Beautiful White Lies Duet

by K L Clare

  I acknowledged his controlled behavior with a calculating smile. And then I drove him to the one place he couldn’t control. I demanded through our burning stare that he say more, do more, prove more.

  He nodded, preparing to grant my silent request. Will never denied me when I demanded something of him. He understood my certifiable need to challenge him, just as I understood how reckless it was to push a man like him.

  “I love you beyond words. Kill for you, without shame or regret. Never doubt me, Elle.” He crushed his lips to mine and teased with his hips again. “You will marry me. Say it.”

  My soul fell deeper into his in that moment, and there I found all that I’d waited for. “I will marry you,” I said in a breathy whisper. My hands slipped down, driven by the intense emotion stirring in my chest. He captured them, pinning my arms to the bed, his fingers entwining with mine.

  “Again.” Another sharp command.

  “I’ll marry you, Will.”

  He bowed his head and locked in our commitment. Then, enraptured by my submission, he finally let go—my warrior loved me hard on a soft bed of roses.

  * * *

  “What would you have me do?” Will asked.

  I traced the dagger’s blade and watched goose bumps run up his arm. The details of his tattoo fascinated me. The ink slinger Will hired was more than that. He was a fellow artist.

  “I won’t tell you what to do, and you know that. Are you leaning in one direction?”

  “If I accept reinstatement of the title, it would strengthen us.”

  “How? I mean, what does it really represent?”

  “Well, in the present, titles are a mark of prestige and status, a fascination by those without, and not much more. The status doesn’t hold the political or financial weight of times past,” he explained. “That makes no difference to me—I already have more financial influence than most and care nothing for politics. I think the real benefit of accepting would be the draw of allies to us. Many will come to our aid just to be associated with the title.”

  “How would it affect the Sussex counties?”

  “It wouldn’t, not really. It would give people something to cheer about, obsess over. Some lands my father forfeited may come back with the title, but it’s not a great deal. Lands generally aren’t acquired that way anymore.”

  I yawned. “Would you be willing to redirect any attached income back into the community? Provide support for a more sophisticated pier renovation, for instance.”

  “I’ll deploy funding to whatever venture you desire.” He yawned.

  “That’s crazy, Will. You know I don’t have a lick of business sense.” I rubbed my chin against the golden stubble on his jaw and kissed his neck.

  He chuckled. “My lovely little artist—I wouldn’t change a thing. Just paint me a picture, baby. I’ll execute.”

  “You mean James Jackson will execute.”

  “James, my arse.” He tickled me, a good-humored reprimand for offending his ego, and I giggled like a little schoolgirl.

  “You’re right, though. I need to do something.”

  “Work with me, Elle. Run one of my businesses.”

  “We’ve established that’s not my thing.”

  “I want you close to me.”

  We dropped it there and fell asleep in a tangled mess of sheets, arms, and legs. When I woke, it was to the restrained thunder of his voice as he spoke to Thomas. I lay there unmoving, feigning sleep while they had their meeting. It made no difference to me what their business was or what they said. I was unwilling to be roused physically or emotionally from my divine bliss.

  “She’ll rest as long as my voice is present. Just keep it down. How was she?” I heard Will ask.

  “Angry at first, then irritable. I had to tell her, man. She knows you hunted Ethan’s murderer. There was nothing more I could do to hold her here without a fight. Then this rubbish with the hand-to-hand bouts. I don’t want any part of it. She shouldn’t be doing it.”

  “If she continues, we’ll need to ride John so he doesn’t slip up and hit her again.” Will sighed. “She suffered, and that’s on me. I appreciate how well you cared for her.”

  “You forget, brother. I wear the shield, same as you.” Thomas hesitated, allowing his tone to relax. “I’ll always protect her.”

  “Yeah. Any leads on Jack Lewis?”

  “I’m working on it. Need to get back to it. Do we need to deal with Immigration? I can put together a rootkit and access the system after a few test runs.”

