by Rose, taylor
Brandon looked a little distracted, but he had for most of the evening. Something was going on.
“Yes, everything is fine. Harold suggested I stay tonight rather than walk back to the Inn. I’m here early tomorrow to help out anyway. Hope you don’t mind?”
She knew that wasn’t what was wrong. “Are you going to tell me what is going on?”
“Yes…..just not here. I’ll walk you up stairs when you are ready to retire and I’ll tell you then. Is that alright?”
“I was just thinking that I am exhausted and I want to go to bed now. I’ll just say my good nights”
Brandon was so tempted to say I want to take you to bed, unfortunately her words conjured up a sudden vision in Brandon’s mind of them lying on her bed: now that he had seen her room: holding each other, skin on skin. Him staring into her eyes as they made love. He shook his head to try to remove the vision.
Sophia came out with a rather worn smile on her face, bumped her hip into Brandon as she walked past and said “Come on Big Boy” with an inviting smile on her face. Did she have no idea what he was going through here? He was only human and he could control himself well under all other circumstance but not when she offered up any small amount of encouragement. It was going to be a very long night indeed.
What made her say that? She wondered. He had had women falling all over each other practically all night and here she was doing the same. Although she had to concede that he wasn’t really that interested in her. Kissing her, perhaps, but who would be interested in a woman who lacked any real experience in anything to do with love making or romance.
They had reached her rooms and she turned to him. “So, what has you looking so worried?”
Brandon looked up. ”Could we go inside, I don’t want anyone to hear this”
Sophia could see from his expression that something was weighing heavily on his mind. So she opened the door without a word. When she closed the door she suddenly recalled that only hours ago every cell in her body was screaming at her to open the door and he would have seduced her. Now he didn’t seem to register where he was, this was not looking good. She went and sat down on the bed. Brandon sat down on the bed beside her. He took her hand and turned to look at her.
Now Sophia was getting worried. “How well do you really know Alfred?” asked Brandon.
“What? This is about Alfred?” She said still confused.
“Yes, how well do you know him?” Brandon repeated.
“I don’t really……His family owned an equally sized estate bordering on this one but over the years they have been selling off bits. He was Archibald’s friend from their boarding school days. He would visit maybe twice a year and has been coming to the Hunt for years. Why? “
“I had a conversation with him earlier this evening which, quite frankly disturbed me a bit”
Sophia sat there looking at the man sitting beside her, who wore concern all over his face. What for…she couldn’t imagine. How bad could a chat with Alfred be?
“He informed me to stop pursuing you because he was going to take over the Estate from you. That you would be happy to have a man like him in charge as you have no idea on how to run something of this size. When you married him, he would show the staff that they had to treat you as your title dictates. But it was the bit about you marrying him that disturbs me the most.”
“Well, it is the part where he thinks he is taking over my Estate that disturbs me the most…….Hang on, you don’t actually think I am going to marry him do you?” Sophia abruptly asked.
“No, I do not. I think after our discussion in the kitchen the other night that I could see that you are not going to have a loveless relationship again. It’s more that Alfred thinks you are going to marry him that I find alarming. Just watch yourself….can you lock your door?”
“Yes I can. You think he is that dangerous?”
“I don’t really know but better to be safe than sorry. Don’t you think?”
“Quite right”
“Where is Lilly? I haven’t seen her all day?
“She hasn’t been here all day. She is staying with her best friend Jesse and her mum, Rachel. But they will be back to watch the Hunt start off in the morning. Why?
“I just hadn’t seen her all day that’s all.” Brandon wasn’t going to worry Sophia with his concerns as to the length that he felt Alfred might be willing to go. So he was relieved that Lilly wasn’t here at the moment. “I guess I’ll head for bed then.” He said.
“……I’ll lock the door when you go”
That was his cue to leave but he was having trouble with the idea of leaving her. This could well be the one and only opportunity to be in her bedroom and he was about to walk out.
And leave was exactly what he did because he knew that if he didn’t leave her then and there he would not be able to control the urge to kiss her. He knew that if he kissed her nothing would stop him from seducing her. Brandon had never wanted a woman as much as he wanted Sophia but he wasn’t sure where he stood with her. He was not about to blow it by making an unwanted move.
Sophia stood and followed him to her door and locked the door behind him. She knew that he waited on the landing to hear the lock being turned and then heard him go into the room next door. This was breaking her personal control. He had been in this very room she thought as she turned around and leaned on the door. “And you let him walk out” Sophia mumbled to herself. What else was she supposed to do? He didn’t make any moves to stay. What would she have done if he had? It was a question she would rather not have asked herself because most of her knew that she would not be standing leaning against the door. Why would a man who has such an obvious appeal to the fairer sex want with her? She smiled at the reaction of the women tonight, they were like puppies and Brandon seemed to be somehow accustomed to all the attention. Who was he……really? Sophia had to acknowledge not for the first time that she knew nothing about him. She moved off the door and went into her bathroom to change into her pajamas and remove her makeup. Having brushed her teeth she finally climbed into bed and within five minutes had fallen asleep only to dream of Brandon making love to her in ways she had never experienced.
