by KT Grant
Irena’s expression shone with bliss. “We should go away on a holiday, just the two of us, to get to know one another again. I’m closing up my house and visiting Bath to take in the waters and then to Paris where I honeymooned. We can—”
“Stop, Irena, you’re talking nonsense. Hell will freeze over before I go away with you.”
Rage spread across Irena’s face, and her nostrils flared. She backed away from the emotional explosion that was sure to follow. Teague suddenly appeared at her side.
“M-Mr. McGrath, w-what are you doing here?” She inhaled deeply to calm her queasy stomach.
“My daughter and I came to give our condolences.”
Tisha stood near the tree. Her fists were clenched at her sides and she looked upset.
A wave of longing rushed over Lucy. It had been days since she had last seen Tisha, but it felt more like months.
“Mrs. Endcott and I are having a private discussion,” Irena snapped.
“I do believe this private discussion is now over.” He stroked his chin. “You’ve forgotten about our appointment to discuss our future business arrangement. We need to go over specific details before you go away on your holiday.” A wolfish grin appeared. “Just so I have it right, you’re traveling across Europe for six months then staying with your parents for the rest of the year?”
Something like a squeak came from Irena, but she quickly covered it with a cough. “If you think—”
“By then, all the questions about your husband’s murder will be forgotten.” He gripped the lapels of his coat and rocked on his heels, looking quite pleased with himself.
“Is everything all right?” Chase approached the group.
Lucy smiled up at her brother. “Yes. Perfectly fine.” Her smile faded when she looked at Irena. “Have a lovely trip, Marchioness.”
With Chase’s aid, she joined her family. She didn’t stop or acknowledge when Irena whispered her name. She was no longer a willing victim to a calculating and devious individual who had abused their love.
As the rest made their way to the carriages, she peered over her shoulder to locate Tisha. But Tisha had vanished. A sense of loss came over her, but she shoved it aside and continued walking.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
“You’re going on a walk now? We’re having dinner shortly.”
“I haven’t been to Kensington Gardens yet. I’ll only be gone a short while.” Lucy hoped Aunt Sera didn’t want to tag along. She needed time alone to think.
Aunt Sera didn’t look convinced, but relented with a nod. “If you’re not back in an hour, I’ll send one of the boys to fetch you.”
She giggled. “Like a dog?”
The older woman bristled. “You know what I mean. Later this evening we can discuss how much longer we plan on staying. A letter from Hal arrived. He misses us and wants to know when we’re returning.”
The wistfulness crossing Aunt Sera’s features made her homesick as well. It would be nice to go back to familiar settings and away from all the drama that had occurred during the past week or so.
“It will be nice to get back. I miss my cottage and garden.” She kissed Aunt Sera’s cheek.
“You’re such a precious girl. Enjoy your walk.” Aunt Sera patted her cheek and walked up the front steps to the house.
She crossed the street to the gardens. A slight breeze had picked up, and more clouds dotted the sky, blocking out the sun. She hurried along, hoping it wouldn’t start raining. She would hate to cut her time in the park short.
She entered through the open gates and strolled down the path. She sat on a vacant bench and stared out at the green lawn where some children played.
“Hello, Lucy. May I join you?”
“If you like.” She indicated the space next to her.
“Oh, I like.” Tisha sat down.
The fluttering in her belly increased. “I don’t think this is a coincidence.”
“It’s not. I followed you home.” Tisha shrugged. “I wanted to speak to you alone.”
“You could have spoken to me at the cemetery or sent me a note asking for a meeting.”
“A meeting?” Tisha snorted and hung her arms over the back of the bench. “I didn’t want to have a meeting with you. I want a discussion.”
“Discussion? About what?” She would have welcomed any type of conversation with Tisha. Even now with Tisha here, she felt much better than she had earlier.
Tisha cleared her throat. “We have unresolved issues we must talk about.”
“What are these unresolved issues?”
