by Laura Mills
Albert was enjoying the bewildered look on his son’s face. Perhaps for once he held John’s attention long enough to continue a normal conversation. “Damned if I can remember her name, but you can’t mistake that platinum blonde hair of hers.”
The color began draining from John’s flustered features. Although he hadn’t any deep-rooted feelings for Vanessa, the thought of her with his father bothered him. “Vanessa?” he asked to verify.
“That’s her name. How could I forget the name belonging to that body?” Albert sighed.
By now John was devastated. As he glared at his father in his drunken state, he wondered if he spoke the truth or if he was testing his resistance. “So you’re saying that you and Vanessa slept together?”
Albert’s smile broadened. “We did more than sleep together, son. She’s quite a fine piece,”
John covered his ears with his hands. “All right, all right, I don’t want to hear anymore. I don’t need a detailed description.”
His father chuckled some more, catching the attention of his lady friend, and John stepped aside to let her by.
John re-entered the saloon, stumbling into Sally. “Oh, pardon me Sally.” John’s mind was so preoccupied that he hadn’t paid attention to where he was going.
“It’s quite all right, John. You can run into me anytime,” Sally said, sending a teasing smile that John knew was only to taunt.
John smiled back but his eyes searched the perimeters of the bar, finding no sight of Robert.
“Are you looking for your handsome partner?” Sally asked.
“Yes,” John answered.
“Well Rose left to find him, so I imagine he’s not here.”
“How long ago?”
“I’d say a couple of hours ago.”
“Thank you, Sally.”
“Anytime, handsome.” Sally watched John as he strode toward the door, admiring him and all of his masculine features, and thought someday he’ll make a lucky young lady very happy.
John figured Robert would be back home by now after Rose had found him and they would want their privacy, so he decided to catch him in the morning on his way out. At present, he had another mission to carry out before his departure.
John arrived at Vanessa’s doorstep twenty minutes after leaving Sally’s place and he was about to knock when he heard laughter. Apparently Vanessa had company tonight. Well, she would have to put the brakes on because he had more important matters to discuss with her.
His knuckles rapped on the wooden door with force. A long moment passed before the door cracked open. Vanessa’s smile faded when staring into John’s features.
“Entertaining?” John asked, not holding back one ounce of sarcasm.
The door opened a little wider. “Why? Jealous?” Vanessa responded.
John chuckled. “Hardly.”
His remark caused a frown to appear on her vain expression. “Why are you here then? Are you in need of some comforting?”
“No. I’m in need of some answers, Vanessa.” John didn’t dally.
“Answers? Regarding what?” She looked confused.
“You and my father, to be specific,” John shot out.
At once Vanessa peeked over her shoulder at the company awaiting her, her company who was highly excited in his virginal state. “Who is it, love?” John heard from the background.
“Someone I know,” she called back. “I’ll be right back,” Vanessa assured him, closing her red silk robe tighter around herself. She slipped out of the door and shut it behind her. “What . . . what are you referring to, John?”
“So it’s true?” John said with a smirk, catching her at her game. He had her interest peaked enough to want privacy for their conversation.
“I haven’t any idea what you’re talking about.” Her face stayed solemn.
“Don’t you? Playing ignorant with me Vanessa is not going to work. I can tell by your reaction it’s true.”
“What is true, John?” Vanessa spoke in frustration as she folded her arms across her chest.
“You sleeping with my father.” John leaned forward to emphasize his point.
“Did he tell you this himself?” There lay shakiness in her voice.
John knew then that he had her trapped. “Does it matter? Are you that desperate?”
“You’re talking about your father here.”
“Yes, I am. You act as if you didn’t already know about my father’s character. What possessed you to bed him, Vanessa? If you’re looking for security you won’t find it with him. He has different women weekly.”
Her silence of hesitation led to an interesting testimony. “I didn’t sleep with him for that reason. You know me I like to have a good time. Your father was available at the time.”
“And what time was that?” John inquired.
“None of your business, John.” Vanessa answered with a tip of her chin.
“How many times have you slept together?” John wanted accurate information.
Vanessa gasped at his personal inquiry. “That is definitely none of your business. I don’t ask you how many times you and that country tart fornicated.”
His teeth ground together in reaction to her unnecessary remark. “Leave Melissa out of this. This is different, it involves my father.”
“He’s a man and I’m a woman, it’s natural to be attracted to each other. Besides, you should thank me for the discovery of a very promising future for yourself. Your father is a very virile man for his age, John. His stamina may pass onto you.”
John shook his head in disbelief. “I don’t want to hear about that. I want to know if you’re still having relations with him?”
Vanessa was feeling back in control now that John seemed stumped. “Well it was fun while it lasted, but no, I am not. As you predicted he has moved on, but then so have I.”
John took a deep calming breath before continuing. “So, you balled my father because he has stamina? Did you catch wind of his vigor from one of his whores?”
“Why do you care who I’ve balled, John? You’ve never shown this much concern before.”
He leaned into her again. “Because, I don’t believe you were with my father just for fun, no matter how virile he is. No, you’ve got another agenda in mind, Vanessa, and I mean to find out what it is. You can’t fool me with this facade you’re putting on.”
