“Very nice to meet you both.” Deborah smiled.
“An American? How delightful!” Sebastian said.
“Yes,” Deborah said. She remained as pleasant as possible, knowing both were subtly giving her the once over.
“You crossed the pond to find her, Ben?” Elizabeth asked with a smirk.
“As a matter of fact, yes.”
“I’m sure there are hearts breaking all over London tonight!” she teased.
“How long will you be in our fair city, Miss Brooks?” Sebastian asked.
“At least a week.”
“That’s hardly any time at all,” Elizabeth said. “Are you here for business or pleasure?”
Turning toward Ben, she smiled. “Pleasure.”
The woman’s eyebrow shot up. “I see. Ben’s just full of surprises.”
Deborah wasn’t quite sure how to respond.
“Ben, will you be in town for the Prescott auction?” Sebastian asked.
“We’ll be heading down to West Sussex as soon as my business is concluded,” Ben replied.
“The lot being offered is quite impressive. There are a number of Congolese pieces.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“Are you telling me I won’t have the pleasure of bidding against you? The religious figurines alone are quite exquisite.”
“Have at it, Sebastian,” Ben said jokingly.
“Now where is the fun in that? Is there something about them I should be leery of?”
“Not at all. I just won’t be there to bid on them.”
“Let me guess. You’ll have one of your subordinates do it?”
Ben laughed but didn’t answer the question.
Deborah was fascinated by the banter between the two men. She was also keenly aware Elizabeth was continuing to assess her.
“Well, it’s a very nice to make your acquaintance, Miss Brooks. Perhaps we’ll have an opportunity to talk again before the evening ends.”
“That would be nice.”
“Ben.”
“Sebastian… Elizabeth. Enjoy the rest of your evening. The artists featured tonight are certainly worth your attention.”
Sebastian and Elizabeth moved on, far more interested in the revelers caring less about the art.
“They’re interesting,” Deborah whispered.
“They’re actually quite boorish.”
“You’d never know you didn’t like them. You were quite charming.”
“I don’t dislike them. I tolerate them… and others like them.”
“I did get an interesting vibe. There’s something about them that’s…”
“They’re distant royals. I’m not. It’s a distinguishing factor in certain circles even today.”
“Old money versus new, huh?”
“More like name. It’s a peculiar remnant of times past.”
It was apparent Ben wasn’t intimidated by the likes of the Binns, but he had distaste for what he viewed as pompous posturing.
“Some things never change,” she said.
A server approached offering champagne. Ben got fresh glasses, handing one to her.
“Let me say again how amazing you look. You’ve turned quite a few heads this evening.”
“I’m not entirely sure it’s me.”
“Oh, it’s definitely you. I’m having a hard time keeping my eyes off of you.”
“Well, thank you.” She blushed. “You’re not bad looking yourself! But I’m pretty sure people are simply curious.”
“About?”
“You said yourself you don’t usually bring a date to these things. And now that you have, your date is… unexpected.”
“You most certainly are. A vision like no other.”
He stood a little closer and kissed the side of her mouth. “Thank you for putting up with this,” he whispered.
“I’m enjoying myself. Really.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes. It’s nice to get a glimpse of your world. On top of that, the artwork is fantastic.”
“Anything in particular you like?”
“Quite a few things.”
“Show me.”
They moved to a large abstract sculpture made of discarded industrial remnants. The spotlight shined on it, casting a shadow of Degas’ Little Dancer. There were several pieces using the technique, and Deborah loved them all. Moving into the next room, she noticed a woman watching them. It felt curiously different from the way others looked at her. It seemed as if the woman was deliberately making eye contact. There was also something vaguely familiar about her.
“Ben? Do you know that woman?” she asked sipping on champagne.
He looked in the direction of Deborah’s discreet gaze. “Yes. Her name is Victoria Markham.”
“What’s her story?”
“She and I spent time together in the past.”
“Intimately?”
“Intimately? No. Sexually? Yes.”
“So why does she keep looking at us?”
“Because she’s very competitive… in all things.”
“What does that mean?”
“Let’s just say she found sport in everything… and could play very aggressively.”
Noticing the slight arch in his brow as he sipped from his glass, Deborah knew there was a lot of innuendo in his remark.
“You like aggressive?”
“It has its merits.” He smirked.
“Hmph!”
“Are you jealous? You’ve never struck me as the type.”
“Jealous? No. Protective when I need to be? Absolutely.”
Her remark tickled him. It was another side of Deborah that fascinated him. Noticing her posture had become more erect, he teased, “Is Victoria making you uncomfortable?”
“Not at all, but I had a feeling she wasn’t some random chick.”
“That’s very intuitive of you.”
“Actually, I’d swear I’ve seen her before tonight… Ohhh!
“What?”
“I’ve seen a picture of the two of you attending some event.”
“And how is that?”
