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34: He plays her
Last Updated:
2023-03-06 01:38:25
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Promised to the father, married to the son 35: His secret
*Skye* A week later, I unlock a door and lead my newest staff members into a room that I am fairly certain had been the morning room for at least one Mrs Archer. At the far end, the windows jut out to create a little alcove, with bookshelves along the wall on either side. I can imagine myself curling up, book in hand, in one of the two large plush chairs near the windows and reading to a little girl nestled in the other. “Let’s get started, shall we?” I order as I whip the draperies open, coughing as the dust floats around me. Since Marsden didn’t seem disturbed by the tidying of the music room, in fact he seems to relish it, since he joins us there each evening shortly after I begin to play… I have attacked the study belonging to the lady of the house with gusto. Now I have a place where I can write letters… if I had anyone who would welcome receiving a letter from me. The cook meets me there each morning to go over the menu for the evening meal. I keep the midday fare simple… br
Last Updated : 2023-03-06Promised to the father, married to the son 36: Confronting him
*Ben* I pour the steaming water into the tub in the bathing room. Mrs. Downey doesn’t understand why I don’t have one of the servants prepare my bath, but the servants are Skye’s, not mine. I don’t need to take them away from whatever chores my wife has them doing. Besides, the fewer people who see me in this ragtag state, the better. After setting down the pail, I arch my back and look up at the ceiling. Christ, I am tired. But I know once I see Skye, the weariness will fade away. Her smile of greeting always seems to revitalize me. I have even begun to enjoy her evening recitals, no longer viewing them as an irritating delay to my possessing her, but rather embracing them as a slow, sensual building of awareness. She finds a bit of ecstasy in gliding her fingers over the ivory, and I become enthralled watching her. She is a siren, luring my father out of his reclusiveness. Each evening, he makes his way down to the music room. I have begun pouring a scotch and setting it on the ta
Last Updated : 2023-03-10Promised to the father, married to the son 37: Not loving each other
*Ben* Nearly an hour and a half later, I stand at the window in the library, downing scotch. I had come straight here from the bathing room, now wearing the clothes I had donned this morning before changing into the sturdier and rougher attire that I sport when going to the mines. Skye is correct. I have been an ass. I am still in danger of behaving as one because I can’t shake off the anger that rivets through me now that she knows the truth of my situation. I am embarrassed that I get my hands dirty, that I engage in backbreaking labor that no gentleman should. That I hadn't paid more attention to the mines when I reached my majority, that I hadn’t noticed sooner that my father was not the best steward for the estate and business. That I return to the manor each evening covered in sweat and grime. It is bad enough that the local people know. But I can envision Skye in New York attending a luncheon, tittering with a group of ladies, laughing at the notion of me working for my supp
Last Updated : 2023-03-16Promised to the father, married to the son 38: The destruction of a dress
*Ben* I have never known a woman like her … ever in my life. Following along with my tale about the seams, she matches Lady Godiva for boldness, and I can well imagine her riding naked through the streets without a single blush forming anywhere on her person. And damned if I don’t want her again with a fierceness that makes me feel almost barbaric. After I kick the door to my bedchamber closed behind us, I do precisely as she suggested and rips what remains of her clothing from her body. Making sure not to hurt her in the process. There is something immensely satisfying and feral in the rasp of rending satin and silk, in the way that Skye simply stands there and lets me have my way with her, her eyes smoldering with needs that match my own. When she is completely bared, I lift her back into my arms, carry her to the foot of the bed, and toss her onto her stomach, leaving her legs to dangle over the mattress. Breathing heavily, she rises up onto her elbows and gazes back over he
Last Updated : 2023-03-19Promised to the father, married to the son 39: Interupted
*Skye* I lean forward from my comfy pillows, snag a grape from the tray that rests near my knees, and pop the dark red fruit into my mouth. Lounging at the foot of the bed where a short time ago he took me with such unbridled enthusiasm, my husband sips his burgundy wine. His gaze drifts to my breasts. Perhaps because I haven’t pulled my dressing gown as tightly around me as I could have and I have left a good bit of flesh visible. I don’t know why I take such delight in teasing him with flashes of skin. “Be sure to send word to your seamstress that you’re in need of another blue gown”. He says. I shake my head. “I have enough gowns.” His jaw tautens for a heartbeat before relaxing, and I know he is taking exception to my frugality, that he is insulted by the notion that he can’t properly provide for me. “Not in that shade of blue. It’s my favorite as it brings out the red in your hair.” I laugh lightly. “As though I need anything to bring out the red in my hair. The devil’s doing
Last Updated : 2023-03-25Promised to the father, married to the son 40: Incoming friends
*Ben* As I make my way toward the dining room, I have never been more grateful for an interruption in my life. I was on the verge of confessing that I more than like Skye; I hold genuine affection for her. Once those words are spoken there will be no going back on them. In the library, I had voiced all the things I do not want as though that would stop her from delivering them. As though it is within her nature not to care, not to give. She returned the blasted allowance, offered to reduce her staff, and was concerned with my welfare. Of course she is, I chastised myself until she provides an heir, she is in danger of losing all this. But the argument runs hollow and untrue. She had shown herself that first day. But not her complete self. She is composed of myriad facets, complex and intriguing. I can spend a lifetime striving to unravel the mysteries of Skye Archer. Damn it all to hell if I don’t want that lifetime with her. I want her in my life until my hair turns silver and my
