“You bought us dresses?” Jane asked.
“Yes. I hope you like them,” I replied. “Go rest now. I am sure you have need. It is a long flight. I will see you for dinner.”
“Okay,” my mom said.
“I love you both, and I’m pleased you came,” I said.
“We love you, too” said Jane. She glanced at Ashton, back at me, then over to my mom. “Come on, Francis. We have a formal dinner to get ready for.”
My mom smiled. “It would appear so.”
****
Ashton’s and my arrival at dinner was announced by our butler, followed by the sounds of chairs moving across the marbled floor.
“Wait,” Ashton said. He stopped our entrance just outside the doors to the dining hall. “I have a small bauble I wish for you to wear tonight.” Ashton pulled something quite sparkleliscous from his suit coat. “Turn for me, my dove.” I turned and felt him attach something around my neck. “Lovely.”
I ran my fingers over the diamond necklace and glanced to see my reflection in the glass of the grandfather clock. “Ashton, it’s stunning.”
“As are you, my love.”
“Thank you, but I don’t require jewels.”
“My wife requires jewels.”
“I love you, Ashton.”
“I love you, my dove,” he replied, holding out his arm. “Shall we?”
“Yes.”
Ashton opened the doors to the dining hall. Everyone stood, awaiting our entrance. I glanced up into Ashton’s face and smiled. He traced the tip of his finger down my cheek before turning his attention to the room full of our guests.
“Welcome,” Ashton said. “My Lady and I are pleased to have you all here this evening for the formal announcement of our engagement. I stepped out onto a large limb, asking this beauty who stands beside me to honor me, love me, and to become my wife. And to my shock, the limb did not break.”
“As if you had worry Lady Trinity would not accept,” Lord Chillington quipped.
“Well, my dear Lord Chillington, to my utter joy, Lady Trinity accepted my marriage proposal. We shall be wed in June.”
“Hip, hip, I say,” Chillington cheered.
“We are blessed,” Ashton said. “Not only to have each other, but to share this joy with our friends. We are also blessed to have Lady Trinity’s mother and aunt joining us this fine evening,” he said, holding out his hand in acknowledgment of their presence. Everyone clapped, looking in their direction and nodding, acknowledging them.
Ashton turned his gaze to my face, picked up my hand, and kissed it. “Votre beauté me saisit, me tient prisonnier, fixe mon regard comme si le soleil occupe mon cœur, comme si les étoiles et prend mon souffle, comme si la lune.”
“Tell us, my lord, for those of us who do not speak French,” Lord Chillington said.
I smiled, turned toward my guest and answered Lord Chillington’s inquiry. “Your beauty captures me, holds me prisoner, sets my gaze as if the sun, holds my heart as if the stars, and takes my breath as if the moon.”
“Trinity, you know French?” my mother asked.
Swirls of low laughter flared throughout the dining hall.
“I know this,” I assured. Ashton guffawed.
“Shall we, my lady?”
I bowed my head. “Yes, my lord.”
Ashton took his place at the table, as did I, to his right. Ashton smiled and turned his attention to his left where my mother and Jane were seated. “My dear Ladies. You both look simply ravishing this evening,” he said with his smooth honey tones.
Jane chuckled. My mom smiled. They both spoke in harmony. “Thank you.”
“Mother. Aunt Jane. You do look wonderful,” I interjected.
“Thank you, sweet,” said Jane.
My mom looked a little dazed. “Thank you, my love.”
“A toast to the happy couple,” Alec said and raised his glass.
Lord Archibald interjected with a hearty, “Here, here!”
“My beauty,” Alec said and smiled wide. “Lord Archer.” Alec inclined his head. “I am a man who has seen a great many things within my lifetime, some of which have altered my life, some which have given me great joy. Tonight I am filled with joy to see the two of you so happy, and so much in love.”
“Thank you, my dear friend,” Ashton said.
“I wish you both nothing but happiness together. Congratulations,” Alec said, and pinged his wine glass against Jacqueline’s.
Everyone followed in a cacophony of voices. “Congratulations!”
Wine glasses danced together in celebration. The sound reminded me of high-pitched bells.
Ashton took my hand and kissed the top. “I love you, my dove.”