Brandon waited until Sophia locked the door to her chambers then for some reason checked over the landing. He spotted Harold serving Alfred another drink through the open door. Just as Harold glanced up and noticed Brandon. Brandon gave him the thumbs up sign and moved off to his room. He was not going to get a lot of sleep. He shook his head as his thoughts went back to the fact that he had only moments before sat on Sophia’s bed and had not touched her. She was absolutely stunning in the dress she was in. He found her profoundly beautiful in her work boots but tonight he had the privilege of seeing her looking like her title suggests…a lady. And she played the part of a hostess to perfection. As Brandon climbed under the covers he again compared Sophia to the woman he had dated. It wasn’t a fair contest they all paled into insignificance against her.
Yes. Brandon was in for a long night.
Chapter Fifteen
Brandon awoke abruptly. It took him a few seconds to recognize his surroundings. The bed was big, beautiful and soft. You could lay in this for days and not want to get out. Now, I am going soft, he thought to himself. What sort of a man was he to be enjoying a snugly bed. He looked at his watch; 2-30 am……What woke him? Then he heard it again. It was a muffled noise coming from Sophia’s room. He was on his feet before he knew it. The hair on the back of his neck was standing up. Thinking quickly he reached his door in a few short strides, coming out on the landing he raced towards Sophia’s door. There was another noise again from inside her room. Banging loudly on the door Brandon spoke “Sophia is everything alright in there?” There was a loud thud then Silence……….. “Sophia you need to open this door……now” Brandon was pounding on the door. Just as he was about to go back into his room to use the secret entrance his blood froze. “We are fine in here, go away and mind your own business.” It was
not Sophia’s voice but Brandon recognized it just the same. Alfred. Brandon’s feet went into motion and had him back in his room in what seemed like a nano-second. He was standing in front of the picture that hid the secret passage within seconds from leaving her door. Moving the picture to the side Brandon watched as the section of the wall gave way and he pushed as slowly and he hoped, silently, as he could. Stepping through the wall his blood ran cold and was pounding in his ears at the same time.
Sophia had two night lights going in her room which had been installed for the occasions when Lilly had wanted to sleep in Sophia’s bed. It was a force of habit that she had them on tonight, even though Lilly was staying at her friend’s house tonight. When she woke Sophia knew instantly that something was very wrong. Her body had had the good sense to lie still when she initially woke which she was eternally grateful for. It had given her a small window of opportunity to comprehend that someone was in her rooms……Brandon? No. Her instincts just knew it wasn’t him. Then….who? Pure fear started to rise from her core and was attempting to take over. No…. think……. thought Sophia. She couldn’t help herself if she froze with fear. Who? Then a terrifying thought hid her head….Alfred …..yes. Another wave of panic overcame her. Dear God what am I going to do? Sophia thought. She mentally froze then her survival instincts kicked in. She sat up very quickly and placed her feet on the floor. Alfred’s surprise was short lived. He pounced on her grabbing her with his hands which were holding onto her upper arms so tightly that it was painful. He was trying to kiss her. Sophia fought. She managed to stand and turn at the same time and knocked them both into the wall beside the bed. She could tell that he was trying to get her back onto her bed and she was not going to let that happen. If she could keep her feet she might be able to get to the bedroom door and get out. Suddenly there was a loud knock on her door. Brandon’s voice boomed “Sophia are you alright?” As she tried to answer Brandon, Alfred pushed her against the wall with such a force that she knew she had lost her battle. Darkness was closing in and all she could do was slide down the wall. She just hung on long enough to hear Brandon pounding on the door a second time and telling her to answer him. She had a split second to think that if Brandon had been in her bed this would not have happened…….
Alfred had gained entrance via a key he knew was in the servant’s area downstairs. He couldn’t believe that Archibald had mentioned the location so long ago and that he had remembered the comment. Nor could he believe the stupidity of the staff or Sophia herself that the key still remained on the key hook all these years later. It was a sign. His good breeding should only be shared with someone like Sophia. How dare she lock the door to him! She wouldn’t do that when they were married. This made Alfred smile to himself. Archibald had no idea how to treat a women and this one had run all over him. She had not provided an heir for him and then had finally produced a baby for him on his death bed. To add injury to insult it had been a girl. What kind of heir was that? A girl was useless. He would not be producing a girl, one his sons would take over this Estate when he was old enough. As for that Brandon fellow, he didn’t stand a chance. He certainly did not have the breeding, education or heritage to interest Lady Sophia. The man obviously didn’t have two ten pound notes to rub together. His charm with the woman was evident. Look at the practiced way he dealt with all the women tonight, falling over themselves at pre drinks, fighting to sit next to him at dinner. He clearly had his sights on Lady Sophia. Why not, Alfred thought as he reached Sophia’s door. He had to admit that his own personal Estate was feeling the pressure of the hard economic times and owning something the size of Glen Dorking’s would help to sort out his own financial woes.
