Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 127368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
And again, I remembered the picture in the Wine Room.
“If they didn’t like each other, then why were they painted like they were great loves?”
“Because people romanticize the past,” he explained. “That painting was commissioned hundreds of years after they were gone. It wouldn’t do for the two people who essentially started our legacy to be portrayed as shouting at each other.”
True.
“I can’t see many medieval maidens waiting breathlessly for their brutish husbands to come home, and she was no shrew in my dream,” I muttered.
“Daphne, it’s all manifestations of what you’ve seen and heard in this house. They’re simply dreams, nothing more,” he chided. “There’s enough to be worked up about. You don’t need to create things.”
“You’re right,” I allowed. “I’m just on edge.”
“We all are. But Stevenson has made a large dent in his inventory. He’s noted nothing else has been moved and nothing is missing. The storage rooms aren’t locked. If someone was paying attention, it’d be easy to watch when someone else entered the code. The safe in this room is a concern. It isn’t often accessed, and it’d be hard to see which numbers were selected on the dial unless you were very close and watching closer. But everything will be explained. And soon. My investigators don’t fuck around.”
“Okay, baby,” I whispered.
But I’d noticed he’d been getting pissed as he talked, and he stayed that way.
Therefore, I asked, “Have I made you angry?”
He shook his head. “This situation makes me angry. Mum’s good at keeping her emotions hidden, but she’s failing. She’s distressed. And she’s a mum. That’s worse because she’s distressed we’re all distressed. Dad is taking it like a declaration of war. His personal property has been violated. He’s furious. Danny is not thrilled with keeping Portia here if there might be danger. I’m the same with you. And we don’t like what it’s doing to Mum and Dad. I truly hope it’s sorted and soon. I want to know who’s done it, but more, I want to know why. You called it fiendish. It’s that and morbid and cruel. Dad can be an ass, but outside this house, he’s the courteous, if haughty, country gentleman. Mum’s never harmed a soul in her life. Brittany notwithstanding, Danny’s the kind of guy who’s everyone’s best friend. It doesn’t make sense.”
“When people do things like this, it never does,” I reminded him. “If you don’t have it in you to harm someone, you can never understand why someone could do it.”
“Mm,” he agreed.
“Is dinner in the Turquoise Room tonight?”
“Yes. Dad wants everything to go back to normal, and Danny and I agreed. It also makes sense. If we suddenly start huddling together in the Viognier Room or elsewhere, it’ll give it away.”
“So, do we have time to fuck before dinner? Or do you have to work?”
That alleviated his mood.
“We absolutely have time to fuck before dinner.”
“I bought three boxes of condoms.”
Surprising me, he frowned.
“I made sure they were your size,” I teased.
“I’m scrupulous about protection, Daphne.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“And I’m healthy.”
I got what he was saying.
“Oh,” was all I could think to reply.
His voice lowered. “If it’s too soon for you, I understand. But if you’re taking something—”
I cut him off, stating, “I’m on the pill.”
“Your choice. No pressure. I just want that on the table.”
I knew men got more out of the experience when they went in ungloved.
But this was something different.
Ian Alcott, soon-to-be-earl of Duncroft couldn’t go around taking chances at being baby daddy to all his lovers. He was rich, but there was a lot at stake. Not just his legacy, and his money, but his reputation and the reputation of soon-to-be Earl Alcott.
That he would trust me to protect both of us said a lot.
“Oh shit. I’m going to get all weepy because you want to fuck me and trust me to take care of us.”
He smiled. “Darling.”
I jumped up and offered him my hand. “Let’s go fuck. We’ll see how we roll. I’m positive I’ll get over it when we’re in bed.”
He took my hand only after he rose from the couch, and said on a wicked grin, “I’m positive too.”
Thirty-Six
THE PICTURE
The next morning, I was in the bathroom and all was right in the world, because Ian had woken me by going down on me.
I loved what he could do with his cock, but he was a master with his tongue.
I’d blow-dried my hair and was sitting on the little bench covered in chocolate silk, putting makeup on at the wide and handy built-in makeup vanity, when I heard it.
A crash in the other room.
For a second, I froze.
Then I got up and raced into the other room.
Ian was standing in the sitting room, phone to his ear, head bent, hand at the back of his neck, and I saw one of the glasses from his personal drinks cabinet in shards on the floor.