Page 24 of Beauty and the Rake
“I’m kissing you. I’m kissing you thoroughly.”
“Don’t stop. I rather like it. You’re a very good kisser.”
“Hmm,” he responded as his lips found hers again. “I was going to say the same about you.”
They sat there in the middle of London, in a carriage, kissing each other as two long separated lovers might. He couldn’t get enough of her. He wanted more, but a carriage wasn’t the place for it. A thousand thoughts ran through his head. This was the woman he’d been waiting for his entire life, and he wasn’t about to lose her again.
Quickly he opened his eyes and looked out the window of the carriage, trying to see where they were and how far they were to their destination. They were close, too close for more.
What time they had spent seemed like hours instead of mere minutes as he once again found his way to his seat. She would be in no frame of mind for anything but grief shortly, but hefelt that this time she would allow him to comfort her. They had bonded, or feelings that had been smoldering for years and years had now been brought to the surface.
Graham felt anxious as the carriage came to a halt in front of the house. He dreaded what was about to transpire. Gazing up at the door, he found nothing black to tell people this was a house in mourning. A smart move if Arthur were trying to wait until Roxanne had been told. Most people didn’t even know Roxanne had a son. Because of Thomas’s afflictions it had been something the family kept quiet about. Her late husband saw no need and blamed Roxanne in fact. Graham wondered how much time she had spent with her son over the years. Did he even know who she was? It was a heartbreaking situation. There was so little known about diseases of the mind. For Thomas he never matured past being a three-year-old. A heartbreak for any parent. Luckily, Roxanne’s late husband had been able to afford to make sure Thomas got better care than if he’d just been placed in there like someone off the street. That in and of itself showed that Casper had a heart and some emotion towards his son.
He followed Roxanne up the steps and into the grand hall. Nothing had been said between them after leaving the carriage. Was she regretting what passed between them or was she merely anxious about finally finding out why Arthur had her brought back to London?
She turned to him and cocked her head to one side. “For being so insistent I return, one would think my brother would be waiting at the front door with open arms. Instead, he’s nowhere to be found.”
A lone figure appeared at the top of the staircase. “I am here. In the drawing room.”
Roxanne said nothing as she ascended the stairs. Graham followed, arching a brow in Arthur’s direction as he passed and continued to follow Roxanne into the drawing room. He heardArthur shut the door behind him and watched Roxanne closely as she walked to the fire, where she dramatically turned to face the two of them and began taking her gloves off.
“Arthur, you have a lot of explaining to do. You practically had poor Graham here kidnap me, for what I do not know.”
“I know, but I also know how stubborn you can be,” he said. “Why don’t you sit down?”
“Just tell me what is going on so I can go to my rooms and change,” she responded as she pulled off the second glove and flung it on the chair where she had thrown the other.
“Roxanne! Sit!” Arthur exclaimed. Graham could tell she was frustrating him and all he wanted to do was get this over.
She sat in the cream damask wing chair where she had thrown her gloves. “Someone certainly got up on the wrong side of their bed.”
“This is no laughing matter, sister.”
“Would you please tell me what’s going on?”
Her brother knelt in front of his sister, taking her hands in his. It was almost more than Graham could take. He felt like bolting.
“It’s about Thomas,” Arthur began.
“What about him?”
“There was a fight. Somehow Thomas was in the fray…”
“Oh my God. No! Is he okay?”
Arthur cleared his throat. Graham could see him tighten his grip on her hands. “I’m afraid not. He died from his injuries.”
Saying nothing, Roxanne merely stared at Arthur in disbelief. “No, no, no. You must have misheard. Thomas was gentle. He would never get involved in a fight.”
“I’m afraid I haven’t misheard. He’s gone, Roxanne, and I’m so sorry to have to be the one to tell you.”
She nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks. It was all Graham could do to remain where he was when in fact, hewanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and comfort her.
“No one knew of Thomas’s existence. It will be a very private funeral. No one outside the three of us. No one else. The house must not go into mourning. It would cause too many questions, and I will be judged if we did,” Roxanne said tearfully.
“Whatever you want, I’ll make it happen.” Arthur let her hands go and rose to his full height.
“Thank you. Now, would one of you pour me a drink? I’m finding myself in need of some fortification after that news.”
