers and pulled my naked body into his, spooning me. Still not fully awake, I intertwined my fingers into his.
“What time is it?” I asked.
“Early,” Ashton replied, “close to dawn.”
Ashton’s cologne mixed in with the smell of his expensive cognac and cigars. “Did you boys have fun?”
“Mmm … but I have thought of nothing but you, my love.”
“I see. And what were you thinking?”
“This,” Ashton replied, rolling my body on top of his.
I secured my hands on his chest. “Then you and I are thinking the same things,” I replied, sliding my body over his manhood.
“Shall we?” he asked.
“Oh yes, my lord,” I said, and lowered myself upon him, in total, unabated bliss.
****
Ashton and Thaddeus excused themselves from the breakfast table after eating in a hurried manner.
“My dove, Barrington and I are going hunting this morning. We shall be gone a few hours,” he said and kissed my forehead. “Ladies.” He nodded to Jane and mom. “Please know this is your home as well, and I shall leave my beautiful Trinity in your care.”
Jane blushed.
“Thank you for your kindness,” my mom replied.
“You are my family now,” Ashton assured before looking back at me. “I love you, my dove.”
I patted his cheek. “I love you, too.” I gazed at Barrington. “Thaddeus, I shall thump you if my lord comes home smelling of alcohol, cigars or perfumed women.”
Ashton let out a guffaw in unison with Barrington.
“My dove, I assure you we are going hunting, nothing more sinister,” Ashton said with his devastating, bright white smile.
“Lady Trinity. I would never suggest such an outing.” Barrington hit me with a crooked grin. “However, if I knew for sure you would thump me, I may just bring him back in such a condition in order to obtain the thumping I so deserve.”
“Barrington, do not prod my dove. She may indeed thump you, and I shall not stop her,” Ashton teased.
“Ha! I believe I just gained permission to thump you, Thaddeus.”
“Indeed,” Thaddeus replied. He turned his gaze to my mom and aunt. “Ladies, I shall depart from your feminine graces before Lady Trinity trounces me for my evil ways.” He bowed and took my aunt’s hand. He kissed it. “Good morning to you both.”
Jane flushed red once again. “Thank you, Thaddeus.”
“Good morning,” mom returned.
Aunt Jane looked at me, smiling, once the men left. “My sweet, I must say you have found a gorgeous man to marry, and his friend is quite a delicious dish as well.”
My mother gasped. “Jane!”
“What, Francis? I may be older than you, but I am far from dead. I recognize quality when
I see it, and you may do well to recognize a man from time to time yourself. You know you are still beautiful, Francis. Why not find someone to keep you warm at night?”
“Good Lord, Jane, have you no ability to hold in your twisted thoughts?”
Jane twirled her napkin. “Nope.”
“Come on,” I said. “I have a masseur coming. And trust me, you are both in for a treat.”
“A masseur?” Aunt Jane asked.
“Yep, we’re going to be pampered today.”
“My Lady, do you have a moment?” Claudia asked.
“Of course, Claudia,” I said. I twirled around to see Maragrete. “Maragrete, will you show my mother and my aunt into the rose room?”
“As you wish, my lady,” Maragrete replied.
“Mom. Aunt Jane. I will join you soon,” I assured. “Maragrete will assist you.”
I left with Claudia.
“My Lady, I am sorry to interrupt, but you received a correspondence from,” Claudia’s voice dropped low, “Mr. Addison.”
“Thank you, Claudia, I shall take the letter.”
Claudia pulled out an envelope from her white apron and handed it to me. “Lord Archer will not be pleased if he finds out about this letter, my lady.”
“I assure you, Lord Archer and I hold no secrets. I will tell him of the letter, and I shall speak with Reid to inform him no further letters shall be accepted.”
Claudia’s face flushed. “Of course, my lady. I was not suggesting…”
“I know, Claudia. Don’t worry.”
Once I was in the parlor, I opened the envelope and pulled out a crisp sheet of white paper that had been triple folded. I held it in my hand for a moment before unfolding it….
Trinity,
I cannot tell you how sorry I am for last night. I know you must hate me, and I have given you every reason to. You probably never want to see me again, or accept any further letters from me so you don’t need to send word of such. I won’t write you again, but I need to tell you I’m sorry for everything. Sorry I turned you away time and time again when I should have allowed myself to love you. I am sorry for my past, what I’ve done, how I have acted, and sorry you found me to be someone other than who you thought me to be. I want to be a better man. I do mean this, Trinity. I think when I return home I will see someone, talk about my issues, work on “me,” as they say. I wish things between us could have been different, but mostly I wish for you. I don’t wish to lose you, and can’t imagine a world where I can’t see you, so I’ll behave myself. I will be your friend, if this is the only way I can keep you in my life. You told me more than once our friendship was unconditional; I am hoping this to still be true. I know you don’t like me to say this, but you will always be my baby bird. Not the scared, shy, timid girl who watched me, but the woman, the exquisite woman who you have always been to me. When I think of you, I see the beautiful creature I found perched on the boulder of my father’s Zen garden, looking like an angel cast into the silver night. I will never forget how I kissed you, how you kissed me back, how it felt to have your taste upon my tongue, and feel your body give way to me. I hold this woman, my baby bird, with me.
Reid
I wiped away the tears, took in a large breath, took two steps forward, and dropped the letter into the fireplace. The sides of the paper darkened, curling up, then burst into orange flames as Reid’s words evaporated. Reid loved me, and I found myself saddened. I picked up the poker and adjusted the burning logs. I’d received my wish when I no longer required it, needed it or wanted it. My sisters were right when they spoke of needing something other than I originally sought. They were right when they spoke of finding myself. Jacqueline was right when she told me that someday I would no longer love the creation I’d imagined of Reid, and someday I would set that creation free.
