by Allison, Kim
Annie quickly stepped back, afraid he might decide to take the bad news out on her. She felt sorry for the young lord, she did, looking so fine it would melt a girl's heart. However could Lady Elyssa desert such a handsome, kind man who'd gone to so much trouble for a grand wedding? He was obviously in love. And she was surely the only person ever to see the hint of tears welling up in Lord Fredrickson's eyes. No one would ever believe her, nor would she betray his vulnerable moment to anyone.
Daniel angrily brushed the tear that threatened to fall, angry at himself for his weakness. He'd been duped, for whatever reason. And in front of hundreds of guests, no less. Elyssa had gotten her revenge. But for what reason? What had he done?
Blake's concerned look went unnoticed by Daniel and the minister stepped toward him to ask when the ceremony would begin.
"There is not going to be a wedding," he told the minister. Turning toward the guests, Daniel announced in a loud voice, "Thank you for coming today, but there will be no wedding."
The ripped up shreds of Elyssa's note fell from Daniel's hands and he brusquely turned away from the s to keep herm smilehocked crowds of people, quickly leaving by the back entrance before anyone could ask him what had happened.
By the time the wedding coach arrived at Greystone, Daniel had drank the bottle of chilled champagne and half of the aged bottle of bourbon. He needed something stronger. Something so potent it would wipe the absolute pain away. He needed a willing female body to erase the remembrance of a slender ebony haired enchantress that had stolen his heart and cold-heartedly trampled on it.
His cravat was long since torn off and discarded on the carriage floor, his shirt halfway unbuttoned. The first place Daniel headed after reaching Greystone was the stables. After searching around for a moment, Daniel finally found Will rubbing down one of the horses he'd been training.
Jerking the young man around, Daniel slammed him against the wall, his hands going around Will's throat. The stable hand's eyes widened in frightened shock and he could only assume that Lord Fredrickson had discovered he'd taken Elyssa to the docks. What good would his bonus do if he were dead? Already Will regretted his decision to help Elyssa escape, though he had only been doing as ordered.
"Where is she?" came the short, clipped question.
Will struggled to answer, but Daniel's grip only tightened about his neck. Will's face turned red and he struggled to loosen Daniel's hold. He repeated, "Where is Elyssa?"
"I don't know," Will managed between coughing fits as he struggled to catch his breath. His voice escalated as he saw Daniel draw a fist back to strike him. "I swear to you, milord, I don't know! She wouldn't tell me."
Daniel's eyes were wild and he was nose to nose with Will as he issued the threat, "If you are lying to me, I'll kill you."
"It's the truth, sir! I am sorry. I pleaded with her not to leave, but she would give me no information."
Succumbing to the bitterness of it all, Daniel released Will and slowly slid down to his knees in disbelief. This was to have been the happiest day of his life. Instead, it was the worst day imaginable. Worse even than when his mother had deserted him in death, for at least she'd not purposely left him. Elyssa he had fallen for, had planned to spend the rest of his life with, and she'd dor an early morning ride. Hthiuped him for all to see.
Had she perhaps been someone from his long ago past that he'd callously snubbed, and had planned this act of revenge through the years? No, that was just the alcohol making him feel paranoid, Daniel mused miserably. He stood up and left a bewildered Will in the stables, grabbing a nearly full bottle of brandy he spotted on the way out. He slowly made his way to the mansion. By the time he stepped inside, Daniel was starting to feel a bit better. Numb and indifferent.
He went through the mansion, calling out Elyssa's name. Only silence met him. A gloomy, dreary hush. His unsteady steps ascended the staircase, the servants careful to stay out of sight, for they'd heard all too well about the infamous lord's quick temper when he set himself to drinking.
"Elyssa!" he roared, shoving each bedroom door open as he passed by, glancing in but seeing no one. Finally he reached her bedroom door, kicking it in with all his might though it was already unlocked. Stepping inside, Daniel looked about at the mess. He noticed some of Elyssa's new gowns were gone, but for the most part, she had left everything he'd bought her.