When Tisha brushed the back of Lucy’s shoulder, she closed her eyes to appreciate the touch. A memory popped in her head of the time in Tisha’s bed when Tisha traced her shoulders before she drew her in for a kiss.
“Lucy, look at me.”
She opened her eyes and stared at the woman she couldn’t stop thinking about.
Tisha’s hand moved higher and played with the strands of hair, brushing Lucy’s throat. She shivered.
“Are you cold?” Tisha asked softly.
“No, not at all. It’s you.…” She couldn’t find the right words to describe what Tisha’s touch meant to her.
“Did you feel the same way while you were with Irena?”
The pleasant feeling she enjoyed mere seconds ago vanished, and numbness sunk in. “What I had with Irena is over. I no longer feel anything for her. We’re finished.”
“Oh, really? You two seemed cozy at the cemetery earlier,” Tisha said in a mulish tone.
“We were far from cozy. She thinks she did nothing wrong and expects me to forgive her and for us to renew our relationship. She’s delusional if she thinks I would have anything to do with her.” She squeezed her hands together, imagining them around Irena’s throat.
“The marchioness hates losing. It must rile her she doesn’t have you.”
“She’ll never have me. I won’t fall for her again.” She nodded, knowing she was now strong enough to reject Irena.
“She loves you and always has. But you both were doomed from the start because of your circumstances.”
“You mean because we’re women and our feelings for one another are wrong?” She stared at her lap as her face warmed. Talking about such things wasn’t in her nature.
“The way society believes, yes. But love is funny like that. It doesn’t care who you fall for.” Tisha sighed and dropped her hand away from Lucy’s nape. “Abbie still loves Aidan.”
“How is Miss Hale doing? Has she recovered?”
“She hasn’t returned to her duties at Pythos. Da thought it best if she took time off to recover and come back when she’s ready. I visited her at her home. Physically, she’s well. She still has a few bruises on her face, but they’re healing. As for her emotional state, she’s not very talkative, and when she mentions Aidan, she breaks down in tears. She misses him, and even though she can’t forgive him for what he’s done, she still wants to visit him in prison.” She viewed the cloudy sky. “She blames herself for Aidan’s moment of insanity and the assault on your family. The guilt is eating away at her.”
She knew all too well how guilt destroyed a person inside. “I can understand what Miss Hale is going through.” She pulled her shawl tighter around her. The air had grown brisker, and the trees with their branches and leaves shook from the wind. “My own guilt ate me alive for what I did to Giles.”
“How so?” Tisha asked.
“I’m responsible for his death.” She stared at her lap, ashamed. She couldn’t bear to see the expression of horror from Tisha at the admission of her crime.
Tisha palmed the side of Lucy’s neck. “Is there something you want to get off your chest? You can tell me. I won’t judge.”
Tisha’s touch, more like a brand, gave her the courage to talk. During that one night they spent together, she had told Tisha about Irena and the aftermath of their relationship, including her marriage to Giles. Tisha had been more than understanding. But how would
she react when she learned why Giles had died?
The sky darkened and rain drops landed on her lap, wetting the fabric of her dress. “I was unfaithful to Giles for three months during the time Irena stayed in Dorset.” She expelled a shaky breath. “I thought I had gotten over her, but I never had. The instant she arrived, I wanted her. Irena’s husband had just died, and she was so lonely and sad. We became intimate again. I was lost in her for weeks. I almost contemplated running away with her, to America or someplace else where no one would know us. The only thing holding me back was leaving my family. Then someone told my husband I was having an affair. He thought it was with another man. I hated the deceit, so I cut off all ties with Irena. What happened after is something I’ll never forgive myself for.”
“Let me guess. After you broke off with Irena, she became angry and threatened to expose your affair, which is a lie, because if she did that, she would be ruined as well. When you still rejected her, she did something to cement your husband’s belief you cheated on him and from that your marriage unraveled.”