Now she was embarrassed. “Never mind.”
He was quite amused asking, “You did an internet search on me, didn’t you?”
“In the beginning… when you first asked me out.”
“And what else did you find?”
“Nothing you didn’t tell me about later. You’re not upset about that, are you?”
“Curiosity is one of your more alluring characteristics… as is this lioness rising in you. Quite intriguing.”
Looking him squarely in his eyes, she remarked, “Lionesses share… I don’t.”
He laughed boisterously before downing the last of his champagne. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Victoria sauntering toward them. Taking a deep breath, she prepared herself for whatever came next.
“Hello, Ben!” she said coming far too close for Deborah’s comfort. Without giving him a moment to respond, Victoria leaned in to kiss him on the mouth, but Ben turned his head allowing her kiss to land on his cheek.
“Victoria. Let me introduce you to Deborah Brooks.”
She found no need to soften her glare as Victoria extended her hand to her.
Victoria’s chilly “Hello,” spoke volumes. The slight head tilt indicated she considered Deborah a definite rival.
“Hello,” Deborah said watching her closely.
Shifting her attention back to Ben, Victoria managed to position herself between them and began speaking only to him but loud enough to be heard. Ben was keenly aware of what was happening and keeping a close eye on Deborah during the brief conversation. He was prepared to shut down any further foolishness from Victoria, if necessary.
“You didn’t return my call. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re avoiding me.”
Putting distance between them, he moved closer to Deborah placing his arm around her waist. “My fu
ll attention has been elsewhere.”
Victoria’s coy expression changed dramatically at the slight. “You do get easily distracted, don’t you?”
With eyes flashing her intentions, Deborah sweetly asked, “Ben, will you please refresh my champagne?”
He was beyond intrigued understanding exactly what she wanted. “Of course, my sweet.”
Standing alone with Victoria she asked, “So how long have you known Ben?”
“Years.”
“Hmmm. It seems whatever you had with him is finished… and honestly, you’re embarrassing yourself.”
“Is that what you think? Well, I know him well enough to know his little… distractions always fall to the wayside. He always comes back to the familiar.”
“Only because you allow it… which says a hell of a lot about you. But here’s the thing… if you really believed that, you wouldn’t be talking to me and trying so… damn… hard.”
With a steely expression, she replied, “I can see why he likes you. He prefers strong women… even if his current fascination is a bit… sable.”
“I’m trying very hard to be pleasant. Don’t tempt fate.”
“Haven’t you heard? There is no fate you don’t make.”
“Precisely.” Deborah’s eyes were piercing and her jaw clenched.
Ben watched the icy tête-à-tête for a moment before returning to them. Handing the glass to Deborah, he turned to Victoria.
“If there’s any remaining doubt about my relationship with Deborah… erase it. Goodnight, Victoria.”
Red-faced, Victoria left without another word. Deborah exhaled deeply and took a long sip from her glass. She wasn’t angry but greatly annoyed. Finally looking at Ben, his expression showed amusement.
“Shall I assume you’ve marked your territory sufficiently,” he teased.
“Don’t play with me, Ben Stewart.”
“Playing with you is one of my greatest delights.” Setting his glass on the tray of the passing waiter, he took hold of her, kissed her deeply, and looked into her eyes saying emphatically, “Besides, I’ve marked myself for only you.”
In spite of the testy conversation with Victoria, she met other friends of Ben’s who were far more affable and warm. After spending a few more hours at the event, Arthur was waiting to take them back to the apartment. A bottle of champagne was cooling in the Bentley. Ben uncorked it and poured glasses.
Already feeling tipsy, she took the glass saying, “Are you trying to take advantage of me, Ben Stewart?”
“Never!” He smirked devilishly. “All right, maybe a little.”
Ben loosened his bow tie, shoving it in his pocket. He then unbuttoned his shirt a few notches. Taking hold of her ankles, he slid her pumps off then placed her feet across his lap gently stroking them.
“Arthur, take us to Green Park.”
“Yes, sir. Which side would you prefer?”
“Take Constitution Hill.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I thought we were heading back to the apartment to top off this fabulous night,” she said flirtatiously.
“I have something else in mind.”
“More surprises?”
“Always.”
Pulling up near the park, Arthur rolled down the tinted windows. Looking out, she noticed a huge fountain before turning her attention toward the bright lights illuminating the enormous granite building.
“Is that what I think it is?” She gushed.
“Buckingham Palace.”
“Wow! Do you think they’re in there?”
“Someone is, but highly doubtful they are.”
“It’s huge.”
“Now you can scratch that off your list.”
“Thank you! So where are we off to now? Big Ben?”
“You could say that.” He smirked.
CHAPTER 17
After a fun-filled Sunday seeing London through her eyes, Ben hated to start his work routine again. He instructed Arthur to take Deborah shopping, while he spent the day at his Kensington office. It was the usual in terms of meetings, calls, and reviewing financial reports. He’d already notified his art broker about the pieces he wanted from the Prescott auction.