  “Leave the Home Office alone. Her heritage is too strong for them to deny citizenship. I’m going to marry her, so it doesn’t matter anyway.”

  “Not hard to figure out your plan after seeing that fresh ink on your arm.”

  “It’s not part of a plan,” Will snapped. “I love her.”

  I smiled.

  “Why do I feel like you’ve held something back?” Thomas asked.

  Will didn’t respond, not audibly, anyway.

  “Ah, additional leverage, then. Why didn’t they use MI5?”

  “The target was from MI5. Enough said.”

  “Concerns about this evening?”

  “Robert seems sure there’s someone local providing intel. Circulate but stay close. Once the community leaders meet her, they’ll be supportive.”

  “They better be. We’ve put a lot in—money, protection. If they don’t support her, we cut them off.”

  “If only it were that easy, Thomas. After we shore up support here, we’ll look to London for the same. You need to get on with joining the firm. I need you there.”

  “Give me a few weeks to wrap up some projects. By the way, I took care of some scumbag from Westfield for old Mr. Miller last week. I didn’t take Miller’s offering.”

  “Good. No more pay for protection. And no more paid hits. Now that Ellie and Lissie are with us, it’s time for this family to move in a different direction. For mother’s sake as well. Look into that flower shop Mum has her eye on. And get me Lewis.”

  After the door closed, Will returned to our nest of fragrant rose petals and pulled me to his chest. I drifted back into a sound, dreamless sleep.

  37

  John waited outside my bedroom door as I ran my cold hands along my hips once more and reassured myself that the deep-blue dress I wore was appropriate.

  I was careful to choose something that covered my back well enough to spare Will the discomfort of seeing the blemishes exposed. It was a fitted, sleeveless gown with a conservatively draped V-neckline and ruched side seaming. The color reminded me of the moonlit sky over the Atlantic, while its shimmering metallic threads mimicked the twinkling of the stars. My fresh pedi and strappy Choos peeked from beneath the fluted, floor-length hem as I walked.

  “Ellie, let’s go. Will said you’d be ready.”

  Will was delayed by an extended call with an investor, so he sent John for me. It came as no surprise that he chose his seventeen-year-old brother as his replacement. His ego wouldn’t allow for me to make an entrance on the arm of another grown man.

  I gave my formal but messy updo another once-over in the mirror, twisting a loose wisp around my finger to curl it, and then opened the door. “Okay, okay. Cut a girl some slack.”

  Dressed to kill in a tailored suit, John stood with perfect posture. He flashed a wide grin and winked, offering his arm. “I’ll be your date until Will comes.” When I failed to interlock our arms, he took my hand in his. He was becoming more and more like his bold brothers every day.

  I pasted on a smile and fought the rolling in my stomach. When I stepped into the corridor, the savory aroma of roast beef hit me, and the air was already buzzing with conversations, clinking glasses, and the clanging of silverware on china. John ushered me down the staircase like the young aristocrat he was, hesitating at the bottom as he searched the three-story great hall for Thomas, just as he’d been instructed.

  The hall was filled with long wooden tables covered in fine white lin
ens. Tall cocktail tables along two walls were covered in the same fabric. The carpets had been removed, and the wooden floor had been buffed to a shine. Lit candles flickered while chandelier crystals sparkled and cast rainbows overhead. Harvest-colored floral arrangements accented with fragrant white roses adorned every tabletop. Sideboards were filled with savory hors d’oeuvres and decadent desserts.

  The billiard room had been transformed into a full-service bar. I longed to slip in behind the bar to pour drinks and chat casually about nothing important. I missed Nick’s. No, not Nick’s—it was Jess and me together at Nick’s that I missed. Images of her singing and the two of us bumping hips as we served drinks during a full house on a Saturday evening filled my head. I needed to hear her voice. After Will finished his cleanup project in Stonington and my name was cleared, I’d be allowed to call her. Until then, I could only follow her tweets incognito.

