by Sable Grey
As dinner was served, I sipped my wine and watched Elizabeth. She cut the veal into small bites before eating it, and I noticed she didn’t join the conversations, but did lift her attention to them when they interested her.
Finally, I leaned toward her. “Perhaps after dinner you will accompany me to London.” I waited for her to look at me, and when she did, her gaze was filled with surprise. “If you remain too long here, you forget there is a whole other world outside the property lines of Blakewood.”
Her smile was brilliant. “I would like that very much!”
Satisfied, I leaned back in my chair, noting the suspicion in Beatrice’s narrowed gaze. “The Archers are having a garden party we could attend or, if you don’t like dancing, there is the theater.”
“Since when do you attend the theater?” Beatrice asked sharply.
“Indeed,” Richard said under his breath.
“I don’t, but I certainly will if a young woman desires. I believe in indulging in a woman’s desires you know.” I grinned at Beatrice’s scowling displeasure.
“We should go to the garden party. All of us, I mean,” Theresa suggested with excitement. “I do so love music and dancing!”
“Of course, we will,” Richard agreed.
I looked at Elizabeth. “And what of you? Do you fancy music and dancing, love? I warn you, I’m rather light on my feet.” I winked and was rewarded with a soft giggle.
“It sounds lovely. Thank you for inviting me,” she accepted with a gracious smile.
Why? Leander’s demand pushed past the silence he’d been trying to keep in my mind. I’d purposely not shut him completely out knowing sooner or later he would give in and communicate with me.
Because, Ander, she’s a woman and deserves a little fun every now and then. I took a drink of wine. If you would stop avoiding her, you might have asked her yourself. I could feel Leander’s guilt.
She weakens me.
I set the wine glass down, surprised at the admission. Leander never admitted weakness. My gaze darted to Elizabeth, a slow smile finding my lips. Does she?
“Have you ever been to a garden party, Elizabeth?” I asked softly.
When she looked up, she shook her head. “No. I’m quite excited to attend my first.”
“The gardens are illuminated with lanterns and candles. There is usually a large tent where the band plays and those attending strut about in their finest.” I grinned when she laughed. “Even more interesting are the shadowed places throughout the gardens where sometimes you discover lovers who have sneaked off into the dark for secret trysts.” I wiggled my eyebrows at her.
Stop it.
“Marcus Highcrest, I will not listen to such talk at the dinner table!” Beatrice snapped.
“Then stop listening in on my conversations,” I shot back at her before returning my attention to Elizabeth’s blushed cheeks. “What do you think, love?”
“I think you are trying to embarrass me and, if that is your ploy for the entire night, I will not go,” Elizabeth murmured.
“I assure you my ploy does not include you being embarrassed,” I said softly.
She met my gaze. “Then what does it include exactly?”
“Me breaking another of his ribs.” I blinked. It was Leander’s thoughts that pushed from my mouth. Everyone at the table stopped eating and stared at me.
It was Elizabeth who broke the silence. Her soft laughter bubbled up around us despite the hand she’d lifted to cover her mouth. She offered an apology that seemed to satisfy Richard’s guests, but Richard continued to stare at me. No doubt he realized Leander was somewhere there in the foreground after all.
“We shall endeavor to make certain you are returned home without injury,” Elizabeth said, her voice low. From beside her, Beatrice chuckled, but didn’t look at either of us.
“He can break every one of them if he wishes.” I winked.
I know what you are doing.
I reached for the wineglass again. What am I doing, Ander?
I will not let you seduce her. Leander’s thoughts were filled with anger.
I grinned, noticing when Elizabeth’s gaze slanted in my direction. I have a feeling that I will not have to even try. That insatiable curiosity of hers will lead us away from the crowd at the party. She shall be the one to seduce me for her hunger is greater than the one we suffer.
Leander grew silent again, which lasted through dinner and our migration from Blakewood to London in a barrage of carriages. The party was well paid for; the tent larger than others had been at previous parties I’d attended. And, just as I’d predicted, Elizabeth was soon bored of the pretension in the tent and wanted to venture out and explore the gardens.
“Look.” I pointed toward one of the more shadowed areas of the gardens at a couple kissing. “I told you.”
“Then let us leave them in privacy.” She turned and hurried down the path that wound around the small lake. I followed quietly. The lanterns ended at a bench near the pond’s edge, their light casting an eerie gold glow across its surface.
“We might discover something more interesting if we keep going.” I nodded at the path that continued to wind through the darkness.
“Is Leander angry at me?” She faced me. “Have I done something he resents? I know you would have Richard believe it is he that Leander is keeping from, but I know it is me.”