“Nothing as melodramatic. Giles found a love letter Irena had written to me. She signed it with her first initial. He confronted me with the proof, and I couldn’t deny it because I did have an affair. I expected him to divorce me, but months went by of us living in the same house, but in separate bedrooms, barely speaking. Then one night at a local pub, he drank too much and, on his way home, fell off his horse and died.” A wave of sorrow rushed over her. “The doctor said his heart either stopped or he suffocated in a pool of his own vomit.”
“Did you push him off his horse and forcibly smother him in his vomit?”
“No!” She stared at Tisha in astonishment. “How could you think I would—”
Tisha rested her finger on Lucy’s mouth. “You didn’t murder him. He did it all to himself, drinking himself into a stupor because he was in pain. What you did with Irena was wrong, but you realized your mistake and have suffered, beating yourself up inside because you blame yourself for the events that led to your husband’s death. What’s done is done. You’ve punished yourself enough.”
“You make it sound so easy,” she whispered.
Tisha rubbed Lucy’s bottom lip. “With my help, it will be.”
The drizzle should have left her cold, but she felt the exact opposite. She wanted Tisha to remain in her life, at the very least as friends. “We should leave before the weather worsens. I would hate to go home looking like I swam in the river Thames.” She rose from her seat.
“What if you didn’t go home right away? What if you came across an old friend whom you hadn’t seen in a long time and wanted to catch up?” Tisha stood, giving Lucy a furtive stare.
“I told my aunt I would be away for an hour or so. I should be with my family at a time like this. We’re having an early dinner, more like a repast to honor my father.”
Tisha moved in close, her skirt brushing along Lucy’s. “Is that what you truly wish to do? It’s understandable you would want to be with your family, but I want to show you how wonderful you are…to me.” Tisha grabbed Lucy’s hands and, lifting them up to her mouth, kissed them. “I want to be the one you turn to help you get past your grief. Have dinner with me. Pythos is closed tonight. We can shut ourselves in my room and talk.”
“Just to talk?”
Tisha’s mouth tilted up. “Maybe something more.”
If she stayed with Tisha, it wouldn’t be for a few hours. She would end up staying the night. Could she get away with it again like the last time?
“I’ll have to send a message saying I’m having dinner with a friend and won’t be back until late.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem.” Tisha’s eyes twinkled, and she twined her fingers through Lucy’s in a tight compress. “You’ll end up staying very late, possibly into the wee hours of morning, if I have my say.”
Her bodice tightened across her chest, and heat pooled in her belly as her body responded to Tisha’s declaration. If she had her say, they would enjoy their dinner in Tisha’s bed—naked.
* * *
After the message had been sent, Lucy helped Tisha raid the kitchen at Pythos for their dinner. The club was as empty as a tomb, expect for a guard or two who strolled the perimeter on the ground floor and outside. Grabbing trays of cold meat, cheese, and bread, along with a selection of fruit and lemon cake for dessert, they went to Tisha’s rooms.
She had been mistaken. Dinner was eaten at the table. Dessert commenced in bed—naked.
Side by side, Lucy and Tisha dined on fruit. She fed Tisha grapes, one by one. As soon as Tisha finished chewing, Lucy kissed her, sucking on her lips, enjoying the sweet juice from the grapes coating her mouth. She moaned, rubbing her distended nipples on Tisha’s pointed ones. It had been far too long since she had tasted those buds, and breaking off the kiss, she moved to slip one of Tisha’s nipples in her mouth.
She sucked softly while she ran her hand on Tisha’s other breast, circling her thumb around the beaded flesh. Tisha whispered Lucy’s name, clutching her tightly. She hooked her legs around Lucy’s waist. She panted, rubbing her damp cunny on Tisha’s wet one.
She spread kisses on Tisha’s stomach and lower. As she reached in between Tisha’s thighs, Tisha sat up, cupped Lucy by her nape, and drew her in for a kiss.
She knelt before Tisha, caressing and molding Tisha’s breasts. She would never tire playing with these ample globes. She increased the pressure of the kiss, showing Tisha how much she ached for her with her thrusting tongue and loud sucking.
Tisha cupped Lucy’s face, slowing the intensity of her kiss. “Lie down. I want to love you with my mouth.”
