The Fitzwarren Inheritance

by Various Authors

  “You’re going to have to learn to trust me,” Lee pointed out. “I’m going to make you trust me.”

  “Fuck, Lee, I want to.” Phil huffed into Lee’s skin.

  “But you’re scared.” Lee rolled them over so that Phil was tucked against Lee’s chest. Phil may have been the taller man, but somehow Lee had the habit of making Phil, the baby, spoon.

  Phil listened to Lee’s steady heartbeat. “I’m scared all the time. All I do is wait for the next disaster, the next death. Charlie and Di cope so much better than me.”

  “They both have loving partners,” Lee pointed out.

  “You’ve been alone, but now you have me. The fact that I’m a Curt ess” he said, emphasising the e-s-s, “is no coincidence. Whatever Jonathan thinks, you and I were destined to be together.”

  “You’re too young,” Phil started.

  “Oh fuck off,” Lee said cheerfully. “I’ve admitted I hate blood and I’ve shown I’m a possessive bitch, but I am not and never will be too young for you.” He accompanied the words with a bite to Phil’s shoulder.

  “Ouch! You’re a bloody cannibal,” Phil grumbled without heat.

  “I know,” Lee agreed, totally without remorse. “Do we have time for a quick nap before we have to be at Mum’s?”

  That set Phil’s stomach roiling again. Meeting the parents, oh God.

  Lee kissed the top of his head. “Go to sleep, baby. It’ll seem so much less frightening after a nap.”

  Phil reached down the bed for the duvet. “Ummm, just a short one. We haven’t got very long.” He snuggled the duvet around them and tucked his head under Lee’s chin, falling asleep to the sound of his heartbeat.

  * * * *

  Maybe the best way to meet the parents wasn’t to sleep through dinner. Phil awoke to find Lee lying across him, swearing loudly.

  “Shit! Shit! No, Mum, I wasn’t swearing at you. Sorry… God, really, is that the time? I’m so sorry. We overslept… Yes, we were sleeping… I know Mark and his grandmother are there. We’ll leave immediately… At least we’ll be there for pudding.”

  Phil watched as Lee snapped his phone shut and cursed again. “Whatimezit?” he asked sleepily.

  “Six-thirty,” Lee groaned. “Mum’s just about to dish up dinner, and she’s fuming.”

  “Fuck!” Phil sat up, the duvet pooling around his waist.

  “Don’t worry, baby, I told her you fucked me senseless. She understood.”

  “Arse!” Phil shoved at his shoulder, taking great delight in watching Lee fall off the bed.

  Lee rubbed at his shoulder. “You’re a brute. I’m gonna tell my mummy about you.”

  Leaning over the bed, Phil gave it a kiss better. “Aw, don’t do that. I’ll be a good boy, I promise.”

  “Don’t think you can suck up to me now, Mr Fitzwarren.” Lee stood up, bringing his groin very close to Phil’s mouth.

  Slowly sweeping his eyes up the length of Lee’s body, Phil winked and gave him a leer. “I can always suck something else if you want.” He very slowly licked his lips.

  “Stop it,” Lee said hoarsely. “We have to go. Mum will kill me. Fuck, do me now.”

  “But…” Phil didn’t get any further as Lee mashed his face exactly where he wanted it.

  Phil didn’t waste any more time, sucking Lee’s dick to the back of his throat. With one hand and a talented mouth, he brought Lee off within a matter of minutes. The other hand was wrapped around his own cock. He groaned as his mouth was flooded with the sharp taste of spunk, triggering his own orgasm. Lee pulled out of Phil’s mouth and collapsed back on the bed, flinging an arm over his eyes.

  Phil tapped on his thigh. “No resting. Dinner’s waiting, remember?”

  “I’ve just fed you. You’re expecting dinner as well?”

  The pinch Lee got on his shoulder was well justified in Phil’s opinion.

  Chapter 8

  Lee’s mum was really angry with her son. Phil could see the words she was itching to let out but was holding back because of her guests. Phil and Lee had arrived just as she was serving up apple pie and custard.

  They were seated at either end of the crowded table, and their dinner was slapped in front of them.

