Saved By A Siren: Spencers in Love Book One Page 21

  With that, Gilles put all discussion of family and pasts aside and showed his wife just what could be accomplished by two individuals in a solidly built chair. Neither left their suites for three days, choosing to take all their meals in the earl's chambers. Gilles showed Elise that it was possible (she'd been doubtful) to make love in a bathtub, and promised to educate her on the numerous other places and possibilities.

  Chapter 39

  Alastair pushed Munin through the break in the trees and urged him on, letting him stretch his legs as they came to a clearing. He'd always preferred to ride just before the sun was up. The dew on the grass and leaves reminded him of stars. It was one of the few fanciful notions Alastair allowed himself. He understood that it was light reflecting within the surfaces of water drops but he imagined he was riding through the skies he'd stared at as a child with Gilles.

  Alastair found early mornings preferable for another reason. He was an early riser by nature and within days of Gilles' marriage to Elise three weeks prior, it became more comfortable for him to be away from the house when they awoke. Having the room in closest proximity to theirs and sensitive hearing, Alastair was less than pleased to be an audience. Not that he begrudged them their coital bliss, he was pleased that they were so well suited.

  While he usually enjoyed studying people, Alastair felt like he was intruding and at risk of becoming familiar with aspects of his brother he'd prefer not to. So, he took care to rise early and slip from the house without disturbing anyone.

  Munin was pleased to be out of his stall, he devoured the length of the field and Alastair encouraged him. Just as he lowered his head to the horse's ears he felt something fly past his cheek, heard a high pitched whine before something pelted his collar. Was that a bullet? He wondered.

  Alastair hugged Munin's neck and shouted for him to run faster. The horse shot forward and the flew through the clearing. He led him in a straight path towards Longwood and kept low to his back. As soon as they clattered into the stable yard Jamison strode out.

  "That was a short ride, Sir Alastair. Wasn't expecting ye back for a while." He teased as he took the reins from Alastair.

  "Is anyone hunting in the clearing just over the North Ridge this morning?" Alastair asked as he shook the water from his hair.

  "No, sir. Game Keeper's not even here this week. His wife just gave birth, his lordship gave him the time off. Kemmel made sure the larders were good and stocked before though."

  "Someone fired at me. It was probably a mistake but it wouldn't be a bad idea for you to send some lads out to look around." Alastair scanned the lands around the estate, he felt uneasy. "Make sure they're armed." He added as he turned for the house.

  Once inside he entered the nearest parlor and looked in the mirror. Lifting his collar he saw a hole torn into the fabric. Alastair stared at it for several minutes. In his mind he tried to estimate where the shooter would have been standing. His eyes narrowed as he imagined trajectories and calculated speeds and factored the wind. There were too many variables, especially since Munin had been running so fast.

  Alastair looked at his reflection again. This time he calculated how far the bullet had been from various critical points on his neck and head. He recalled that he'd leaned forward just before he felt the bullet. