“I have to get out of here.” She threw off the covers and tried to sit up. He sat on the bed and replaced them over her.
“Virginia, Ginny, love. Be still. You’re safe now, I’m here,” he said in a firm voice. It seemed to soothe her, so he kept repeating it until she settled down and slept again. He sat in a chair by the bed and picked up a book. He awoke several hours later. His first thought was for her. He turned on a lamp, and by its light, he saw she was sleeping peacefully. He put his hand on her forehead, and she wasn’t as hot as she had been. He almost wept with relief. That was the beginning of her recovery. It was slow, as she was very weak to start with, but his Virginia was nothing if she wasn’t a fighter. Soon, she was insisting on getting up, and although she was wobbly, she succeeded in walking to the bathroom. Within a few days, she could shower with no assistance.
He consulted Mrs. Laurens and they re-arranged the postponed party. It was to take place on the Saturday night, in the club. While she’d been ill, a further couple of sets of clothes had arrived from “Curvy Woman.” Valkyrie couldn’t wait to see her in the gold and emerald set that Emma had sent. He arranged for Stephanie to come and do her hair and make-up, as he thought it was too early for her to be going out in the cold. He wanted everything to be just perfect and pestered Mrs. Laurens accordingly. Until she lost patience.
“Sir, I’m fond of Virginia. I’ll do all I can to make this party an evening to remember, but you must trust me to get on with it,” she said rather tartly for her as, for the umpteenth time, he went to check on the details.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Laurens. This means so much to me.”
“I know it does, Sir. It will all turn out well, you mark my words.” She patted his hand. He felt like a small boy again, even though she was a good ten inches shorter than him.
Chapter Nine
Saturday saw Virginia fretting to be let out. She’d been in the flat for two weeks, and she just wanted fresh air. Valkyrie agreed to take her for a drive. He saw Mrs. Laurens smiling as they left. She’d be glad to see the back of him for a few hours, he knew. He drove Virginia to Gretna Gateway and took her to Costa for coffee and a toasted sandwich. They strolled around the shops, and he bought her chocolates and the scarf that caught her eye. It was pale-grey with blue and black butterflies on it. She turned and kissed him impulsively and he smiled at her. They bought the loose tea she liked, and he was delighted when she bought him a bottle of Cardhu Special Cask Reserve. They’d sample it that night.
“Well, I think that’s enough fresh air, Ginny,” he said, looking at her pale face. “You need to go home and take a nap, and get ready for tonight.”
“What’s happening tonight?” she asked.
“We are going to the club for a while. You’ve been missed. We’ll go down for an hour or so, as I don’t want you to get over-tired.”
When they got back, he had her lie down on the bed and he covered her with a blanket. He fetched a hot water bottle and put it by her feet.
“I have to go and do some work, love, but I’ll be back in time for afternoon tea. You have a nice nap.” He kissed her and left.
* * * *
He came back two hours later. She was fast asleep, so he made a pot of her favourite tea and some ham-and-tomato sandwiches on a crisp baguette. He assembled all he needed on a tray, and carried it through to the sofa and placed it on the low table, and then he went to wake Virginia. Approaching the bed, he saw her eyes were open and she smiled up at him. He held out his hand. She took it and he pulled her to her feet. He kissed her cheek and led her to the sofa. They ate in companionable silence, then watched TV for a while. When it was time to get ready for the club, he produced a box from “Curvy Woman.” She opened it eagerly as he watched. The corset inside was amber and, as usual, all the accessories matched. He watched the expression on her face as she held the corset up in front of her and looked in the mirror. Her eyes shone and she caught his eye watching her in the mirror and smiled at him. He went over to his night table and opened the drawer. He took out the smaller of the two boxes that were in there and gave it to her. The amber earrings, with their simple silver setting, had been an after-thought, but now, as she put them in her ears and the long, slim earrings emphasised her long neck, he was glad. She looked beautiful. Her glow had returned.
“Thank you so much, Valkyrie,” she said, and stood on tiptoe to kiss him.
“We’d better go down to the club now, or I shall ravish you here and now, my Virginia,” he said with a chuckle.
He led her out of the apartment and down to the club. When they appeared, a cheer went up and Mrs. Laurens came toward them.
“All’s ready in the dining-room, sir, if you’ll just come this way,” she said.
In the dining-room, the tables were decorated with bowls of yellow roses, and on the largest stood an exquisitely decorated birthday cake. It was a two-tier confection with beautiful yellow sugar roses cascading from the top one. “Happy Birthday Virginia” had been piped on the bottom tier. Virginia said nothing, and he wondered what she was thinking. He looked closely at her and saw her eyes were misty.
“This was planned for your birthday, but then those dreadful floods stopped the celebration. I wanted you to have it, even if it’s late,” he said.
“Thank you so much. I am overwhelmed. No-one has ever gone to so much trouble on my account, and this is all so lovely,” Virginia said, waving her arm to encompass the whole dining-room. Their friends were all there and came forward to smile at her and wish her a “belated happy birthday.” When they were all done, they sat and ate the delicious meal that Mrs. Laurens and her helpers had prepared. At the end of the meal, Valkyrie stood up. All fell silent, wondering what he was about to say. Virginia looked up at him as he began to speak.
“Virginia, I thought I’d lost you when your flat was flooded. We’d planned to hold this party on your birthday. Tonight is a special night for me. Before all our friends, I want to ask you to accept this.”
He took out a long, flat box and offered it to her. She took it and opened it. Behind his back he crossed his fingers as she opened the box. Inside was a collar composed of silver, with a large ‘V’ made out of pieces of amber. The style matched her earrings. She turned to face him. The expression of heart-felt happiness on her face was all he’d hoped. He could see she was happy.
“This is my collar, Virginia. Will you wear it for me? I love you so much. Will you be my sub?”
He saw the tears in her eyes as she looked at it. Then she returned the box to him.
“I would be honoured to wear your collar and be your sub, Master. I have loved you for a long time. I just didn’t realise how much, until that terrible night,” she said in a low and very unsteady voice, as she knelt. He took the collar and fastened it about her throat. Then he raised her, turned her to face him, and kissed her deeply.
“I promise you won’t ever regret it, Virginia.”
THE END
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Since my youngest son challenged me to write a novel of my own and I wrote Initiation, book one in the Prometheus in Chains series, writing has taken over my life. It has been like a roller-coaster ride and a very pleasurable one at that. When I sent off my first book to Siren I had no idea what I was setting in motion. I have made many good friends, some readers and some fellow authors. Writing has certainly changed my life.
I believe the world has enough sadness in it and my characters will always get their happily ever after even if the road is rocky.
The Kinbaku scene in this book has been checked by Master “K.” I am very grateful for his help as usual. I am also very grateful for all the help and advice I have received from everyone at Siren, especially my editor, and Christine for so many beautiful covers.
I would love to hear from you and I always answer e-mails or contacts on Facebook.
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Virginia's Awakening [The Blood Red Rose Club 3] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 10