I could have told her the truth and opened Leander’s weakness right in front of her. I don’t know why I didn’t. “He wants to give you time to consider how you truly feel about him. His being a vampire attracts women anyway. He doesn’t want that to be the only reason you long for him.” It was only a half truth. “I, on the other hand, am not so sensible. I don’t care why you are attracted to me, so long as you are attracted.”
She laughed. “You are scandalous.”
“And you are beautiful.” I took a step forward. Don’t.
She stared up at me as I reached out and ran the pad of my thumb over her cheek. “I think we make a perfect pair, don’t you, love?”
Stop it, Marcus. Don’t you dare kiss her.
I didn’t have to. When I dragged my thumb across her lips, they parted. I chuckled at the fury I felt pounding through me. It wouldn’t take him long now. I slipped my thumb into her mouth and when her lips closed over me, I felt him pushing forward. I let my hand drop away and stepped back just as the first pain of transformation swept over me. I didn’t fight it. I’d accomplished what I'd set out to do and, instead, slipped into the darkness of our mind.
“Leander?” Elizabeth removed the distance between us as I opened my eyes. I was angry—angry at Marcus for being the way he was, angry at her for being so easily manipulated by him, and, most of all, angry at myself for thinking I could trust either of them alone together.
She suddenly smiled. “It is good to see your face again. I’d thought you’d remain in hiding forever!”
“Is it?” I shook my head, hating the jealousy that raged through me. “Only moments before it was your mouth on Marcus Highcrest, yet it was me you missed?” My words hit their mark, and I winced when I saw the hurt in her eyes. It wasn’t her fault, I told myself. What woman could resist the allure of a vampire? I’d seen her side-long glance at Richard once or twice for the very same reason.
“I like Marcus, and I find myself drawn to him when my guard is down.” Her bottom lip quivered. “I should return to the party before your brother is equally suspicious of me.” She whirled, but I caught her arm before she fled.
“Wait. Don’t go. I’m sorry for my cruelty.” I brought her against me and bowed my forehead to hers. “I’m a jealous idiot. It’s exactly what Marcus was doing. It’s what he always does.”
She didn’t try to pull away. Instead, she stood there, fingers resting on my forearms. “Your being a vampire has nothing to do with my wanting to see you, unless I’m affected by you even when I’m alone in my room.”
I inhaled in deeply. Ask her what she thinks of yo
u when she’s alone in her room. Marcus' words tempted me, smugness edging his thoughts.
“You think of me when you are alone in your room?” I closed my eyes when she nodded against me.
“I think about you quite a lot actually.”
I groaned and slid my hands around her waist. “It’s too much though, isn’t it? When we consume one another’s thoughts so that we are distracted from our lives?”
“Beatrice told me my feelings for you are natural,” she argued. She’d talked to Beatrice about me, about us? “She said that your desire was natural for you as well.”
I laughed at that. “Nothing about me is natural.”
“She said you were a very possessive person, not very different than Richard. He collects women he likes and carries them around with him. You neglect yourself so when you find one you like, you fight with yourself, and it only makes the desire to have what you want stronger.”
“Don’t do that.”
“Do what?” she asked.
Expose me so easily. But I didn’t answer. Instead, I just kissed her. As soon as our lips touched, everything that had felt confusing and skewed was suddenly aligned. I tightened my arms around her and hers slipped over my shoulders. For a moment, we only savored one another’s kiss, but it quickly became heated. This is what we were together.
“Leander?” Richard’s voice broke through the frenzied spell we cast on one another. I pulled from her lips despite her soft moan of protest and looked at my brother.
“Where is Marcus?” Theresa asked from his side.
“He’s gone. I’m taking Miss Mason home.” I released her from my arms, but grasped her hand in mine. Richard’s gaze dropped to Elizabeth momentarily then rose back to me.
“Brother, you know that she and Marcus…”
“Stop.” I held up a hand, shaking my head. “Don’t say anything else that might make me angry and more of a fool than I have been.”
“I’m only trying to warn you,” Richard insisted.
“Warn me in the morning. Tonight I’m taking Miss Mason home.” I gave her hand a little tug, and she fell into step beside me as I strode past Richard and Theresa. Anymore and they’d have me dragging her down to the ground again. Not tonight. Tonight I would bring her to my bed. It’s where I’d wanted to have her all along.
Chapter Sixteen
“They seemed familiar with one another.” Richard stood in my library, hands on his hips, eyes hard. Bright and early. He was interrupting my work. As I’d instructed, he’d not offered any more argument or disturbance the night before. Memories of Elizabeth swept over me like a warm breeze. She’d been uninhibited, nearly as primal as I was. I’d taken from her, again and again until she fell into exhausted sleep…in my bed.