  They both said hello to Alice Renfrew, who was sitting next to Lee’s sister. On the opposite side of the table, Mark and Jack smirked at them as they sat down. Phil wanted to smirk back but was quelled by the glare from Mrs Curtis and became very invested in looking at his plate.

  “Glad to see you finally decided to join us,” Mrs Curtis said snippily.

  Poised to eat a mouthful of cottage pie, Lee sighed. “I’m sorry, Mum, it’s just been a long afternoon.” There was a loud snort from Allyson, and he rounded on his sister to answer back, but his mum interrupted him.

  “Mark and Jack managed to turn up on time.” She smiled at the two men who obediently smiled back.

  “Suckups,” Lee muttered under his breath.

  “Jonathan Lee Curtis, how dare you speak to our guests like that.” She turned in surprise as Phil’s fork clattered onto his plate.

  “Is everything all right, dear?” asked Mrs Curtis, one eyebrow raised as she saw Mark’s hand covering Phil’s. He was aware Mark was talking quietly to him, but Phil just stared at Lee, the shock on his face written clear.

  “Jonathan Lee Curtis?” he asked, his voice cracking.

  “It’s an old family name,” Mr Curtis said. “All the sons’ first names are Jonathan. Mine is as well. But we all use our middle names. We’ve always called him Lee.”

  “I was going to tell you,” Lee said, “but we kept getting distracted.”

  “What’s going on, Lee?” His mother’s voice was sharp, but she went and stood beside her son, laying her hand on his shoulder. “Tell him what?”

  “I—uh—Mum…” Lee scrubbed his hand through hair, making the black mop even more untidy. “I…”

  Phil stood up. “I’m sorry, Mrs Curtis. I just… I’m… My name is Phillip Fitzwarren.”

  She frowned. “Fitzwarren. I’m sure I know someone by that name.”

  “Yes, my sister, Diana.”

  “Are you one of the Fitzwarrens from the castle?” Lee’s father asked shrewdly. Phil noticed that he had the same green eyes that Lee had.

  “I am. I don’t know what you know about us—”

  “I know we got a lot of trouble when we moved here because of our name,” Mr Curtis said.

  “Then you know about the curse laid on the Fitzwarrens by Jonathan Curtess?” Mark asked.

  “Helen and I did,” Mr Curtis said. “The whole village was keen to tell us when we arrived. Initially some folk refused to talk to us. After several months, most people came around. We never told the kids because they were too young at the time, and Lee was always called by his middle name. I just thought it was a horrible coincidence. After all, I come from Glasgow, not around here.”

  “Besides which it’s just a stupid myth, isn’t it? Designed to drum up the tourist trade,” Mrs Curtis said lightly. “Is something wrong with your dinner, dear?” she asked Phil, who was still standing up, his eyes on her son.

  “No, it’s fine really,” Phil said, sitting back down and picking up his fork. He choked down a few mouthfuls while she watched him.

  Whilst Phil was concentrating on his plate, he heard Lee say, “We need to talk to you both,” and looked up to see Lee addressing Mark and Jack.

  “We do too,” Jack said. “Alice had an idea that might resolve the… er… problem.”

  Alice Renfrew had been sitting quietly through the mini-drama being played out in front of her, but at the mention of her name, she nodded. “I think we need to meet up tomorrow. I’ll delay my departure until Monday.”

  “I can’t tomorrow. I’m working all day,” Lee said.

  “Do we need Lee there?” Mark asked. “The plan really needs Charlie and Jack.”

  Lee looked inexplicably rejected. Leaning forward, Phil tangled his fingers in his boyfriend�
�s. “If we’re going to complete this then all six of us need to be there,” Phil said. “Let’s call Sean and Daniel to find out when they are free. It can wait a few days, can’t it, Alice? If Mark is busy, I can drive down to fetch you.”

  Lee’s mother was frowning. “What exactly is going on here and how does it affect my son? Lee, are you involved in anything dangerous?”

  The old woman sighed and pushed back her plate. “Such brave boys. Helen, I think this tale would go down better with a cup of tea.”

  Jack turned a brilliant smile on Allyson. She blinked as if she were dazed. “Would you like to help me make the drinks, then your mum can have a well-deserved rest?”

  “That’s very thoughtful, Jack.” Helen Curtis smiled a little uncertainly.

