The Most Loved of All

by Tinnean

  The only sound in the room was the scritch, scritch, scritch of the pen on the paper as I wrote the invitations. Lady Eugenia Fortescue-Smythe requests the pleasure of your company—

  Abruptly, Lady Eugenia made a sound of disgust and snapped the newspaper in her hands. “Whatever can Bertram be thinking of?”

  “Milady?”

  “I detest these blind items. ‘What former captain of the Second Loyal North Lancashires has been seen squiring the lovely Lady B.C. about town, with her family’s blessing and his brother’s fond approval?’ Poppycock.”

  I felt the blood leave my cheeks. “They’re talking about Tommy?”

  Her lip curled in an affectionate grimace. “That foolish boy. On, not Thomas, his brother. Because Bertram finally decided it was time to get married—and is happily so—he wants to see the whole world and his mother-in-law in that same state.”

  “Tommy’s getting married?” My heart hurt. I rose from the chair, determined to make good my escape. I couldn’t remain in the presence of Lady Eugenia and not reveal how devastated I was by this news.

  “What? Oh, no, my dear boy! No!” She jumped up, embraced me, and urged me to take a seat beside her on the settee. “Oh, Roddy. How close are you to my son?”

  “Milady? Tommy is a…” My voice cracked, and I paused to clear my throat. “…a friend of mine. We first met in—”

  “Yes, yes, I’m quite aware that you met in Africa in 1914. Thomas told me all about it.”

  “He did?” Oh, yes, of course. After he’d been demobbed.

  “Roddy, I know my son’s led what one might call a wild life, the more so since he lost his eye. There’s something about that patch that women find irresistible. Well, except for that twit I’d thought might suit.” She shrugged. “I won’t make that error again.”

  “Women aren’t the only ones who find that patch irresistible, milady.” I said softly, twisting the ring on my finger, and she took my hand and examined it closely.

  “Unless I miss my guess, this is a wedding ring. Not too many men I know are willing to wear one.”

  I nodded.

  “I had no idea—Thomas never mentioned you were married. May I ask how long?”

  “Eight years and twenty-six days. He died almost four months ago, in the Valley of the Kings.” Oh God, it hadn’t been quite four months.

  “He? Oh!”

  “I’m sorry, milady; I thought you realised…” I rose unsteadily. “Would you prefer me to leave Greenbriers?”

  “Young man, sit down.”

  I sat.

  “Forgive me if I seemed surprised. And if I say I fail to see what the problem is. Unless you don’t care for Thomas in that way?”

  “No, milady. I…I care for him deeply. But if his brother wants him to marry this Lady B…?”

  “I’ll handle Bertram. Interfering young fool. Now just finish those invitations. Then you can tell Mrs Rivers I’ll need to speak with her about the menu for this dinner party.” She gave a brisk nod, patted my arm, and sailed gracefully out of the room.

  I went back to the desk, sank down in the chair, and picked up the fountain pen to finish the last of the invitations. But I couldn’t drive from my mind the thought that while my friend might not marry this Lady B whoever she might be, he might very well find another young lady to marry, one who would give him those children he’d mentioned.

  “Why did you let me meet him, God, if you weren’t going to let me have him?”

  Oh ye of little faith. Are you not my most loved of all?

  “What?” I shot up out of the chair so abruptly it tipped over. But I was alone in the room, and I shook my head. I was being foolish.

  Of course God hadn’t answered. He had more important things to deal with than who the brother of one of his missionaries might love.

  I righted the chair and hurried out of the room, afraid if I lingered any longer, I would hear a burst of amused laughter.

  * * * *

  Although it hadn’t been that long since I’d lost Charlie, I was able to think of him without feeling as if my heart were being torn from my chest, but I missed having someone in my bed. I missed Tommy, and I grew more and more restless as the days passed with no further word from my friend.

  I’d finished caring for the horses early that day and was back in the library, which I’d taken over as mine, copying the menu for the party Lady Eugenia was having that evening, when the door opened. I spoke without looking up. “Lady Genie, are you sure you want the consommé instead of the mock turtle soup?”

