Page 31 of Firethorne
“And your father thought this was a symbol worth keeping... in the twenty-first century?” I mocked, but Lysander didn’t react. “How old were you when he told you that story?”
Lysander frowned as he pondered my question.
“Five, maybe six.”
“Jesus, it just gets better and better.” I couldn’t believe this family were so fucked up that they’d terrorise their own kids like that. And part of me knew I was only scratching the surface of their fuckery. I knew there’d be more below the surface if I dug deeper.
And I would.
“My father would do anything to preserve the family name,” Lysander announced proudly, lifting his chin defiantly.
“Yeah, anything...” I shot back. “But refrain from cheating on your mum.” Instantly, I felt like shit. The words had come outbefore I could engage my brain. “I’m sorry,” I added, remorse burning in the growing redness on my face. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
“Why not? It’s true,” Lysander replied sadly, bowing his head as if he felt the shame of what his father had done. “Damien is the byproduct of my father’s sexual gratification. You may as well say it like it is.”
“It’s not Damien’s fault, though, is it? Or yours.”
Lysander took a moment to think, then shifted to face me, peering down at me as he spoke.
“We keep our family issues where they belong; in the family. But to the world, father likes to remind everyone that we’re a force to be reckoned with. I guess that’s why it’s still up there.”
“And when you take over the estate?” I asked.
“It comes down and I’ll burn it,” he replied without missing a beat.
I turned my back on the tree that held so much tragedy. A sick reminder that Mr Firethorne felt he needed to put out to the world.
“I don’t want us to dwell on something so depressing, though,” Lysander said, an easy smile gracing his beautiful face as he stared at me.
The morning sun peeking through the trees made his golden hair shine like silk. He was captivating to look at, but the more I got to know him, the more his true character shone through. The darker side he hid so well in everyday life. And the brightness he exuded that infected everyone around him, a brightness he used to mask the truth.
“I’m so glad I caught you out here this morning,” he went on. “I have something exciting to ask you.”
I guessed he was going to ask me to sit for him for the painting he wanted to do. But he didn’t.
“We’re having a party at Firethorne next week. And I’d love you to come, as my guest.” He cocked his head, excitement growing with every word he spoke. His face beaming as he waited for me to respond with the word he wanted to hear. Yes.
But I faltered, and he stared at me, waiting expectantly like an excitable child.
I hadn’t been to many parties. But a niggling voice in my head told me a party at Firethorne would be like no other. Something I’d never forget. Or perhaps something I’d want to forget.
“I don’t think I should,” I replied, and Lysander’s face dropped. “I work here. You’re my employers. I don’t think it’d be right for me to socialise?—”
“Nonsense,” Lysander butted in, and then he reached forward, a gentle finger stroking my cheek as he smiled. “Our parties are legendary. You’ll have the best time.” And from the way he beamed at me, I wanted to say yes to this man who’d known such sadness but still lived every day in the light, being positive, being kind.
Then a darkness fell over him as he cupped my jaw and brushed his thumb along my bottom lip, his touch morphing from innocence to something else entirely.
“If you don’t come, I’ll call the whole thing off,” he threatened with an insistence I’d never seen before. An urgency to get his own way. His gaze stayed fixed on my lips as his hand kept a hold of my jaw. “And besides,” he said suddenly, using a breezier tone, snapping from mysterious devil back to bright angel in a nanosecond. “You’ll get to dress up. It’s an angels and demons theme. And I can’t wait to see you dressed as the angel you are.” His eyes twinkled as he spoke, and I wasn’t surprised by what he said. Angels and Demons seemed to fit the people of Firethorne Manor pretty well.
I knew the word ‘no’ wasn’t going to cut it. Lysander wouldn’t take no for an answer. So, I moved my head back slightly to peer up at him, and he dropped his hand from my face.
“I’ll think about it,” I said, giving him a thin-lipped smile.
Lysander gave a silent celebration as he pumped his fist and whispered, “Yes.”
“I can’t promise anything. I only said I’ll think about it,” I reiterated, not wanting him to get his hopes up.
“It wasn’t a no, and that’s enough for me,” he replied.