His eyes squinted as Daniel saw the wad of shimmering papers lying on the floor and thought surely he must be drunker than he believed. Walking across the room, Daniel knelt and picked up the wrinkled parchment. His heart turned at the sight of the diamond necklace he'd given Elyssa, wrapped about the crinkled pages. Smoothing the edges of the official papers, Daniel's eyes widened in shock. It was Percy's updated will indicating Elyssa was in fact the heiress of Greystone and all of Percy's worldly belongings.
She'd found it. Elyssa had discovered his secret. That was why she left him at the church altar, why she had deserted their marriage. She found out he'd lied by not telling her the news.
And now the important question. Had Elyssa called off the wedding because she didn't want to share in the inheritance, or was it because he'd been dishonest with her? But of course he knew the answer already. Elyssa must have felt crushed when she found the will. Women were annoyingly sensitive about matters of complete honesty and trust.
He had to find Elyssa. Find her and explain things. He hadn't meant to steal anything from her. Hell, he didn't know what he had been thinking. For all he knew, the will might have just been a convenient excuse to marry Elyssa with all haste, no matter the impropriety of the circumstances. If he could just tell her that, make her see that he had indeed planned to reveal the the notorious g">CHAPTER truth, perhaps everything could be set right.
Daniel struggled to get up. He was going to the docks and investigate. He would track Elyssa down if it was the last thing he ever did. As he stood to his feet, Daniel's head swam from the liquor imbibed and he slowly made his way to Elyssa's bed to lie down.
He hugged the pillow close to him, smelled her on it. He would just lie there for a few moments until the dizziness passed. Then he would go to the docks and demand some answers. He'd find her. He would.
CHAPTER ">
CHAPTER 16
1 year later
Icy mist swirled about the slowing carriage. It promised to be a long winter. The lone form in the carriage huddled deeper into the seat as a chill struck out of nowhere. The long trip was finally over.
Greystone was still the most beautiful mansion she’d ever seen. Only now it professed a stark loneliness. It was dark and dreary, no life reflected in it. Such a magnificent home should have a dozen children running its long halls, their precious smiles eager for the coming Christmas when they would get goodies and gifts galore. Greystone had never seen such a holiday, had never been host to galas that would warm anyone's memories over the years.
That time had come though, and it was now. With renewed confidence, the feminine boot stepped down onto the hard ground, crunching against the thin layer of icy sleet. The full lips slowly curved up into a satisfied smiled and long tendrils of jet black hair fell about her shoulders as she disembarked from the carriage.
"Home," she spoke with bated breath, never imagining she would come to cherish the grand estate as her own.
"Lady Fredrickson, are you certain the place is ready?"
Elyssa turned to the driver, her bags already in his hands, and she graced him with a lovely smile. "Yes, the servants have been here nearly a week and should have Greystone in perfect living order."
The rest of her things would be arriving the following day, but for the most part, Elyssa had everything she needed. They were greeted at the door by Annie, who was heartily happy to see Elyssa back, and looking wonderful and happy at that. Forgoing all formality, Elyssa laughed aloud and hugged the maid to her. "Annie, how are you? I've missed you."
The butler entered the foyer and Elyssa shocked the normally staid servant by
briefly hugging him. "Jeffrey, have you missed me?" Clearing his throat nervously, the aging butler knew not how to handle himself. Surely the mistress was into herorcing a halfhearted smile, y accomplish cups, for she'd never in the past been quite so informal. "Quit looking at me as if I'm crazed, Jeffrey. Just say yes!"
"Ahem...yes, Lady Fredrickson, we have all missed your spritely presence the past year." On a roll now that he'd broken his silence, Jeffrey continued, "It was a great pleasure to receive your request that we return to Greystone."
"Hear, hear!" Annie chimed in. "Will is so thrilled to be back in Greystone's stables you would think him daft by the way he's been acting."
They had been the only three original servants to return to Greystone, the others content in their newer places of employment. Elyssa had assured them all from the moment she'd closed Greystone and dismissed the servants, each with a hefty severance bonus, that if she ever returned, they would have a job guaranteed did they wish.