  “I rather prefer consommé, Roddy.”

  The pen went skittering off the paper, tearing a deep gouge in it. “Tommy?” There were circles beneath his one good eye, and his shoulders drooped with exhaustion. And he looked…beautiful.

  I rose so quickly my chair once again went toppling back, and I dashed around the desk and threw myself at him. My fingers clenched tightly in his hair, pulling his mouth to mine. In a moment or two, I’d thrust my tongue into his mouth and duel with his tongue, but just then all I wanted was his lips on mine, brushing against them, causing the tingling sensation that left me breathless. I’d been missing him so much. I flexed my fingers and moaned into his mouth, while his hands came down to cup my buttocks and pull me close against his arousal.

  “Roddy.” He would have raised his head, but I moaned again and yanked him to me for another—finally deeper—kiss.

  Eventually, however, we had to break apart to breathe. “It’s a good thing I thought to shut the door. I take it this means you missed me?” he asked, the corner of his mouth quirking in a tired grin.

  I couldn’t say anything beyond, “Tommy.” I devoured him with my gaze and stroked a hand up his throat to cradle his jaw. His own gaze grew hot.

  “Come keep me company while I wash.”

  Trembling, I seized his hand and hurried him out of the library, leading him up the stairs to his bedroom. As in his brother’s town house, there was an adjoining bathroom, and I started to draw a bath for him.

  When I turned to go back into the bedroom, it was to find him standing in the doorway. He had removed his overcoat, and I began to undress him, taking my time, exploring the planes and valleys of his body. “You’re beautiful.”

  “Turnabout is fair play, isn’t it?” He stroked my cheek and urged me to undress.

  I unbuttoned my shirt, let it slide from my arms to the floor, and then dropped my hands to my trousers, leaving them gaping open.

  “I’ve missed you.” He whirled me around and crowded me back toward the bed, kissing me senseless as I toppled down onto the soft mattress. I kicked off my shoes while he tugged off my drawers—I’d taken to wearing his—and trousers and tossed them aside.

  “Tommy, the bath,” I reminded him, trying to restrain my giddiness.

  “Bugger the bath. We’ll take one together later.”

  “Let me at least shut it off.” I was outright laughing now. “It’s going to overflow.”

  He let me up, and I hurried into the bathroom. As I leaned forward to turn off the taps, warm hands parted my buttocks and stroked the crevice, seeking my puckered opening. “Ah,” he breathed as he leaned close to my ear. “Here’s the rosebud I’ve been missing.” Slick lotion prepared the way for him, and I shuddered and breathed deeply to relax.

  Tommy took his time and was gentle, but I was moaning steadily when he finally pressed his shaft to my opening and slid past the ring of muscle that guarded it. The angle at which he took me had him brushing against that magic spot inside me every time, and I shivered and backed up to take more of him.

  “God, you’re on fire, Roddy. That’s it, squeeze me. Let me know how much you’re enjoying this.” His hand covered my mouth to muffle the sounds I was making. “Hush, love, we’ll shock the Mater,” he panted. I tickled his palm with my tongue. “We’ll need to get our own place. I want to drive you so wild with passion your throat becomes hoarse from your cries.”

  “My God, don’t y
ou realise you’re already driving me wild?”

  His hands were still slick from the lotion, and they were so knowledgeable on my prick and balls, teasing them and pushing me toward the precipice. And then I went tumbling over it, and Tommy was there with me. He erupted inside me, sealing his mouth to my shoulder to keep from shouting himself.

  Without giving me time to recover, he tumbled me into the bath. Waves of water splashed over the edge, and he laughed happily. He turned my face to kiss me, and frowned when he saw the blood on my lip. “Here, sir, what’s this?” His fingers touched the tiny wound.

  “I didn’t want to embarrass you by making too much noise, so I bit my lip to keep silent.”

  “Oh, love, you could never embarrass me.”

  I felt myself blush. “Let me get you cleaned up.” I took a flannel and picked up the bar of soap.

  “I want you to move your things into my room, if you will?”

  “I can’t.”

