by Jo Victor
“It’s best we go,” Cam agreed but didn’t stir.
“Sweetheart, I think she’s right.” Somehow Alex managed to get herself moving.
The three of them made it as far as the door when the sound of Rosamund’s name echoed through the room. Alex looked at her companions.
“We’ve lasted this long. Why don’t we see the damn thing through and watch the presentation?”
“Anything you want,” Cam said.
“If you can stand it, I’ll manage to endure,” put in Nicola.
Strangely, even though Rosamund was onstage with Ian and several other Foundation members, the person at the microphone was the Foundation lawyer, who proceeded to read the entire text of Josiah Prandall’s bequest, complete with every single whereas, subsequently, and heretofore.
Alex soon lost her way among the thickets of Victorian legalese, and so, she suspected, did everyone else in the room, with the possible exception of Rosamund’s own solicitor, who was standing just behind Rosamund and looked horrified, although Alex couldn’t imagine why. The Foundation lawyer had finished his recital and was now explaining the terms of the agreement that she and Rosamund had signed, which again struck her as very odd. Not that the document was confidential, but his explanation seemed out of place as a preliminary to the announcement of Rosamund’s award.
At last he relinquished his place at the microphone to Ian, who addressed himself to Rosamund, asking whether she agreed that what the lawyer had said was accurate. As Rosamund headed toward the mic, her solicitor grabbed her arm and started whispering urgently in her ear, but Rosamund shook her off with an impatient expression and took her place beside Ian.
“Yes, Mr. Montrose, everything he said was correct.” She was all smiles now.
“Is there anything you would like to add, Ms. Camberwell?”
“No, thank you.”
“Nothing at all? I wouldn’t want you to feel that we had rushed you.”
This time her tone held a slight edge. “On the contrary, you seem bent on delaying me.” Rosamund’s lawyer put a hand over her eyes and turned away. “As you can imagine, I’m anxious to proceed.”
“In that case, Ms. Camberwell, the Artemisia Foundation is pleased to announce that at long last, we are able to award the Prandall Prize to a worthy recipient. Allow me to present you with a check for the full amount of the prize, in accordance with the exact terms of Josiah Prandall’s generous bequest.”
Something in the tone of his voice made Alex glance at him sharply, and as he looked out across the room, his eyes met hers for a moment and she could have sworn he winked at her. He turned back to Rosamund and handed her the check as the audience clapped with somewhat restrained enthusiasm, which was not surprising considering the number of her former colleagues present.
Rosamund didn’t even look at the check for a moment as she beamed for the cameras, which whirred and flashed. But then she looked down at the piece of paper in her hand, and her face froze. An instant later, a howl of indignation drowned out the applause, which faded and died.
Beside Alex, Cam muttered, half to herself, “I knew it. I knew he was up to something.”
“But what could possibly be wrong?” said Nicola. “The solicitor just read us every bloody word of the bequest and it sounded all right to me. What I could follow of it.”
“Look at her face,” said Cam. “Here it comes.”
“Where’s the rest of it?” Rosamund gestured to the check. “Where’s the rest?”
“Ms. Camberwell,” Ian replied calmly, “you have in your possession a check for the entire amount of the one-thousand-pound prize. If for some reason that isn’t satisfactory, I am authorized to provide the sum in cash.”
“Not the thousand, you pompous old fool. The seven hundred thousand.”
Ian’s voice took on a flinty tone. “Ms. Camberwell, the Foundation solicitor just read the bequest aloud, and a copy is being made available to the press. The terms are clear. The amount of the prize is one thousand pounds. Precisely.”
“Yes, yes, that’s the original amount. But everyone knows how it grew over the years. The interest—”
“As I said, Ms. Camberwell, the terms are clear. No mention is made in the bequest of investing the original amount, or of what should be done with any interest it might or might not earn. So whether or not such interest exists, it is not part of the prize.”