Her womb clenched. “Where?”
“You know where.” Tisha slid her hand in between Lucy’s legs and swiped over her curls.
As suggested, she lay back. She spread open her legs, welcoming Tisha to do whatever she wanted to her. Tisha threw her hair over her shoulder and slithered down until her face hovered over Lucy’s stomach. She littered kisses across the flesh there until she reached the apex of Lucy’s thighs. She closed her eyes when Tisha’s mouth met her mons. She arched her back and fisted the sheet as Tisha’s sucked. Tisha’s tongue dipped inside and curved up to flick that special spot that had her almost wailing.
Tisha stuck her tongue in deep, swiping Lucy’s moist folds. She balanced on an elbow. Tremors rocked through her at the sight of her lover’s mouth on her most intimate part. Tisha lifted her face, and their eyes caught one another. Tisha winked, and Lucy giggled. Tisha kneaded Lucy’s stomach while her other hand stroked the piece of flesh near the entrance to Lucy’s buttocks.
She cried out, lifting her leg and curling it around Tisha’s head. She grabbed Tisha by the hair, rocking on her mouth, trying to find her climax.
“Oh please!” she pleaded, spots filling her vision. Her elbow fell out from under her and she landed on the bed. Her hips had a life of their own as they moved up and down along with the suction of Tisha’s sucking and ardent licking.
Her entire body tensed as waves of consuming warmth and amazing pressure rushed to her lower extremities. Her core contracted and pulsed, slowly ebbing to small tingles. She petted Tisha’s head as Tisha finished lapping away her juices. Tisha lifted up, her mouth damp, and crawled until she lay her cheek on Lucy’s shoulder. She cupped Lucy’s breasts and smiled, her eyes glittering in pride.
“I love making you come.” Tisha kissed Lucy’s cheek.
She caught Tisha’s mouth with her own, regardless of her release drying on Tisha’s lips. The slight tang combined with the heady taste of Tisha aroused her again.
“You’re staying the night?” Tisha’s finger roamed along the curve of Lucy’s chin.
“Yes, I’ll stay for as long as you want me to.” Her heart expanded with joy.
“If I have my say, you’ll stay with me forever.” Tisha gave her a kiss promising just that.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
The walk from his house t
o Pythos allowed Colby the time to clear his head. He had been up at the crack at dawn although he’d gone to bed past midnight. He and Chase had talked for hours, discussing everything from father’s death and Chase’s fear that Colby would continue on a path of destruction. When all was said and done, Chase would be there to support him in any way he could. Overcome with emotion, he embraced his brother then cried himself to sleep. One of his biggest regrets was never saying goodbye to the man who bore and raised him with very little affection. Now he had to live with the consequences, but not let them rule over him.
He was turning over a new leaf, and the man who had sent him the note now hidden in his pocket would help him do so.
Instead of knocking on the front door, he went through the side of the building and to the back. Perhaps he would be lucky enough to see Abbie and—
Speak of the devil. The woman who’d been on his mind a great deal sat on a wooden bench under a large oak tree. She stared at a piece of paper in her hand. He didn’t want to bother her in her solitude, but she looked up at him.
His breath stuck in his throat as he caught sight of her cheek and the remnants of her bruise which had faded to a slight yellow-brown. He touched the side of his head where a small bandage covered his cut. When he smiled, he winced. The side of his face still ached from Aidan’s punch.
He approached Abbie who moved to make room for him. “Hello, Mr. Daugherty. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
He sat and crossed his legs. “I have an appointment with Mr. McGrath.”
“What a coincidence. Your sister is meeting with him now.” Melancholy floated in her eyes, and strain lines bracketed her mouth.
He longed to pull her in his arms, promising no one would ever hurt her again. “I wasn’t aware Lucy was here. It appears she’s become close with Miss McGrath.”
The corner of her mouth tilted up. “Your sister and Tisha have become good friends in light of the recent events. Teague probably thinks Mrs. Endcott is a good influence on Tisha.”