  “You look amazing. It’ll drive him mad, you know.” John’s compliment—and affectionate insight—surprised me. It yanked me out of my head and back to Eastridge.

  I squeezed his hand and smiled. “I’m lucky to be at your side right now, handsome.”

  Fifty or more people mingled, drinking, snacking, making small talk. Several more came through the foyer and brought a breath of fresh, cool night air with them.

  Thomas stood near the center of the hall, and I decided shelter in his company was my best bet until Will turned up. I tugged on John’s arm and headed for Thomas. He looked up from his conversation with a young couple and strode toward me, welcoming me with a warm smile.

  Thomas possessed the same desirable traits as Will. He was fiercely protective, his charm was woven with arrogance, and he was generous and loyal, but somehow his presentation of those same qualities was different, lighter. Someday one lucky woman would win his heart, and he’d make her as happy as Will made me.

  Thomas placed a thoughtful kiss on my hand and whisked me to the drawing room. “Don’t want you in the hall until Will’s here.”

  Two of the Six followed and stood guard inside the door. The immense room was set up with a bar and reserved for family. Thomas poured me a glass of champagne and some Scotch for himself and guided me to the nearest fireplace.

  With each minute that passed in a house full of strangers and no sign of Will, I grew more anxious. I bit my lip. I fidgeted. I drank.

  Thomas leaned against the mantle. “You’re safe, Ellie. Security measures are in place.” He opened his jacket to show me he was armed. “Slow down or you’ll get pissed.”

  I gulped what was left in my glass and shrugged. I extended my arm for a refill.

  He lifted a brow and confiscated the glass. “You’re too lovely for that.”

  Will’s warm scent hit me then, followed by the feel of his hands on my waist. “Elle.” His breath washed over my neck, and his lips brushed my ear. “You look exquisite.”

  Thomas and John headed for the hall. My guards moved to stand outside the door.

  The tension in my body melted as I fell back against Will’s. I dragged my fingertips along his tight beard and smiled. “Finally.”

  He made no excuses, nor did he offer an explanation for being late. His lips brushed across my shoulder. I didn’t know where he’d been or what he’d been doing, and I didn’t care. He was there, pressing his arousal against my backside, and that was all that mattered.

  “Your arse . . . looks so good in this gown.”

  “You . . . are a very naughty Englishman.”

  “And you quite like that, don’t you, baby?” There was no mistaking the conceit and satisfaction—the sensuality—layered in Will’s words.

  “Yes,” I whispered.

  He was the bad boy all the girls at college swooned over. The billionaire bad boy in the movies and romance novels women absorbed like they were their only source of oxygen. The badass man I never thought I’d want—until he rolled into town and pressed his lips to my hand.

  “Turn. Let me see the rest of you.”

  When I faced him, he wore the sexy grin that would never be enough. His charged eyes lingered without care as they burned me from head to toe, conducting their inspection.

  My body screamed mindlessly for him. It begged me to spread my legs and demand he take me right there. I needed his touch like I needed air. I contracted my thigh muscles and reminded myself where we were. God, how insane—what was wrong with me?

  His grin stretched wider.

  “You’ve been up to something, Will.”

  “Still working on my return to your favor, yes?”

  Since he was in a lighthearted mood, I decided to play along, smiling from under my lashes. “Maybe you should work a little harder.”

  “Let’s see if this advances my position.” He fished a bracelet from the inside breast pocket of his jacket and fastened it onto my wrist before I realized what he was doing.

  I stared at three sophisticated strands of perfectly aligned, alternating cushion-cut, marquise, and round brilliant diamonds and lost my breath for a moment. White light—similar to that in his eyes—reflected through the diamonds, making them twinkle with brilliance under the chandelier. There had to be thirty carats.

  Then I stared at him. “What did you do?”

  Someone in the hall called his name.