  “Now, you aren’t going to be difficult about this, are you? I want you sleeping with me, and you can hardly do that if I’m in one room and you’re in another.”

  “Of course not, lo- Tommy. But…I’ve been sleeping in your room.”

  “How long?”

  “Since you left.”

  He became suddenly quiet.

  “Tommy?”

  He tipped my chin up and took my mouth, gently this time. I dropped the flannel and surged against him, sending water cascading over the side again.

  “The Mater will be cross with us.”

  “She’ll forgive us. Just shut up and love me again.”

  * * * *

  “Wicked one,” Lady Genie chided when we came down for tea in the rose salon. She embraced her son. “You could have let me know you were home.”

  “I do beg your pardon, Mother.”

  “Of course you do. Ah, Thomas, you’re looking tired. If I’d only known. We’re having guests for dinner—”

  Tommy gave me a reproachful glance. “You could have told me.”

  When did I have the chance? But of course I didn’t say that aloud. Instead, I said, “So sorry,” in the same plummy tone he tended to use at times. He turned his back so his mother couldn’t see the face he pulled at me, and I had to bite my lip once again, this time to keep from laughing, then winced as I inadvertently bit the same spot I’d worried earlier. Of course Tommy saw, and he frowned.

  Meanwhile, Lady Genie was saying, “—our new neighbour from Thorny Walk House, and some gentlemen who are staying with him. He’s from Egypt. High up in the government hierarchy, I believe. That’s the gossip that’s been spreading around the countryside. This is the first time Thorny Walk House has been let to a foreigner, even though Sir John has been letting it since after the War.”

  “Yes, and Warrick hasn’t been best pleased with that,” Tommy said curtly.

  “Oh, of course he’d keep you informed.” His mother patted his arm. “Can you blame him for being unhappy that strangers inhabit his boyhood home? But he’s in Canada and can have no say in the matter.”

  “No. If you ever did something like that with Fortescue Manor, I’d be heartbroken.”

  “Then be very grateful I shan’t do anything of the kind.”

  “Yes, Mother.”

  She gave a satisfied nod. “Workers have been preparing that old place for the past two months now. Apparently the Egyptian gentleman has some specific requirements, and he’s very willing to pay for them.”

  “Really.” Tommy looked intrigued.

  “That’s what I’ve heard.” Her expression became troubled. “Something odd, however. A number of the workers seem to have gone missing.”

  “They have?” I’d been all over the area and hadn’t heard a word. But then, I wasn’t a local, and they might not have wanted a “foreigner” overhearing what went on in their locale.

  “I imagine it’s nothing more than the work petering out and them moving on to find another job,” Tommy said. But there seemed to be concern in his eye. He changed the subject. “How did you manage to secure the Egyptian and his guests for dinner? This has to be a feather in your cap.”

  “I simply wrote, asking if I and my son’s friend might offer them dinner one evening. I must say, I was a trifle surprised when my invitation was accepted so quickly.” She frowned at him. “I do wish you’d let me know you were coming home today. I would have been able to secure another lady. As it is, the numbers will be off, and Roddy will have to escort one of the young ladies in to dinner, along with you, Thomas.”

  “That’s not a problem, I assure you,” I told her.

  “I imagine not.” She smiled and stroked my cheek.

  “I’ll thank you to unhand Roddy, Mother.” Tommy slung an arm around my shoulder and pulled me close to his side. His mother beamed at us both.

  “Would I do something that underhand, Thomas?” She laughed at his droll look.

  “Do you have evening togs?” Tommy asked me. “Aside from mine, I mean.”

  “None—aside from yours, I mean,” I teased. “Lady Genie assured me nothing in Upper Flossmere would be suitable.”

  “I imagine we’ll have to run up to town to get you measured for something. Tomorrow, most likely, since it’s much too late today.”

  “Indeed. But why would I need anything more than the clothes I borrowed from you?”

  “To humour me?”

  “Oh, very well.” But I liked the idea of wearing his clothes, just as I’d enjoyed wearing Charlie’s. I’d folded away his things some time ago and left them tucked in my carpetbag. Now I wore a shirt of Tommy’s. “May I at least finish my tea?”