She hadn’t convinced him. He was too smart for his own good. She backed away from him. “Believe what you want,” she said while turning to approach the door.
John grabbed her arm with force, stalling her movements. “I want the truth and I want it now,” he said, his voice low and deep.
“John, you’re hurting me,” she cried, trying to break free of his grasp.
“Perhaps you need a little pain in your life, Vanessa. You seem to dish it out so well. The truth.” His eyes were fierce, sparkling like lightening, his voice like thunder.
“Why have you turned so cruel toward me?” Vanessa cried out of desperation.
“You have to ask? Stop avoiding the issue and give me answers,” he demanded. He couldn’t trust her after her devious actions a couple of weeks ago.
Vanessa turned vicious, losing control. “You’re reacting so violently because of that tart. If it weren’t for her you’d still be my lover and it would be you in my apartment right now, lying naked in my bed, instead of him.”
“Stop calling her that. You and I were finished well before Melissa entered the picture,” he clarified.
“Hah, you not only protect her, you defend her no matter how wrong she is. She stole you from me!”
“What?” John asked, completely puzzled.
“Yes, she’s stolen you, but there’s a part of you she doesn’t have.” Out of an urgent need to remain in control, Vanessa exposed some truth she would soon have to rectify.
Was she truly insane? “What on earth are you talking about?”
Vanessa deliberately placed a hand on her stomach, rubbing in an answerin
g motion with a wicked smile.
John glanced toward Vanessa’s stomach and let go of her arm. “That child is not mine. Whether you verify or not, I know for a fact it isn’t mine, Vanessa.”
“Yes, John, you’re right about that. Because of you and your stronghold on contraceptive measures, unfortunately, it is not yours.”
“Will you stop speaking in riddles?”
The wicked grin came back. “Well, John, if I couldn’t have your baby, I wanted to have the closest possible to it.” She paused as if giving him a chance to guess. “I’d say your father is pretty close, wouldn’t you?”
The color faded from John’s face once again and his jaw dropped. “You must be jesting? At least I pray you are.” Now he knew for sure she was insane.
“No, John. I’m very serious.” She wasn’t smiling anymore.
“Good God, Vanessa. He can’t be a father again, he’s old enough to be a grandfather,” John exclaimed in horror.
“Obviously his seed doesn’t know any better. I’m carrying your father’s child, John. In a half year’s time you will have a half brother or sister.”
John stood there, flabbergasted. “What has happened to you?”
“You happened to me, John. I want to be a constant in your life,” Vanessa told him, her tone softening.
John had a need for air. “So you purposely bedded my father to get with child?”
“Yes.” Her reply was as direct as the glare of her icy blue eyes.
“And he doesn’t know anything about this, does he? No, he wouldn’t stand for it if he did, especially if he knew the reason why you were doing it.”
“He will find out soon enough.” Vanessa pretended to be preoccupied, like she was bored all of a sudden. “Very soon I will be increasing and it will be noticeable. I’ve waited to ensure he will believe me. The timing will be accurate.”
“What’s going on in that insane mind of yours Vanessa?”
She chuckled at his astonished behavior. “Becoming your stepmother, John. Won’t that be something?”
His anger returned full force. “Hell no, you won’t. I admit my father was asinine enough to bed you, but he doesn’t deserve to be a part of your manipulative games Vanessa.”
She hid the fear he aroused in her. “Good luck trying to stop me John. I have my ways, you know, and we both know that you and your father are not on the best of terms.”
He got in her face to make himself understood. “You will not get away with this. Plan on being a single mother, unless you can persuade one of your other lovers to take pity on you,” and he turned and walked away.
“I will be your stepmother before this babe is born,” Vanessa called out after him. “And work my way back into your bed, Lord Blackburn. Count on it,” she whispered to herself.
Robert rolled off of Rose, exhausted. She cuddled next to him and his arm went to her back, sliding down her side, pulling her secure against him. They had been visiting for a couple of hours now and their excess energy was spent for the time being. They were in Robert’s bed. He’d visit her at Sally’s but only to talk. When they made love, it was always at his house. He had accepted her lifestyle for the time being, but every day it ate at him.
Her plan to save enough money on her own by selling her body seemed preposterous to him.
She had started her career before meeting him. In the beginning, when she had stood up to him, proud and determined, he had given in and accepted her temporary money making strategy, but as their relationship blossomed and his feelings for her grew, he sensed in himself an ultimatum about to be disbursed. His love for her had kept his sanity but her obstinate pride at times drove him mad.
Tonight he could tell there was something bothering her, as she seemed tense. “What is it, love? Is there something you want to tell me?”
Rose had been contemplating telling Robert her concerns regarding Vanessa. She didn’t want to be premature about her suspicions, as she needed valid proof. “I wanted to be sure first, but I think Vanessa’s up to something,” she revealed.
Robert wondered what could be going on for Rose to notice, but with Vanessa, anything was possible. “What do you mean?” he asked.
He listened to her interpretation from beginning to end of the conversation she’d overheard between Vanessa and Sally and how she had a feeling John was connected somehow. Vanessa’s recent activities of late served her suspicions.