Last Updated : 2023-03-29Promised to the father, married to the son 41: Making an impression
*Ben* Having spotted the cars from an upstairs window, I have escorted Skye outside so we can welcome our guests. I am not surprised that the four cars arrive at the same time. I assumed that my friends would meet up so they could arrive together in order to receive the same first impression of my wife. I don’t know why Skye’s nervousness calls to my protective nature. Perhaps because since she came to my home she has been so fiercely independent, standing toe to toe with me, that I assumed she never have doubts, never waver, never have second thoughts. I don’t like her appearing vulnerable, susceptible to hurt. Had I opened my door to see the worry in her eyes and the number of times she licks her lips while waiting for the cars to draw to a halt, I might have taken more pity on her that first day. I still wouldn’t have allowed her to marry my father, but things between us might have started out on a different foot. “You have nothing to prove to them”. I say quietly, and she snaps he
Last Updated : 2023-04-07Promised to the father, married to the son 42: How they met
*Ben* “So how did you meet her?” Nick asks. “She’s not familiar to me.” He, Tom, and I are sitting in chairs near the fireplace in the library, glasses of scotch in hand. Skye has taken the women to the morning room for a spot of tea. My father had claimed to be in need of a nap, although I suspect he is playing with the children in the nursery. I won’t feel guilty because my father seems to take such delight in the little ones and I have yet to provide him with an heir. “Know every woman in New York, do you?” “Quite a few, yes.” As a bachelor, Nick had been the most promiscuous among us, but to be fair, he had never expected to marry. Then he fell in love with his brother’s widow and that was that. “So she’s from New York?” Tom asks. “She traveled from New York. Her family lives in Washington.” I give Nick a pointed look. “Sinclair?” “Not familiar with the name.” I grimace. “Actually Sinclair is probably her married name. I don’t know her family name.” “Bit odd that,” Tom mus
Last Updated : 2023-04-10
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Promised to the father, married to the son Epilogue
*Skye* Standing on the landing at the top of the stairs with my husband behind me, his arms circling me just below my breasts, and Marsden beside me, I couldn't be more pleased. "What do you think, Father?" I ask."Beautiful, my dear. It’s just as it was the last time that Linnie and I held a Christmas ball here. Of course, we had an abundance of guests then."I saved the tidying of the ballroom for last, and this is my gift to Marsden. Every room in the manor is now absent cobwebs and dust; every room has been set to rights."Will you host a ball here?" he asks."We thought in the new year, if you've no objections.""You're the lady of the manor. It’s your decision.""If you're not comfortable with so many people.""It'll be good to see old friends. Will you dance with me now?"I smile at him. "We don't have an orchestra."He pats his chest. "The music is here. You don't mind, do you, son?""Not as long as I get the last dance.""Will you dance with me, Papa?" Maddie asks from her
Promised to the father, married to the son Maddie
*Skye* We stayed in New York until the end of the Season. No rumors about my past circulated. Occasionally, I caught a glimpse of Beaumont, but he kept his distance. It seems to me that he always looks rather sad. I do hope that happiness is in his future. But happiness is certainly in my present. I am glad to be back at the country estate. Sitting on the terrace with Marsden, sipping my afternoon tea while he drinks scotch, I don't know why I ever thought this place was desolate. "I love it here," I say on a sigh. "It's not for everyone," he tells me. I look over at him. "It's for me, though." And it will be for my children. Here, they will know only happiness. They might climb trees, but it won't be because they are afraid of receiving an unjust punishment. I know my husband will be returning soon. He is spending less time at the mines these days. He still goes down into them, he can't seem to refrain from accepting the challenge of it. But he doesn't go as often, or so he tell
Promised to the father, married to the son Together again
*Ben* As soon as the car takes off, I drag her onto my lap, latching my mouth onto the soft skin at her throat, suckling, nipping, journeying up and down the long column, while she moans, drops her head back, gasps short breaths. "If you ever leave me again, without so much as a word of warning..." "What will you do? Spank me? Lock me in my room? There is little point in running away if you warn the person ahead of time or leave a message stating where you are." Threading my fingers through her hair, I bring her head level with mine, holding her gaze. "Never leave me again." "I did it for you. To spare you." "The agony of losing you nearly killed me." Something I'd never admit to another soul, but to her, I suddenly feel that I can admit anything. "How did you find me?" "Not as easily or as quickly as I should have. I went to see your parents." Her eyes widen. Wanting to drink in the whiskey, I wish it wasn't dark, that we weren't ensconced in shadows. "I told you I was dead t
Promised to the father, married to the son Finding her
*Skye* I hated parting with the pearls, but I didn't have any other choice. Unfortunately, they didn't bring in as much money as I had hoped, but it was enough for me to feel confident going to my solicitor, knowing that I could pay his fee. Turns out, he didn't charge me for his advice, as there was nothing he could do for me. "I can't divorce him," I say, pacing in front of the fireplace in my temporary bedchamber. "I thought infidelity was a justifiable reason for getting a divorce," Sophie says. "Yes, but I can't divorce him because I committed adultery. Only he can divorce me for my transgressions." "You can divorce him if he commits adultery, so let's say he did." Shaking my head, I stop pacing. "No. I won't have some woman he might wish to marry questioning his faithfulness. He is loyal. Besides, it's not enough for him to be an adulterer. He must desert me for two years. Yet I don't have to desert him. There are different laws applied to men than to women, which makes it
Promised to the father, married to the son Has he seen her?