Annie and Jeffrey marveled inwardly at the changes wrought in Elyssa since they'd last seen her a year ago. Where before she had been lovely, her radiant beauty now surpassed even the most sophisticated women in London. Where she'd been friendly before, Elyssa was now even more warm and inviting in her gracious manner. And where she had been timid and unsure of herself, she was now self-assured and poised with a graceful confidence that anyone could plainly see.
"Your year in Paris did you much good, milady," Annie softly commented.
A flicker of pain flashed in her eyes but Elyssa quickly hid it. "Yes, it did, thank you. Very much so."
"Are you still planning to host a Christmas gala?" Jeffrey questioned as Elyssa began to make her way through each of the rooms, seeing for herself that everything was exactly as it had been. Nostalgia yanked at her heartstrings as Elyssa recalled the first time she'd ever walked the floors of Greystone and had felt the same excitement she was feeling now.
"Oh yes, we are going to throw the best, most memorable Christmas party in all of London!”
After traversing the entire inside of Greystone and meeting the other newly hired servants, Elyssa bid them all good night, wishing to retire to her room for the evening. A hot bath had been drawn upon her arrival and Elyssa declined Annie's offer of help, wanting only to over the yearshi dowbe alone. Her steps slowed as she walked past Percy's bedroom door. The room he'd died in. Had been murdered in, her mind cruelly taunted.
Had Daniel truly killed Percy? He had said he'd make everything right so they could be together. Had told her he always got what he wanted. And he had nearly succeeded, her mind cried, for Percy had died, Greystone was willed to Elyssa, and Daniel had planned to wed her. She had nearly unwittingly helped him accomplish his goals.
Stubborn loyalty to Daniel's memory flooded back and Elyssa cursed herself a fool for still doubting that Daniel had committed the heinous crime. But still she could not fully believe that he'd done the foul deed. There simply had to be another explanation.
Rubbing her forehead as a headache threatened, Elyssa's steps quickened until she was in the solace of her old bedroom. She hurriedly shut the door behind her, breathlessly resting her back against the closed door. Perhaps it had been a mistake to return to Greystone. To embrace her ownership in the mansion rather than sell it to the highest bidder, or to have done what she should have in the first place, which was to sign it over to Daniel. It should belong to him, really. But it was his dishonesty, the fact that he'd used her for his own gain, that bade Elyssa keep ownership for the time being.
An inviting tray of food tempted Elyssa and she was grateful to Annie for seeing to such things. Elyssa quickly finished the tasty fare, not having realized how famished she actually was after her trip.
The rising steam from the tub was inviting and Elyssa quickly stripped and sank gratefully into the hot water. Bubbles cradled her slick wet body, the hint of vanilla and wildflowers scenting the bath water. She washed leisurely, then rested against the back of the huge tub, luxuriating in the absolute contentment of being back in England. Her eyes drifted shut and Elyssa listened to the crackle of the flames in the fireplace, reveled in the warm water surrounding her body, and reacted to what felt like the barest whisper of a touch upon her lips. Her eyes opening wide, Elyssa breathlessly looked around the room in alarm. No one was there. And yet it had seemed so lifelike. So real. As if his lips had barely covered hers for the briefest of seconds.
"Damn him," she swore aloud, touching her fingers to her lips. Tears misted her emerald eyes as Elyssa allowed herself to think of him in that way for the first time since she'd stepped into Greystone. Would her treacherous heart never completely abandon the memory of Daniel Fredrickson? Could she ever find release from the remembrance of the only man she had foolishly come to love?over the yearshi dow
She was over him, confound the wretched man! She had spent the last year of her life keeping busy and meeting people during her stay with her aunt and uncle in Paris for just that reason!
Hadn't she received a dozen offers for her hand in marriage? And she'd not been tempted to seriously consider even one of them. Well, there had been the one handsome duke she had briefly contemplated. Tall and dark, passionate and demanding, for all that he'd never been able to steal more than a mere kiss from Elyssa. But it was that likeness to Daniel that both drew and repelled her. And in the end, she'd cut him loose just like all the others.