Alfred used the key to silently enter Sophia’s quarters. She would marry him and give him a child of his own. Just not necessarily in that order……
Alfred watched as Sophia slid down the wall and noticed that she was unconscious. Oh well, he thought, she will have to do as is. He bent down to pick her up and placed her back on the bed. She will have to lose some weight because he found her quite heavy. She was by no means carrying excess weight but she was solid and that did not suit him, especially if this was going to be the only way he could have sex with her. She would have to shed some pounds.
Alfred was starting to pull off her pants when all hell broke loose…….
From Brandon’s viewpoint he watched as Alfred manhandled Sophia onto the bed. Brandon could see clearly what Alfred had in mind but something rooted him to the spot where he had come through the wall. Most of him just wanted to knock Alfred into a wall or something equally hard but there was another thought trying to break through. Brandon’s instincts told him to stand still for a moment. Then the moment came. Alfred started to take off Sophia’s pants, it was very obvious what his plans were and before Brandon’s brain had formed the thoughts, his body sprang into action.
Alfred looked up just in time to see Brandon’s thunderous face bearing down on him. Obstinate to the end he was starting to tell Brandon to leave the room, just as Brandon’s hands took a hold of him. With no effort at all Brandon lifted the little slim buckets feet off the ground and headed for the door. It was a shame that they didn’t both fit through at the same time and that Alfred’s face gently hit the door frame, several times, before his body made it through. Brandon was not a man to be evoked into violence, but there was a limit and Alfred had pushed it. Still holding him off the ground Brandon headed down the stairs for the kitchen. Something was again driving his feet in that direction and it wasn’t until he pushed through the doors that he realized that the caterers and some of the staff would more than likely still be there. Alfred was mortified. It was priceless. Brandon turned him around to the staff and said “This slimy little rat was upstairs where he ought not to have been. If anyone sees him inside this house again, in fact, if anyone sees this little weasel on the Estate, wake me and I will deal with his eviction myself. Alfred is leaving.” and with that Brandon headed for the back door. He was surprised to have the door opened by Harold who raced across the kitchen to do so. As Alfred flew out the door shouting “you haven’t heard the last of me…..” the door was closed behind him. Both of the men inside just caught a glimpse of him falling down the steps in the most undignified fashion.
Brandon turned to Harold and said “Follow me”. Harold could see by the look on Brandon’s face that something serious had happened. He raced up the stairs matching Brandon’s long stride taking the stairs two at a time. Harold might be in his late sixties but Sophia was his family.
Chapter Sixteen
Sophia was coming to. She could hear low murmurs in the room…..her room…..her bedroom. Then thoughts came flooding back, Alfred, she had to fight him. As she tried to sit up a hand gently pushed her back down. Not Alfred’s she recognized instantly, Brandon’s. “What happened? Where’s Alfred? Did he…?” she couldn’t bring herself to finish that question as tears started to well up in her closed eyelids. She couldn’t open her eyes and look at Brandon. What if Alfred had managed to get what he was looking for? No one, especially not Brandon would want her then. Not now. But the hand remained on her shoulder, gently.
“Alfred left the room rather quickly. I’m afraid that your timber shack needs to get bigger door jambs, he unfortunately hit his head on the way out.” Brandon stated.
“Several times it would have appeared, from the blood streaming out of his pathetic nose” another very familiar voice, Harold.
“Yes, a shame that. I think he has received the message that he is not welcome here anymore” Sophia really didn’t want to know the answer but it had to be asked “Did he….?”
“No, besides slamming you against the wall, he didn’t touch you” Brandon could see the relief flood through Sophia’s body. When the two men arrived back in Sophia’s room they were a bit unsure what to do with her garments. Alfred had only just started to try to remove her pants when Brandon picked him up so there had been nothing exposed. Harold suggested jus
t a quick straightening up and Sophia would not suffer any further embarrassment. So that is what they had done just before she started to come to. Harold in true butler style was straightening the room. He bent down and picked up a key. He held out his hand with a questioning look on his face. Brandon was looking at the key. He figured that it must have been the key Alfred used to gain assess. Taking it he walked to the door and tried the lock. Harold was about to question where it came from when Agnes came rushing through the door rather breathless and the look on her face said that she had worked out something of what was going on. She looked at the key and her hand went to her rather large chest “Oh, my, that key belongs downstairs. I’ve never known what lock it belonged to. It’s been on the key hook in the kitchen for years.” She said this whilst walking into the room. One look at Sophia and she just about ran to the bed. With arms open wide she scooped the Lady up and gave her the most motherly of hugs.