“Richard, I do not interfere in your affairs, and there have been many. I expect you to remain clear of mine.” I ran a hand over my brow, tired of hearing his defamation of Marcus’ character and of Elizabeth’s reputation. I’d already made my decision the night before that I would stop resisting my attraction to her. It was a useless battle, and it only left me angry and exhausted, as well as open to Marcus’ manipulations.
“I believe they’ve shared intimacies because they were too familiar to just be acquaintances.” Richard had an annoying habit of pushing when he should stay out of my business, but for the moment, I held back the sharp words that would have left him even further distanced from the family.
“I hear what you are saying, brother, though I wish I could not.” I looked down at my ledger, trying to focus on the numbers there.
“Where is she now?”
I lifted my gaze. “What?”
“If you will not listen to me, I’ll talk to her. She may prove more sensible than you.” Richard folded his arms. “Is she in the classroom?”
I stood. “No, brother, she’s sleeping in my bed, and you will not disturb her.”
“What will our business associates think if this affair goes public? She’s a governess for God’s sake!” Richard’s temper surprised me. He normally never raised his voice. Now, it was me he would yell at? My tolerance for his sanctimonious attitude evaporated.
“That’s right Richard, the governess…the one I employ for every bastard you’ve fathered and abandoned at Blakewood. Do you think my affair has any more shadow on it than your reckless behavior? I assure you it will not for, unlike you, I don’t parade my women about London for everyone to speculate about.” The words wouldn’t stop, and they were mine, not Marcus’, though I could feel his swelling joy to hear me voice what he’d been saying for years.
“Furthermore, those are my business associates. Your role in this partnership has been made perfectly clear. So, until you decide to actually work at the business, stay the hell out of mine!” Silence followed. He just stood there staring at me, most likely in shock that I would be so vicious.
“I’m not like you, Leander. I’m not as strong to fight what we are. It’s easier to keep moving,” Richard finally said softly.
I winced. “I know.” It was easy to forget that he too suffered in his own way.
“But I am allowed to worry about my brother and the life he has worked so hard to build for himself. You are a success, Leander. I won’t stand by and allow a woman who is not a permanent part of this place burn down everything you’ve built.”
He had every right. As much right as I’d had to put him in his place, and my judgment had been far harsher than his. I’m the only thing set afire by her.” Her words to me the night before surfaced in my memory, and I realized how true they were. “I want her.”
“So does Marcus.”
I grunted. “Marcus is using her to amuse himself at my expense. When he grows bored with the two of us, he’ll move on to the next woman he stumbles upon in the street.”
“And in the meantime? Will you share her with him?”
“No!” It came out too possessive.
He nodded as if he knew what my answer was going to be before he heard it. “Leander, I love my children. I know it is a burden on you, but you are a better father to them than I could be.”
“I understand you more than you think. You don’t have to explain. I was just angry.” I blew out a breath.
For a moment, Richard just stood there then he chuckled. “You reminded me of Father just now.”
Pain twisted in my heart. Even Marcus felt the guilt. Our father had not treated Richard well. He’d been a cruel influence in our lives and even crueler to our mother. It had been I who had sent him away from Blakewood, but it had been Richard that he’d hurt the most. He was the very reason Richard brought his children to Blakewood. He was afraid he would be the same kind of father.
“We all have our bad days.” I settled back down in my chair.
“Have you been to see him?” Richard moved to the chair across from my desk.
“No, but Marcus visits him from time to time.” I shook my head. “I don’t know why he does so after all that...” Don’t you dare feel sorry for me. Marcus’ thoughts blasted me, cutting off my words.
“How is he?” Richard asked.
“Bitter. Sad. Broken.” I didn’t want to talk about it. “I sense him at the edges of the property sometimes at night. I don’t like it.”
“You don’t think he would do anything?” Some of that boyhood fear of the man crept into Richard’s eyes.
“Beatrice keeps the household in their rooms at night for the most part.” I frowned. “I don’t know why he does it, but I sense him out there sometimes as if he’s waiting for us to call him back into the house.”
“He was always so strong.” Richard looked down at the floor, appearing almost as vulnerable as Ritchie.
“I’m stronger,” I told him, and he nodded as he stood and left the room. “I have to be.”
*****
I followed Richard as he strode purposely toward his son and the governess. She and Ritchie were on all fours looking under rocks for bugs or whatever creature might interes
t the boy that day. She looked up as he neared then her gaze went past him to me and she stood. “We need a better hunting ground, I think. Ritchie, run to the river and see if there are any larger rocks there.” She watched him race toward the river before turning to face Richard.
“You are good with him.” Richard looked over his shoulder at me and scowled. “It seems you are good with many here at Blakewood.” I walked forward and lowered myself to the ground a few feet from them. He looked at her again.