  “Will, why would you—”

  “Because I wanted to. We’ve been over this.” He moved his gaze to the doorway and snapped, “Just a fucking minute,” then returned to our conversation. “Really, baby? We’re going to do this?” He laid it out for me again. “I have a lot of money. I make a lot of money. It’s only money and I like to spend it. I’ll buy you many things, and you will accept that. Shall we go upstairs and fight about it?”

  It was a fight I wouldn’t win. I narrowed my eyes anyway. “Well, could you at least give me the many things you insist on buying when we’re alone so I can kiss you?”

  He grabbed my waist and drew me in tightly. “You can kiss me now.”

  “But—”

  Will shut my mouth with his tongue. His amazing, wicked tongue. When he broke the kiss, he touched one of my blushing cheeks with the back of his fingers and smirked. “Let’s get this done, Elle.”

  We entered the great hall holding hands.

  Uncle Robert—who’d assumed the role of master of ceremonies—delivered the announcement that surprised me. “Ladies and gentlemen, the Eleventh Earl of Sussex and the Lady Eleanor of His Majesty King Edward the Fourth’s House.”

  I squeezed Will’s hand and gave him a dirty look.

  “It wasn’t me.” He glared in turn at Robert.

  Panic stirred in my blood. “It will upset the Queen.”

  “That’s who you are, Elle. I’m surprised he didn’t say ‘her royal highness’—that would upset the Queen. Old supporters of the blood will never change. They’ll talk about it until their death and whisper the same from their grave. You’ll always be the last White Rose.”

  And there it was. The reality I needed to face in order to be free.

  I thought of the herd of frolicking deer that continued to leap and play within view of my bedroom window. The little doe. How she taunted me with her freedom, showing me what could be mine. All I had to do was accept the truth. I’d done that to some degree, but I needed to be fully committed. No in-betweens, no gray. I was no longer the hidden girl across the sea, no longer living a lie.

  Will kissed my hand.

  My lips needed no instruction from my brain to smile in adoration at the one person who’d been honest with me. Will showed me who I was, revealed who I could be, and I was madly in love with him.

  “You made your decision.”

  His mouth twitched with a controlled smile. “You asked me to fight for us. I chose to strengthen our position.” Then he shook hands with the first guest in the queue that formed before us.

  38

  What the hell? Robert Moore was at it again. He raised his glass and clanked it with silverware. “Friends, i
t’s time for dinner. Please take your seats.” He waived to Will and me. “They’re quite wonderful. Lord Sussex is the youngest to ascend to the title in decades. He blessed England when he brought home her last daughter of the purest royal blood, certainly the loveliest ever to grace our presence. And—”

  “Sit down, Robert,” Will interrupted. His voice boomed through the hall as he stood. “Unlike my brother and father, I’ve claimed my station as a peer of the realm.” Grief washed over his face but vanished in an instant.

  Champagne and whisky glasses clinked. Men and women shouted, “Hear, hear!”

  “It would please me if you’d refrain from addressing me as Earl or Lord Sussex. I remain William Hastings.”

  He nodded at the waiting catering staff. Floorboards creaked, uniforms rustled, and their shadows dashed about as the waitstaff delivered steaming dinner dishes to the tables.

  “Anyone positioned on the properties returned to me in the Sussex counties will not be affected. You have my word. Business will continue as usual. Thomas and I will be available to you—anyone hurting needs only to reach out to us. We’re here to help. Spread the word.”

  Will extended his hand to me with a touch of dramatic flair.

  My stomach rolled with nerves, but still, I needed to focus and stay out of his way, allowing him to carry out his plan. I found his eyes, slipped my hand into his, and stood at his side.

  “It would please me most for you to welcome Ellie into your communities. She is the incontestable heiress of the House of Plantagenet, and the Crown offers to confer nationality by descent.”

  “But only if she gives up her rightful seat on the throne,” someone shouted.

  “True enough, my friend,” Will agreed.

  “Make her your countess,” another called out.

  He teased guests with one of his magnificent wide grins. “Do you think a woman of such grace would have me?”