“Mr. Stewart, your three-thirty is here,” Marian said.
“Bring him in.”
“Right away.”
Marian escorted the investigator into his office and left closing the door behind her.
“What have you found out for me?”
“Miss Brooks’ background is quite fascinating.”
“Explain.”
“She was found among the rubble during the ’94 earthquake in Haiti. They estimated her age to be about six or seven based on her dental records.”
“She was orphaned during the quake?”
“That’s likely, but there’s nothing available to confirm it.”
“The quake was that devastating?”
“Actually no. It was a moderate quake only a five point four. A few people died, but the damage in most places was minimal. The province where she was found, like many throughout the country, have poorly constructed housing. It doesn’t take much to destroy them. The tragedy of 2010 demonstrated that.”
“No one claimed her?”
“According to church records, no. She was immediately taken into the care of the Oblate Order of the Sisters of Providence. For reasons unknown, she was eventually moved to the States… to the Baltimore orphanage where she was raised.”
“Are you absolutely certain?”
“Yes. Our team checked multiple sources including those sealed. The fact they sealed her records makes little sense unless they got her out Haiti illegally.”
“Thank you.”
The investigator handed Ben a sealed envelope, then stood to leave. “Here’s the detailed report on what we found including her background and education. As always, should you need our services again, we are at your disposal.”
“Thank you.”
As disappointing as the news was, Ben stared at the envelope pondering whether or not to share the information with Deborah. Through all the means, both legal and extralegal, at their disposal, the smattering of details wouldn’t likely make much difference. He’d hoped to give her a familial connection, but there was none. He wasn’t sure telling her she was of Haitian ancestry would do much for her. But, he did find it curious Deborah was much older at the time she went to the Baltimore orphanage than originally thought. He took the envelope placing it inside his office safe convinced that’s where it should remain.
When his workday ended, Arthur returned with Deborah in tow sitting in the back of the Bentley.
“Hello, my sweet!”
“Hi, there! How was your day?”
“Productive.”
“That’s terrific. Does that mean you’ll be able to spend some time with me tomorrow?”
“One more day of work, and we’ll drive to the house. Then you will have me all to yourself for the remainder of this visit.”
When they got back to the apartment, Arthur brought in the few shopping bags setting them in the bedroom. A chef was busy preparing a scrumptious dinner. Once it was all prepared and the table set, he sat quietly in the kitchen while they ate.
“Did you enjoy your afternoon shopping?”
“I did more window shopping than anything else. Those stores were terribly expensive.”
“What’d you buy?”
“A lovely dress, some fantastic shoes, and a few other little things you might like.”
“Is that so?” He grinned.
“But I spent more money than I should have.”
“You shouldn’t have spent any at all. Didn’t Arthur tell you your day was on me?”
“He did, and I refused.”
“Why?”
“I appreciate the gesture, but you’ve been more than generous already.”
“I want to do for you.”
She reached across the table gently stroking his face. “Thank you,
but I don’t want you ever to think I’m here because of what you can do for me.”
“I can spot that type of woman fairly easily. You’re not one of them, but I will respect your wishes.”
“Thank you.”
When they finished eating, the chef cleared the table and cleaned the kitchen before leaving them with crème brûlée for dessert. Not feeling up to eating much more, they set them in the refrigerator. Taking her hand, Ben led her to the bedroom. They showered together and climbed into bed snuggling close.
Stroking her hair and occasionally glancing at her, he couldn’t help but think about the investigator’s report locked away in his office safe. Raising more questions than it answered, he was still very curious.
“Deborah, how old were you when you went to the orphanage?”
“Where did that come from?” she asked looking up at him.
“Merely curious.”
“I always remember being there. I woke up in the same bed every day until I left for college.”
“You have no earlier childhood memories at all?”
“Ben, what’s this about? Why do you want to talk about this all of a sudden?”
“I thought perhaps with my resources I could help you learn more… assuming you can remember any small detail.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve told you everything. Let’s drop it, okay?”
“I didn’t mean to unsettle you,” he said touching her cheek. “I just want to help.”
“Thank you, but it is what it is. I’ve learned to live with it. I don’t need to know anymore.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes. The only disadvantage is I don’t know my medical history. But so far, I’m healthy, and I take care of myself. I can’t control anything else anyway, right?”
“Right.”
That was his answer. She seemed resolute without a shred of doubt. He’d keep the files locked away eventually destroying them. Turning out his lamp, he settled into the plush bed resting his head on her breasts while she began reading. As she read, she delicately ran her fingers through his hair. It was incredibly soothing, and he eventually faded off to sleep.
Like a bolt of lightning streaking through his body, he felt excruciating pain. He was in his realm with Veshlu and Huria standing before him.
Asira Awakens Page 12