Monthly missives from Percy's solicitors, now hers, had kept Elyssa up on the bold investments she'd made with the money he had left her. With their help, she'd become a very wealthy woman in her own right, making their firm a goodly commission in the process.
She had it all now. Wealth, self-respect, a magnificent home. Who needed a man to complete the picture? I do, Elyssa thought miserably. I want a husband and children to complete my life.
How warm could self-respect keep a woman on a cold, lonely night? And how satisfying could it be to run a household forever without the pitter patter of children’s feet? A lone tear trailed down Elyssa's cheek as she closed her eyes once again, her happy homecoming now made dismal, thanks to Daniel.
Sleep was long in coming. Elyssa was very restless, finally getting out of bed and lighting a few candles on her desk. She might as well put her sleeplessness to good use, and proceeded to start the guest list for her Christmas gala. She wasn't sure exactly why she was doing it. She really didn't have any close friends other than her cousin Sophie in Paris, who'd promised to visit and stay over the Christmas holidays. Of course she would invite her family. Her brothers and sister would be beside themselves with excitement.
Perhaps it was simply to make a statement––she was back. And doing just fine without the young Lord Fredrickson. If Elyssa were completely honest with herself, she would have admitted that was the true reason she was throwing the huge party. That perhaps one of his friends would attend and later confide to Daniel that Elyssa was completely over him.
Of course, that might mean stringing along some handsome young gentleman for the evening in order to accomplish her facade of being careless and happy. She would need to ma escaped her lips ahehi dowke a great show of interest in someone––anyone––of the opposite sex besides Daniel.
Elyssa listed a myriad of names, including her solicitors and their wives, former business associates of Percy's, and anyone of importance in London. Of a whim, she added the names Blake and Catherine Edmonton. I must be a glutton for punishment, she mused aloud. But if she wanted the message to be relayed to Daniel that she was well over him, who better than his closest friend and former lover?
Elyssa might have wondered if Daniel hadn't already wed someone else in the past year except for the fact she read the London newspaper every week in Paris. It somehow helped to keep the homesickness at bay. And the newspaper would most assuredly have made mention of the infamous rake's wedded bliss had Daniel decided to wed someone. But he hadn't. Surely he couldn't possibly be holding to the unlikely prospect of trying again to wed he
r to gain Greystone after all this time. Could he?
A traitorous fluttering of her heart at that thought was swiftly quelled, for the point was moot. They were over. Whatever they had shared more than a year ago had been based solely on guile and deceit. And she would do well to remember that fact.
She tossed the quill down and blew out the candles, getting back into bed. Sleep finally came although Elyssa's rest was interrupted with haunting dreams of Daniel. She'd not dreamt of him in months, and now the first day back at Greystone she was already fighting to escape the hold he'd once had on her. At all costs, she must stay away from Daniel and strive daily to rid all thoughts of him.
The following week was spent in an excited flurry. Greystone was decorated for the holidays. An enormous Christmas tree was cut and placed in the ballroom, and that only after the huge room had been cleaned from one corner to the other. Annie confided that she couldn't recall the lovely room ever being used for anything since she'd been employed at Greystone. The tree was decorated with countless ornaments, beautiful and fragile, and colorful ribbons were hung from the ceilings and spiraling about the banisters. Mistletoe was hung over every doorpost in the downstairs part of the mansion, slender red ribbons cradling the leafy sprigs.
Prettily wrapped gifts abounded beneath the tree. Elyssa had bought several gifts apiece for her younger siblings and parents, and her cousin Sophie. They would all be arriving within the next day or two, and Elyssa was immensely pleased as she walked throughout Greystone to check its appearance. It brought tears of joy to her eyes."It is beautiful," she marveled, the servants sharing in her admiration of the wonderfully decorated mansion.R">CHAPTER
Annie agreed, "Yes, milady. This will be the first Christmas I've ever been here that it will seem like a real holiday. This grand place hasn’t seen Christmas adornment since the former mistress was alive all those years ago, God rest her soul."