*Beaumont* I've never had as much luck playing cards as I'm having this evening at the Twin Dragons. From the moment I sat down half an hour earlier, I've taken every hand. This latest one will be no exception. Fortune is smiling so brightly on me. "I need a word." Christ, I nearly jump out of my skin at the low rasp near my ear. I recognize the owner's tone as one that doesn't bode well. I snap my head around, my gaze slamming into Killian Archer's, the hazel eyes indicating a high price will be paid for any disobedience. But I'm known for my stubbornness. "I'm otherwise occupied." Do I have to sound as though my heart is lodged in my throat? Archer grabs my cards, tosses them down. "He's out." "See here." I swing back around to glare at him. There is a tenseness, a danger, to him that has no doubt led to his surviving his treks into the wilds. Not even the king of the jungle would want to tangle with a man who looks as though he'd take great delight in devouring his prey for
Promised to the father, married to the son Her parents
*Ben* I've ridden my motorbike like a madman all through the day and into the evening in order to catch up with the bus. When I finally do reach it, I discover she's disembarked in the first village at which it has stopped. Naturally, by the time I return there, she is nowhere to be found. So where the bloody hell has she gone? She isn't going to return to the country estate. Of that, I'm fairly certain. In no mood to explain the situation to my father, I've sent the cars and servants back to New York while I carry on to her childhood home. I think it's unlikely that she would seek out her parents for help, but I'm hopeful they can shed some light on where she might seek refuge. Having attended a couple of balls at Beaumont's country estate, I'm familiar with the area and seek out the parsonage near the church. After knocking on the door, I glance around, my chest tightening as I study the towering oak that brushes up against a window on the uppermost level. I imagine Skye bold, b
Promised to the father, married to the son Seaking shelter
*Skye* It's the very worst place I could come, but I have nowhere else to go. Knocking on the servants' door, I hold my breath, striving not to think about what might have gone through Ben's head other than a great deal of pain considering how much he'd imbibed when he awoke this morning to find me gone. Would he have even cared or would he have thought good riddance? A servant opens the door, blinks at me, furrows his brow, and I know he's trying to place me. "I'm here to see Miss Sophie." "What is the nature of your business?" "It's personal." In my bag, I have several calling cards that Ben had given me when we arrived in New York, in the event I made morning calls. He had such faith in me garnering the love and respect of Society, of being welcomed, of being accepted as his wife. Instead, I've merely managed to ruin his life. And I'll ruin it further if I hand over a calling card and anyone discovers that Mrs. Archer is very familiar with Mistress Row. "Just inform her that
Promised to the father, married to the son A missing wife
*Ben* I awaken with my head feeling as heavy as my heart. I rather wish that I hadn't asked Skye about her history with Beaumont because I have a strong need to go find him and pummel the man to within an inch of his life. I have catched glimpses of her innocence when she kills spiders, falls into the arms of a waiting servants, and laughs, dancing her fingers over the piano keys. I wish I had known her before Beaumont tore away her guilelessness, although I recognize that I would have considered her too pure for the likes of me, giving her little thought because she would have been likable and the last thing I wanted was a woman I could fancy. How ironic then that I ended up with one I could love. I shouldn't have come to her, should have resisted, but where she is concerned, I had no resistance from the moment I opened the door to her. I curse her for bringing a loneliness to my life that I had never before experienced. I never had any trouble sleeping alone, and now I despise
Promised to the father, married to the son Her whole story
*Skye* I lie on my side beneath the covers, staring at the pale moonlight filtering in through the windows. My life has been a series of escapes, of running away, each one leading to something worse than what had come before. Reading the gossip Magazines, I never considered the rich to be very noble. The men are womanizers; the ladies are silly chits who care only about gowns, money, and dance partners. None of them have real troubles or concerns. Through Montie, I havd learned they are a selfish lot concerned only with their own wants and needs. The other mistresses I have known saw the upper crust of society as a means to an end. Nice residence, fancy clothes, fine jewelry. And if it means giving up one's good name and reputation, they think it worth it for all they gain to be spoiled and pampered, even if it means indulging the whims of a specific gentleman anytime day or night. To be his bird in a gilded cage, to sing when prompted, to keep silent otherwise. Mistresses mistaken