Robert thought it was better to be cautious than not since he knew even more than Rose did at this point. Earlier, before Rose had awakened this morning, John had summoned Robert from his warm bed to discuss the private issue of Vanessa and John’s father.
Robert’s reaction was as shocked as John’s. Sworn to secrecy, he couldn’t tell Rose about it just yet, but this new, interesting information was a call to be on guard. How much more could Vanessa be up to? It wasn’t worth ignoring.
Robert had gotten the “virgin’s” name from Rose and proceeded to plan the rest of the day investigating. Before leaving for Sheffield he wanted to be prepared whether or not Rose’s assumptions were feasible and then he would get John’s opinion about the whole scenario, but at the moment Rose, lying next to him in her natural state of beauty, was too appealing to resist. They made love one more time before preparing to go their separate ways.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Sheffield
Melissa’s stage arrived late the next morning. Her driver this time was younger and much more attractive than the first driver, but that still didn’t excuse his being late. “Did you get lost?” Melissa asked, unaware her tone was so impertinent.
Jack responded with the appropriate courtesy, wondering how difficult this trip would be. When he was initially approached by Vanessa to escort Miss Howard home he’d been reluctant. He thought that surely Vanessa worried too much about her childhood friend, but Vanessa had successfully imposed a frantic concern for her friend Melissa’s welfare, emphatically expressing Miss Howard’s need for an escort to ward off the stalking Lord Blackburn.
Jack’s vibrant blue eyes sharpened as they assessed Miss Howard’s piqued features. “This is a new route for me, Miss Howard. My apologies,” Jack told her while stepping down from the stage. Standing before her, he introduced himself before gathering her luggage. “Jack McGuire at your service.” His hand came out to shake hers.
His kindness changed her mood. Perhaps she may have been a little extreme, always expecting everyone to be as precise about time as she. Her moods did seem radical of late. Still, she blamed the extremity on a certain male lover of hers. Lifting her hand to meet Jack’s, her usual smile appeared. “Forgive me, Mr. McGuire. You’re here now and that’s all that matters. Please, I hate formalities, call me Melissa,” she offered, taking her hand back from his light grip.
His lips curved into a gracious grin as his hands clutched her luggage. “All right and Jack will be fine with me.” Jack continued loading the stage while Melissa said goodbye one more time.
She hugged both children with intensity, knowing it would be a while until she saw them again, then carefully embraced Cecilia with her new babe cradled in her arms. Cecilia mentioned a final time, “Please write me and let me know how you’re doing. All right?” Both smiled and Melissa agreed.
“Yes, I will. Thank you for everything,” and in saying so, she hugged her one more time. Leaving a dainty kiss upon the newborn’s delicate forehead, she boarded the stage. She had said her goodbyes to George last night as he always rose before dawn for work, and George had thanked her, feeling indebted for her help. Melissa waved goodbye as the carriage left down the path toward home.
Arriving in Sheffield, they searched for a hotel in town, and conveniently they found one near the track. After acquiring two rooms, Melissa informed Jack that she was retiring for the night. For someone who usually had an extended amount of energy, all Melissa could think about was sleeping. She changed for bed, then climbed in and settled herself beneath linen bedding that warmed her. The
idea of being pregnant surfaced again and dwelled with unanswered questions. If I am with child, should I tell John about it? Would he care? How would he react? Would he think I was trying to trap him?
The agonizing fact that her menses was running late hadn’t offered any comfort. She’d been late before when her mother had passed away, and by hanging onto that assumption, she could deny what seemed so plain and clear. She was about to become a mother and John, a father.
She lay upon the soft packed mattress, her head sinking into a feathered pillow, her eyes shutting, taking in the physical sensations of rest. She had missed solitary time for herself. Relaxed now, she half inclined to clutch the heavy covers at her feet and pulled them over her tired body. Turning on her side, feeling snug under the weighted coverlet, her eyes closed once more. As her body drifted into a restful state, thoughts of John came into her mind, imagining him holding her as he did when her father had passed away and remembering the tenderness and comfort he gave. Her wandering thoughts raced to the future and she wondered what he was doing at this moment.
While Melissa pondered about John, John pondered about Melissa as he sat in a local pub only a few buildings down from her hotel. Sipping brandy and never escaping the abundance of female attention, he’d lost count of the many propositions he’d been offered tonight. The muscles in his cheeks ached from smiling so much. The perfect gentlemen he was, behaving cordially to the desiring women. Their painted faces showed disappointment when he declined, but they held no interest for him.
The only offer he had even considered accepting was from one of his past favorites who happened to be conveniently married, Lady Ginger, a tall, full-figured woman from London. Married to some boring workaholic, she took leisurely times of pleasure for herself, although they were few and far between. Always a satisfying lover, she still paled in comparison to the intensity Melissa enticed in him. When she approached him tonight, asking him to escort her to the ball in town, his response was out of courtesy, telling her he’d think about it and let her know the following day. Just three months ago hesitation wouldn’t have entered his entangled mind, but that was before meeting a country lass named Melissa Howard.