Rosamund lunged at Ian, and for one awful moment, Alex was afraid she was going to attack him physically. Fortunately she contented herself with screaming directly into his face. To his credit he didn’t retreat or even change expression. Alex was reminded that he had spent many successful years in banking, which apparently had prepared him to engage in confrontations with people in an advanced state of rage.
“You tricked me! You cheated me and—”
Thankfully at this point someone had the presence of mind to cut off the microphone, so they were spared further details of Rosamund’s meltdown, although the torrent continued to assault everyone’s ears as Alex, Cam, and Nicola made their escape.
Chapter Twenty-six
It took the better part of the night, several bottles of champagne, and a surprising quantity of snacks to talk through the events of the banquet.
By the time Ian finally managed to escape from the clutches of the press and his Foundation colleagues and return home to join the festivities taking place in his own parlor, Alex had begun to get seriously worried, despite Cam’s and Nicola’s and even Mrs. Glendale’s attempts to reassure her. But arrive he eventually did, apparently no worse for wear, and proceeded to regale them with the entire tale of his now-successful quest to thwart the pretensions of the enterprising Ms. Camberwell.
Nicola still seemed concerned about future problems, raising pointed questions about possible complications long past the time everyone else had stopped asking.
Finally Cam said, “Give it a rest, can’t you? Mr. Montrose has her boxed in as neatly as you could hope for. Even I can see that, though I didn’t understand it at first.” She turned to Ian, “You not only had her sign that bit of paper, which was beautifully timed”—she raised her glass, and he nodded in acknowledgment—“but you hit her with it just at the moment when she was least willing to listen to anyone trying to warn her to be careful. Even better, you got her to say in front of a roomful of people that she’d been happy to do it, so she couldn’t claim she’d signed under pressure.” She shook her head. “You could see from her solicitor’s face that she knew what was going on, but Rosamund wouldn’t pay her any mind.” She paused and leaned forward, suddenly sober. “I wouldn’t fancy being in her shoes right about now. Rosamund’s no doubt blaming her because she couldn’t stop her from doing the very thing she insisted on doing.”
Cam shuddered and Alex put a hand on her back, moving it in slow circles as she imagined the ways Rosamund must have tormented Cam over the years.
Time for a change of subject. “What about the interest?” Alex said. “What’s going to happen to it? If it even exists, that is.”
“Oh, it exists, Alexandra. All seven hundred thousand pounds of it, safe in the same account where it has always been, quietly growing until such time as the Foundation decides what to do with it.” He took a sip of champagne. “In fact, we have a board meeting set for first thing Monday to discuss the matter. I intend to propose that at least a small portion be awarded to you, in recognition of your more recent and most spectacular find.”
“I appreciate that very much, Ian, but you know that I wouldn’t have found anything at all without Cam. And Nicola was a huge help as well, not to mention what’s his name from the museum conservation department.”
“Alex,” Cam said, “you know as well as me that it was really Ja—” Cam gave Mrs. Glendale a sharp glance. “I’m not looking to put myself forward or take what’s yours by right, unlike certain folk who’ve already had more than their share of mention. I wouldn’t have had any notion what to do with that pile of
old paper in any case. You found it, because you were the one who was meant to find it, and if there’s any reward coming, it should be yours.”
“Your scruples do you both credit,” said Ian, “but I think you can safely leave the matter in my hands. I intend to look out for everyone’s interests, not excluding Nicola or what’s his name.”
“Nigel,” said Nicola. “Poor fellow, I think I frightened him out of his wits with that secrecy pledge. Every time he sees me at work he drops his eyes and scuttles away. The money aside, Mr. Montrose, the Foundation really needs to make some decisions soon about the new find.”
“I quite agree. Now that less pleasant matters have been taken care of, we can finally turn our attention to how best to present the world with—what did you call it, Cam? Oh, yes.” He smiled at her. “With that pile of old paper that also happens to be the most significant discovery in English literature since Lavinia Dickinson stumbled across her older sister’s poems.”
Alex said, “I think you might be overstating things just slightly, Ian.”