  “Lead the way, Ally,” Jack got to his feet and grinned down at his partner. Rolling his eyes, Mark waved him towards the kitchen.

  “She’ll eat him alive,” Lee commented in a loud whisper. “Take a good look now, Mark, ‘cause you might not get him back.”

  “Don’t be so rude to your sister,” his mother snapped.

  Used to brotherly mocking, Allyson poked her tongue at Lee and dutifully led the way, Jack trailing behind her.

  Phil looked over to Mark who had a strangely sad expression on his face. Of course, Mark didn’t have any siblings, and he had missed the bickering and loving that came with being part of a family. For the first time, Phil found himself grateful for his family, despite the inherent tragedies of losing his brothers. Aware of Lee’s questioning eyes upon him, Phil gave him a slight smile. The relief on his lover’s face was instant.

  “Mrs Renfrew, what’s going on and why does it involve my son?” Mr Curtis asked as he cleared away some of the plates.

  Waiting for him to come back to the table, Mark answered for his gran. “It’s no coincidence that we contacted you, Mr Curtis, although we didn’t know Phil and Lee had met separately until today.”

  Phil was still looking at Lee and wasn’t really paying attention to the conversation.

  “Call me Tim, please,” Tim Curtis insisted. “So we really are connected to Jonathan Curtess and to you?”

  “Yes, you are, and your son is tied up in breaking the curse, just the same as Jack, Phil and myself, plus young Dr Lester and Daniel Foster.”

  Tim’s eyes widened, and Helen fell back against her chair with a gasp.

  The significance of Mark’s words suddenly hit Phil like a hammer between the eyes. Tearing his eyes away from Lee, he asked, “You knew there were descendants of Curtess living nearby?”

  “Not until Jack met Helen in the post office. They got talking, and Helen introduced herself. Jack mentioned it to me, and I did a bit of digging. That is my job after all.”

  Mark cast an apologetic look at Helen and Tim.

  “So you already knew Lee was going to be the seeker?” Phil asked.

  Shaking his head, Mark accepted the cup of tea from Lee’s sister and said, “No, I was literally just looking at the fact there were Curtesses close by. Lee—” He smiled at the young man. “—was a total shock, but it made sense. Jonathan Curtess wants full restitution.”

  After thanking Allyson for his own drink, Lee said, “Phil wanted to talk to Jack about where Jonathan might have hidden his fortune.”

  “Clever boy,” Alice said. “Mark and I came to the same conclusion earlier on.”

  “I have some ideas,” Phil admitted. “But I think we’ll need everyone there to find it. Curtess is going to intervene somehow.”

  “Wait a minute!” Helen’s voice was sharp. “You waltz in here telling me that my son is involved in some ancient curse nonsense—”

  “Mum, please,” Lee intervened.

  “No, Lee, I have a right to know why these people are dragging you into something we all know is made up.”

  Phil could feel anger bubbling up inside him at this casual dismissal of the living torment his family had gone through. “Mrs Curtis, my family has endured this made-up nonsense for centuries. It’s taken my parents and two brothers, and my older brother’s babies.”

  She looked surprised at Phil’s vehement defence but still unconvinced. “Maybe you think that, but every family has bad luck.”

  “Helen, stop.” Tim Curtis said. Phil was thankful because he wasn’t sure he could remain polite under the circumstances. “I did some investigating when we first arrived, and the curse is real. The Fitzwarrens have lost almost everything because of it.”

  Somewhere in the discussion, Lee had walked around the table, pulling up Jack’s chair close to Phil’s to hold his hand. Phil hung on tightly. He didn’t want a row with his future mother-in-law—and wait, where had that come from? Helen glowered at the sight of her son supporting him but said nothing further.

  Jack and Allyson had brought in the last of the drinks and had taken the empty seats. Jack looked over to Phil and Lee.

  “Did I hear you also think that Jonathan Curtis might have hidden his fortune away?”

  “Lee does,” Phil agreed, “and I have an idea where. Lee is working tomorrow. If Mark takes Alice home, you and I could go over the site.” Feeling Lee stiffen beside him, he gave Lee’s hand a squeeze. “But we all need to be together when we search; we’re more powerful together.”

  Mark grinned at him. “It’s the first time I’ve seen you actually accept that we can help you.”

  “Oh fu… go away,” Phil muttered, knowing that Mark was correct.