“I love you. My Lord, before we start dinner, I would like to make introductions for my family’s sake.”
“Of course,” said Ashton.
I stood. Everyone became quiet, so quiet you could hear the ticking of the antique grandfather clock outside the dining hall.
“Thank you all for coming to celebrate our engagement. I am honored, and I wish to give introductions so my family, my mother and my aunt, may know each of you.” I looked toward my mother and aunt who sat across from me. “Mother. Aunt Jane.” I waved to my right. “This is my dear friend, Jacqueline Rousseau.”
Jacqueline stood, bowing her head in acknowledgment. “I am please to meet you, Mrs. Winslow, and Lady Jane.”
My mom and aunt nodded.
“To Jacqueline’s right is Alejandro Bastille Vara Cruz,” I said.
Alec smiled, and raised his glass. “I am honored to meet you both.”
“I shall give one large introduction. Everyone who I am about to introduce holds a special place within my heart as well. Serenity,” I said. Serenity nodded then stood. “Amelia.” She stood. “Ambre.” She stood. “Ceclie.” Ceclie stood with tears streaming. “Desiree and Domonique.” They stood together, in unison. “Breeze.” She stood, smiling brightly. “Tempest.” She rose to her feet. “And Scarlet.” Scarlet stood.
“On behalf of myself and all of my sisters,” said Amelia, “we are pleased to meet the mother and the aunt of our beautiful Lady Trinity.”
All of my sisters smiled, nodded their heads then proceeded to take their seats in a wave of elegance.
I extended my hand once more. “May I introduce Lord and Lady Archibald from Kent.”
Lord Archibald stood, looking stiff as per the last time I saw him. “Good evening, Ladies. Lady Archibald and I are pleased to meet you.”
I turned my attention to Lord Ironington. “I shall also like to introduce Lord Ironington from Cornwall.”
Lord Ironington stood. He bowed his head toward me, then Jane and mom. “I am honored,” he said.
“Lord and Lady Chillington, thank you for joining us with such short notice,” I said. “Mother. Aunt Jane, may I present Lord and Lady Chillington from Yorkshire.”
Lord Chillington smiled, stood then bowed. “On behalf of the house of Chillington, we are pleased to make your acquaintances, my ladies.”
“Next to Lord and Lady Chillington are Lord and Lady Chatterline from Lancashire,” I said.
Lord Chatterline rose. He placed his right hand behind his back and bowed. “Lady Chatterline and I extend our greetings.”
I glanced toward Ashton with a smile then over to the man beside Lady Chatterline. “Lord Barrington. I am so very happy you could join Lord Archer and I this evening. I know having you here means a great deal to my lord as well as I.” Thaddeus stood, bowed in deference to me then turned toward my mother and my aunt. He picked up my aunt’s and kissed the back of it. Aunt Jane flushed red.
“I am Lord Thaddeus Thomas Weston Barrington, and I shall assure you, I am delighted to make both of your acquaintances,” he said, hitting Jane and mom with his devil of a smile.
Ashton took my hand as I sat. “I shall wish to thank you all again for joining us this evening, and I shall thank my beautiful dove for making this evening p
ossible.” He glanced around our table. “Well, I should think it is time to eat.” He picked up the bell and rang it. The procession of food began.
Half way through the meal, Ashton’s hand rested upon my knee before he leaned in and whispered, “My dove, you have outdone yourself this evening. How did you know this was one of my favorite meals?”
“A little bird told me,” I said and then all hell broke out.
Outside of the dining hall I heard shouting, staff scurrying about, voices then one voice became clear.
“Trinity!” Reid yelled. “Fucking hell, Trinity. How long are you going to make me wait? Why haven’t you called me?” He sounded drunk or high.
I dropped my head, anger boiling from deep within. In that moment I wanted to beat him into a bloody pulp.
“Is that Reid?” mom asked.
I nodded and stood up. “No, my dove. I shall handle this,” Ashton said in a very low, controlled, but angry voice.
“Ashton, he’s my friend, no matter how much of an ass he’s making of himself. I should be the one to speak with him.”
“Not in his condition. He sounds intoxicated,” Ashton replied.
Something crashed.