I knew myself. I knew what I needed, wanted, and desired. Nothing but the truest wish for Reid to find peace and happiness existed within me. Somewhere along the way, I’d released him, finding nothing was left but true friendship. I loved my husband. I glanced at the ring on my finger before returning my gaze to the fire. I watched Reid’s desire turn to ash.
“Goodbye, Reid.”
Chapter Fifteen
Spring.
Ashton had been working on a new acquisition of horses and toward his father’s death if the Duke found out his son was the secret partner with Lord Barrington in his newest adventure. The nightclub Thaddeus and Ashton were opening in Paris was called the Serpent’s Den. And in a couple of months, the extensive renovations would be complete.
I drifted into Ashton’s study, but he wasn’t at his desk where I’d left him so I tidied up a bit, placing his folders into a neat stack and rolling up the blueprints for the nightclub. Foot falls echoed in the hallway. I looked up, expecting to see Ashton, but no one was there.
“Hello?” I called out. No response.
I was beginning to wonder about myself. Lately I had a strange feeling, like I was being watched. I listened for a moment, but the house was quiet. I placed the blueprints I’d rolled into their tub containers and gathered up a small stack of books that needed to be returned to their shelves in our library. With books in hand, I rolled Ashton’s desk chair back into place using my foot.
I passed Claudia on my way to the library. She was dusting the furniture in the hall. “Claudia,” I said. “Have you heard anything odd lately?”
Claudia did a half curtsy. “Odd, my lady?”
“I’ve been hearing footsteps.”
Claudia shook her head. “No, my lady. I haven’t”
“Okay,” I said. “Maybe it’s just the house or me hearing things.”
I made my way down the hall. The library was too dark, so I turned on the overhead lights. The leather wingback chairs weren’t where they should be either. Someone had moved them from the cozy seating area, and the legs of the chairs were on the hardwood and not on the area rug. I placed my stack of books on the seat of one chair and tugged it back into place. The next chair took a little more effort, as it was a bit heavier, but I managed. The curtains had been drawn, so that was my next task, to open them up and let the beautiful day in.
“My dove, there you are,” Ashton said. “I’ve been looking for you.”
“I was in the kitchen, then your office, and now I’m trying to put this room back in order. Someone moved the chairs, and I hate having the curtains drawn. It makes the rooms dark.”
“Ah… well the curtains can wait. Take a seat. I have a surprise for you.”
I giggled. “Ashton, it isn’t more jewelry, is it? You know I don’t need more jewelry.”
“If I tell you what it is, it shall not be a surprise.”
“Okay,” I said and took a seat in one of the wingback chairs. “Did you see the flowers in the foyer?”
“The flowers are very beautiful, my dove.”
“They came from the formal garden. I thought they would bring some of the springtime in.”
“They do,” Ashton said. “Now, close your eyes.”
“What are you up to?”
Ashton grinned. “Close your eyes.”
I did what he asked, and a few seconds later I heard a pounding flitter then something leaping across the floor. I was attacked by a wet lapping tongue.
“Ashton!” I opened my eyes. “Oh my. He’s so beautiful,” I said, staring into the face of a huge Great Dane puppy. I tried to hoist him up, but he was all waggling puppy joy and extreme heft. “His eye color looks like your eyes, blue-silver. Oh! I love him.” I undertook another assault of his wet tongue across my face and tried to combat sloppy puppy kisses.
“What shall you name him?”
I let the pup loose from my hold, watching him chase his tail. The pup knocked into the chair beside me, and the stack of books that was on the seat plummeted to the floor. He sniffed at them then jumped up to take hold of a quilt, dragging it free from the back of the chair. He twisted around in lumpy thumps of quilt, feet, legs and ta
il upon the floor.
“Maybe Oliver,” I said, giggling and watching the pup’s current predicament.
“Oliver?” Ashton laughed. “He looks more like a Brutus, or look what a mess he has already caused, maybe a Mayhem?”
I glanced up at Ashton. “Yes, we shall call him Mayhem. It’s fitting.” I jumped up from the chair and into Ashton’s arms, kissing his face with wild abandon.
“Are you happy, my dove?”
“Yes, I could not be any happier. I love you.”
“I love you, Trinity. It makes me happy to see you so full of joy.” Ashton kissed me deeply. I melted before he pulled back from the kiss. “Today is glorious. Shall we ride?” he asked.
“Oh, yes. Let’s ride out into the meadow. Zeus and Phantom will have a blast within the tall grass. Since all the rain, I imagine the grass has sprouted up even taller. Waist high, I bet.”
“You know that damnable stallion loves you. He will not allow any other to ride him, not even me. You have bewitched him. I may be jealous of the affection between you two,” Ashton said.
“Well, I do love Zeus, but not as much as I love you, my lord.”
“Really?”
I looked deeply into Ashton’s iced white eyes. “ll a toujours été, vous, ce sera toujours toi.”
Ashton blinked. I’d surprised him.
“Trinity,” he said with the rise of his dark brow, “you are learning French.”
“I have been working on it,” I replied.
“So tell me,” he said. “Translate what you said.”
“I said, my lord, it has always been you, it will always be you.”
“As it will always be you,” he replied.
“Oh, your mother rang today,” I said as the pup bounded across the floor losing his step and sliding into the leg of an antique table. The table wavered while the bowl on top skidded close to the edge. I slid the bowl back into place before bending down to the pup. “Mayhem, you must be careful.” I took his big, square, sloppy jaws into my hands and kissed his nose. “You cannot break the antiques.” I patted his head. “Now, you shall stand up and walk beside of us properly.”
The Good Sister: Part Two Page 18