“Wait,” said Nicola. “I just thought of something else. What if—”
“Now, my dear,” said Ian, “I appreciate your concerns, which certainly do credit to your good sense and your devotion to the best interests of the Foundation, both of which I would love to see to the same degree in our senior staff. But at some point we have to be willing to let go and trust that the future will take care of itself.” He smiled at Alex. “As you said so well, Alexandra, none of us can really know what lies beyond this present moment. It does seem best to enjoy what we can, while we can. A touch more champagne, Cam?”
“Just a drop, Mr. Montrose, if you please.”
Alex finally let herself relax. Cam leaned back, wrapping an arm around her, and she rested her head on Cam’s shoulder, feeling safe and at peace.
Gradually conversation gave way to yawns, and everyone staggered to their bedchambers.
“You look delightfully wide awake,” Cam said once they were in their room, as she bent to remove her shoes and socks.
“Keep your voice down,” Alex hissed. “And I’m glad to see you’re not quite as sleepy as you were pretending to be.”
“Who says I was pretending?” Cam pulled off her jacket and hung it on the doorknob before going over to where Alex was standing beside the bed.
“After the third yawn it was pretty obvious, at least to me. Just as well it’s not your acting ability I’m in love with.” Hearing the words come out of her own mouth so easily, feeling absolutely right, sent a thrill all the way through her.
“Now come here.” She grabbed the knot on Cam’s tie, dragging her closer. “I’ve been wanting to do that all night.” She kissed Cam intently, already hungry for more.
Cam reached around her and pulled down the zipper on her dress, breaking off the kiss to murmur in her ear, “Speaking of things I’ve been wanting to do all night.” Alex could feel Cam unfastening her bra, and then Cam’s hands were on her shoulders, slipping the dress down her arms, the bra along with it, and sliding it lower, thumbs hooking the waistband of her underwear in passing. Cam leaned down to plant a kiss on her navel as she pushed everything to the floor.
Alex stepped away from the pile of clothing and stood naked, her breathing quickening as Cam straightened up, taking Alex’s hands to gently hold her arms away from her body. Cam slowly looked her up and down, her eyes dark. Standing there like that, exposed and open, with Cam fully clothed, was unbelievable erotic. She could almost feel Cam’s lingering gaze like a caress on her bare skin, and she longed for Cam to touch her.
“So lovely,” Cam murmured, and her grip on Alex’s hands tightened. When Cam released them a moment later, Alex closed her eyes, anticipating.
But all she felt was a kiss on her cheek, a tiny pinpoint of pleasure that sparked and vanished. When she opened her eyes, Cam was behind her, still not touching her.
Cam heard the whimper of disappointment that escaped from Alex and had to stop for a moment to get control of herself. She was determined to make this last as long as possible for both of them. Even if it killed her.
Alex tried to lean against her but she stepped back a fraction, placing one hand against Alex’s head to keep a whisper of air between their bodies. Her fingers encountered a bit of metal among Alex’s curls and she carefully teased it out. A hairpin. There were quite a few others, and she spent several minutes removing pins and combs, working slowly and delicately to avoid pulling Alex’s hair even the slightest bit. Alex, apparently realizing how hard she was concentrating, took advantage of her distraction to close the space between them, pressing back into her. Cam let out a grunt of pleasure at the feel of Alex’s body against hers. Clenching her jaw, forcing herself to breathe evenly, she returned to her task, quickly working out that last couple of pins before she completely lost her focus.
Alex wasn’t helping matters, having started to move her shoulders ever so slightly from side to side, each slow shift dragging her body teasingly against Cam’s breasts, just enough to drive her mad. The pleasure made her groan again, and she tossed the handful of pins and combs onto the bedside table so she could grasp both of Alex’s shoulders, stopping the tantalizing movement. Cam tried to step back, but her legs hit the bed behind her. There was nowhere to go. The part of her brain that was still functioning tried to remember why that was a problem.