I glanced around the table. “I am truly sorry,” I said, taking my leave with Ashton on my heels, and following behind him was my mother.
“Alec,” Jacqueline said. Alec left the dining hall behind my mother, closing the hall doors on his way out.
Ashton took a hold of my arm, stopping my advance toward Reid. “Addison, have you lost your wits? We have guests here this evening,” Ashton said between tight jaws.
“Fuck you, Archer!” Reid replied with venom.
“Reid, what are you doing?” my mother asked.
Reid turned his whole body in her direction.
“Mrs. Winslow?” He moved forward.
I saw the vase of fresh cut roses I had placed upon the foyer table smashed upon the floor. Pieces of crystal glistened in disarray, scattered about in morbid beauty.
“Yes, Reid. What are you doing? You are clearly drunk,” my mother said.
“I’m not drunk, just a little tipsy, but I’m glad you have come to take Trinity back home. She wouldn’t come home with me. I tried to take her home, but I’ve been an asshole so she got pissy with me.” Reid stumbled. “I guess I can’t blame her.”
Barrington walked up behind Ashton. “Is everything all right?”
“It shall be momentarily,” replied Ashton.
“Reid, let me take you home,” Alec said.
“No!” Reid yelled. “I’m not leaving here without my baby bird.”
“Reid, I’m not your baby bird. I was never yours,” I said.
“Oh yeah,” Reid challenged. His earring glinting as he turned to glare at me. “Is that what your heart says? What your body says? I don’t think so.”
“Reid, please. You need to go home and sleep this off.”
Reid dropped to his knees. His pitch black hair flopped over his eyes. “I love you, Trinity. If you want me to grovel, I will. I’ve been so stupid. I want to do better, be better. I want you so bad it hurts. I can’t eat, I can’t sleep, and all I think about is you. Touching you, kissing you. I love you, you Trinity, the others never mattered, it has only ever been you.”
“Stop, Reid,” I said sternly.
Reid wavered and placed one hand on the wall. “If you wanted to hurt me, you have. If you wanted to make a point with me by flaunting Archer in my face, point taken. I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry, but you can’t forget us, Trinity.”
“Addison, you need to get up, remove yourself from our home or I shall have you removed,” Ashton said.
I touched Ashton’s arm. “Ashton,” I said, softly.
“I shall join you, my brother, if you wish to kick his yank ass,” Barrington said to Ashton with a smug smile. I shot Barrington a glare.
“Thaddeus, no one is going to be dishing out any type of ass kicking this evening,” I snapped. Barrington chortled.
I held out my hand, allowing Reid to take it. He stood up, looking like he had not slept, or showered. There were dark circles under his silver eyes, and he hadn’t shaved. I placed Reid’s unwashed hand to my cheek.
“Reid, I am sorry. I never wished to see you in such pain, but there is nothing I can do to quench it. There’s nothing I can do to help you. You need to help yourself, Reid. No one else can fix you or heal the holes in your heart.”
“You can, Trinity. You make me want to be a better man,” Reid replied.
“No, Reid, I cannot. Even if I wasn’t in love with Lord Archer, I could not.”
“You can’t be in love with that arrogant ass,” Reid mumbled.
“I am in love with Lord Archer. I have not used him to hurt you or to teach you a lesson. I am going to marry him, Reid. Please go home. If you ever cared for me, you will go.”
Reid wavered, unsteady on his feet. He grabbed at me, trying to pull me into his body. Ashton swooped in, taking Reid by the throat. Alec stepped forward, followed by Barrington. Mom gasped.
“Ashton, please let him go. He’s drunk. He doesn’t know what he’s doing,” I said.
“I will take him home,” said Alec.
Barrington tapped Ashton’s shoulder. Ashton nodded and let loose of Reid. Reid gagged, gasping for breath. He turned, lurched forward, and vomited quite impressively across the marble floor.
“Come on, Reid,” Alec said and placed a steady arm around him, helping Reid toward the entry foyer. “I will take you home.”
“Wait,” Reid said. He turned around and looked at me. “Do you remember what I told you once, that someday you would love someone else?”
“Yes,” I replied.
“What I did not tell you was that even when that day came, I wouldn’t give up. I will never give up on us, Trinity,” Reid said.