  “Is it diamonds and gold?” Allyson asked. “Can I look too?”

  “No, you can’t,” Lee told her firmly.

  “Why not?” She pouted at him. “I’m a Curtess too. Whatever you find is partly mine.”

  Phil’s head snapped up. Whatever Lee said, if the Curtesses made a claim on any finds, the Fitzwarrens would be back in the financial mire again.

  “Any finds will be on Fitzwarren land,” Mr Curtis said firmly. “Don’t get any ideas into your heads, either of you,” he said, addressing both his daughter and his wife.

  They looked disappointed, and Helen looked as if she was going to argue the point, but Phil breathed easier.

  “Isn’t my dad great?” Lee whispered in his ear.

  Nodding, Phil leaned against him, resting his head against the black curls. It had been a hell of a day, and all he wanted to do was curl in Lee’s arms and go to sleep. Maybe if he promised to drive Lee to work tomorrow, Lee would agree to come back to the gatehouse.

  “Going to let me come back tonight?” Lee whispered.

  “Hmmm,” Phil agreed.

  The moment was ruined by the mock-retching noises coming from Lee’s sister, but they ignored her as Lee enclosed him in a hug.

  Chapter 9

  The following morning found the massive refectory table at the gatehouse covered in aerial photos of the castle and the estate. Jack had spread them out so they now had a bird’s eye view of the whole estate. Coffee mug in hand, Charlie was chatting to Jack about the forthcoming university excavation, which had given him a welcome outlet from worrying about Carol and baby. Phil was carefully studying the photos. He had a feeling he couldn’t shake off that the answer to their problems lay in plain sight.

  “You’ve been staring at those photos for twenty minutes. Have they given you the answer yet?” Jack asked.

  Phil hadn’t even noticed Jack was by his side. He hummed thoughtfully. “If you were in hiding, knowing what was about to happen to you, what would you do?”

  “Apart from carve out a living curse with my blood, you mean?”

  “Apart from that,” agreed Phil.

  “I’d be angry and frightened,” Jack started. “I’d want to make sure Fitzwarren didn’t hurt my son.”

  “And what else?”

  Jack narrowed his eyes. “What are you thinking?”

  “If it were me, I’d hide my wealth from my murderer.”

  “But he’s already going to get the house and the lands. What would he care about the money?”

>   “He wouldn’t—then. All Sir Belvedere wanted was to erase the hurt that Curtess had caused by destroying him.

  He ached to destroy the man, but Curtess wasn’t thinking like that. He’d want to hide the things that he could control—his wife and son, and his fortune. He’d hide the money so his wife could get it later. So where would he hide it?” Phil tapped the photographs. “Somewhere on this land is the answer.”

  Scanning the photos, Jack said, “Why hasn’t it been discovered before?”

  “Because no one was looking for it. Curtess was the one who gave us the clue that there even was something to find.” Phil bent over one section of the estate. “This is all that’s left of Eastbridge Hall. It was used as an ice house for the castle for two hundred years, but it fell into disuse in the nineteenth century when the walls became unstable.”

  “Who owns the land where the ice house is standing?” Jack asked as he examined the aerial photo of the tumbledown buildings.

  Phil frowned. “The estate does. Why?”

  “Because if we find anything valuable, there are laws involved to establish who owns the property. We need to make sure that anything we find stays with the estate,” Jack answered. “I can look up the exact details on my netbook.”

  “I keep looking over all these photos, and my eye is always drawn back to the ice house,” Phil said. “A gut feeling that Mark ought to take a look at these as well.”

  “He’ll be over soon,” Jack said, murmuring his thanks as he accepted another coffee from Charlie. “Alice wasn’t feeling well enough to travel today.”

  “Is she all right?” asked Charlie, looking concerned.

  Jack had a grin on his face. “I think she just wants to be part of the action. The Renfrew Talent has been more of a curse than a blessing over the years. Now she has a chance to see it used for good. I don’t think we’ll see her gone until this is complete.”

  Rolling his eyes, Phil said, “Must be a bitch on the love life.”

  “You have no idea,” muttered Jack.

  “I live with the family,” Phil pointed out, smirking at Charlie’s sigh. “Why do you think I’m so pleased Lee works shifts?”