  The rest of the meal passed in a very pleasant manner, especially when my friend assured me—us—that he’d set his brother straight and would no longer be seen about town with Lady Barbara.

  “How did you find Dinah?” Lady Genie asked. She’d told me her older son’s wife was expecting again, and of course Sir Bertram was over the moon.

  “She’s doing well. She’s hoping for a little girl this time.”

  “And what does your brother have to say about that?”

  “Well, they already have two boys. I’ll tell you the truth—he’ll be happy as soon as this pregnancy is over.” Tommy grinned at me. “Would you believe he’s the one who’s suffering from morning sickness?”

  I almost choked on the crumbs from my biscuit. I washed them down with a sip of tea, then was finally able to speak. “Seriously?”

  “Oh, yes,” Lady Genie answered. “His father was the same way. And I daresay it would have befallen you also, Thomas.”

  “Then it’s fortunate I shan’t be in that position.”

  But was it? Both he and his mother looked sad at the prospect that he would never be a father.

  I glanced at the clock on the mantel. “Perhaps it would be a good idea for Tommy to take a nap? We have plenty of time until we need to dress for dinner.”

  “What a splendid idea.” Lady Genie rose and rang for the butler. “Run along, you two. I’ll deal with this.”

  “Thank you, Mother.” Tommy kissed her cheek and looped his arm through mine. “I am feeling a trifle tired. It’s been a long four weeks.”

  We left the rose salon and climbed the stairs to the first floor.

  Once in his room, I turned down the bed, then went to the windows to draw the curtains.

  “Tell me something, pet.”

  I sent him a questioning glance.

  “How did Mother react to you sleeping in my room?”

  “It was her suggestion.”

  “Was it?”

  “She informed me all the guest rooms were under covers, and it would be easier for the servants.”

  “And of course you wouldn’t want to make extra work for them.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t.”

  “Mother was wrong. She’s the wicked one.” He stripped off his clothes and left them lying about. “Into bed with you,” he ordered.

  “I
thought you were going to take a nap.”

  “No, that was your idea.” His eyebrow rose above the patch. “I’m waiting.”

  “We wouldn’t want that, would we?” I removed my own clothes slowly, languidly, until my friend finally growled, tore off the rest of them, and tumbled me onto the bed.

  I had no idea where he’d got the lotion, but he was slicked up and in me before I could say, “Yes, please.”

  Well, it would take a while before he could make up for all the time he’d been away from me. I lay back, spread my legs and flung wide my arms, and let him have at me.

  Chapter 22

  It was almost seven o’clock, and long shadows were creeping up the drive. My lover—I finally dared to think of him that way—had seemed determined to brand me as his, and when we came down to join his mother for drinks in the rose salon shortly before dinner, my collar just covered the livid love bite he had placed on me.

  “What shall we have, Thomas?” his mother asked.

  “I thought a Champagne Cocktail?”

  “Isn’t that a trifle mundane?”

  “Not this one.” He poured a glass of champagne, soaked a sugar cube in absinthe, and dropped it into the champagne, then handed it to Lady Genie. He did the same for me, and finally for himself.

  I took a sip and grimaced, although my companions both seemed to enjoy the taste. I’d decided to give it another try, when I suddenly felt as if my bow tie was strangling me. I tugged uncomfortably at it just as Foster, the Smythe’s butler, announced the guests.

  “Lord Carnarvon, my lady. Mr Ammon Runihura. Mr Howard Carter. Mr, Mrs, and Miss Atkinson. Mr, Mrs, and Miss Straughan and Miss Alice Straughan. Mr, Mrs, and Miss Sherwood.”

  “Oh dear.” Lady Eugenia sighed. “Dr Cliffe must have been called out to see a patient. We’ll just give him a few minutes.” She smiled at her guests and crossed the room as if she floated rather than walked. Never had I seen anything so graceful. She greeted all her guests, then extended her hand to the Thorny Walk contingent. “Gentlemen, how splendid of you to join us for dinner.”