“Reid,” I said in almost a whisper, “there has never been an us.”
Reid raged, trying to break free, but Alec secured him by the wrist, bending it behind Reid’s back, twisting.
“Come,” Alec said, “I do not wish to hurt you, Reid.”
“Trinity!” Reid yelled. Alec jerked him out the door. “Fucking hell, Trinity! You are mine, you are! I love you, Trinity. Do you hear me? I love you…”
I wanted to run, hide, find a dark place and curl up, but then I took a breath, lifted my chin and turned to Ashton. “I am sorry,” I said.
Ashton touched my cheek. “This scene was not your doing; you have nothing to be sorry for, my dove.”
“We have guests. We should return to them,” I said, keeping my voice calm and business-like.
“Are you sure?” Ashton asked.
“Yes.”
“Very well, then. We shall put this ugliness behind us, and enjoy the remainder of our evening.”
The rest of the dinner went smoothly, with polite conversation returning along with discussion of the wedding. I made the announcement for everyone to join Ashton and I in the grand salon for tea, dessert, and some music. Everyone trailed out of the dining hall and into the parlor. I surprised Ashton by having hired a pianist to play his mother’s piano. It had been ignored for many years.
I giggled as the men gathered into a group while patting each other on the back, appreciatively. They broke out their cigars in celebration. In contrast the women circled around me, wanting to see my ring, and continued talk of the wedding plans.
“So what are your colors?” Amelia asked.
“Lavender, white and silver,” I replied.
Lady Archibald interjected, “Lavender is a lovely color for a summer wedding.”
I glanced over to see my husband with whirling smoke surrounding him in seduction. I had never seen him smoke before, but the sight, as well I knew it would be, was tantalizing. He turned to see me and smiled his wicked smile. Tendrils of smoke left his nostrils as the burn from his cigar, which was placed between his long fingers, allowed more smoke to flow up in undulating swirls around him. I w
anted to lead Ashton out of the formal salon, find a dark corner and shag him, but good. The vision of my body against the wall, while he hoisted me up, ripped off my panties, finding my wet slit then entering me, sent a shock wave of heat through me.
“Barrington,” said Ashton, “you shall stay on a few days?”
“Yes. I was thinking we should cause a ruckus. Perhaps go hunting?”
Ashton smiled. “We shall take the horses out, tomorrow.”
“Excellent,” Barrington replied. “We need to discuss that nasty business with that yank, I should think.”
“We will discuss him, but not now,” Ashton said with a look I imagined Barrington knew well.
“Well,” said Barrington, straightening the sleeves of his suit coat. “I see Lady Serenity giving me that come hither stare. I think I shall go speak with her.”
“Be careful, Barrington. You do not wish to cause a scene. Lady Chillington may become jealous,” Ashton said beneath his breath.
Barrington chuckled wickedly. “Yes, well, she wished to marry Chillington instead of me so I would say she made her choice.”
“However, does she not have her cake and eat of it too?” Ashton asked.
“It is said I am quite tasty cake, Archer. You know how much the Ladies love me,” Barrington returned with a shit-eating grin.
“Indeed,” Ashton replied.
“Archer,” Lord Ironington said, approaching like the cat that caught the mouse. “What an untidy mess we witnessed this evening with that yank. Addison, is that not his name?”
Ashton’s face hardened to granite. “Yes,” he said, giving no further comment.
“Perhaps you should know I have seen him before, at Jacqueline’s chateau, and with your dove.” Ironington smiled smugly.
“Lady Trinity and he are family friends, Ironington, nothing more.”
“Ah … well, from what I witnessed, you may want to question the friendship. I only say this for your benefit, you do understand. I would hate to see you made a fool of once again after the ghastly mess Lady Jillian caused for you.”
“Yes, I am sure, Lord Ironington; however, I assure you, I need not your concern.”
“Really,” Lord Ironington said, taking his index finger and his pinky finger and running them down each side of his mustache. “Addison had his arm wrapped around your dove quite snugly, and seemed to feel the need to come to her aid, and simply because she was speaking with me. I found it more than interesting to find her at Jacqueline’s.”
The Good Sister: Part Two Page 17