Alex realized that even though Cam’s hands on her shoulders were firm, Cam’s body was trembling. Alex smiled to herself. At least she wasn’t suffering alone. The fabric of Cam’s clothing, fine as it was, felt rough against the bare skin of her back and legs. Every part of her skin that wasn’t touching Cam felt too cool. Cam’s hands were warm, and she wanted them on her, all over her. She couldn’t take the waiting much longer. Pretty soon she was going to start begging.
She felt Cam move a hand to the back of her neck, brushing her hair to one side and baring the nape. Alex held her breath, waiting for the kiss. Cam’s lips scarcely grazed her skin, but she was so hungry for contact the pleasure of it made her gasp.
The next kiss was more lingering, and when Cam started flicking her tongue lightly over Alex’s skin, she ground her lower body helplessly against Cam’s.
Cam grabbed her around the waist with both arms, holding her tightly, all but stopping her movement.
“Please.”
“Please what?” Cam’s voice was a growl against her neck, right at the place where it met her shoulder. “Tell me what you want.” But Cam began worrying at the spot with her teeth, and for a moment all Alex could do was whimper. “Tell me.”
“Touch me.”
Cam nipped at her earlobe. “Am touching you.”
“Put your hands on me. Please. Please, I need you.”
Cam couldn’t take any more. The pleading in Alex’s voice, the feel of her, the taste of her skin, the scent of her hair. She had to have her, had to have her now.
Quickly, she picked Alex up and turned to lay her on the bed. Then she climbed on top of her, one leg in between Alex’s thighs, leaning most of her weight on one elbow while she cupped Alex’s face with her other hand and kissed her. Alex’s arms went around her neck, holding her tightly as she eagerly returned the kiss.
Cam drew her hand down Alex’s body, roaming restlessly over her breasts for a while before moving lower. She couldn’t wait any longer.
She slipped between Alex’s legs, almost undone by how wet she was, and entered her, groaning against Alex’s mouth at the unbelievable feeling of being inside her at last.
Alex was gripping her shoulders now, fingers digging into Cam’s flesh as she moaned into her mouth. Cam started to stroke her, steady and firm, but holding back a little, letting Alex show her what she needed. When Alex curled one leg around hers and started moving against her, Cam matched her rhythm, faster and harder. It seemed like only moments before Alex started to come, and Cam finally let go, grinding against Alex’s leg until the pleasure overwhelmed her.
&nb
sp; Alex’s voice roused her from a light doze. She was sprawled on top of her, probably crushing the life out of her.
“Sorry.” She rolled to one side and then got to her feet.
Alex levered herself up on her elbows. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“Not to worry, love. I’m just getting ready for bed.” She took off her clothes and got under the covers, gathering Alex into her arms.
Alex settled herself into Cam’s embrace, loving the warmth of her skin and the safe feeling of being held so tenderly. “I love you.”
“And I love you.” Cam kissed her.
Alex’s head rode up and down on Cam’s chest as she sighed, so she scooted up a little to rest her head against her shoulder.
“Oh, Alex. What are we going to do?”
Alex didn’t have to ask what she was talking about. “I won’t have to leave right away, you know. After the grant runs out, I mean. I don’t have to start job hunting for a while. I’ve got a little money saved. I can stay a few more weeks, maybe even a month or two.”
Cam tightened her hold. “A few weeks.” Her voice sounded bleak.
Alex put a hand on Cam’s cheek, turning her head so she could look in her eyes. “Who was it who was telling me to stay in the moment? You love me, right?”
“Aye.” The fierce conviction behind that simple syllable was almost overwhelming.
“And I love you. And that’s all we really need. We have time. Maybe not much time, but we’ll find a way. We’ll make it work, somehow.”
“If you says so, love.”
“I know so. Now stop thinking so hard. I need my beauty sleep.”
Cam shifted to one side and then got up on her hands and knees, straddling Alex’s body. “You’re beautiful enough already.” She bent her head and kissed Alex, then started moving lower, kissing her neck and then her breasts.
“I think that’s a compliment, so thank—Oh!” At that point, Alex stopped thinking for a while.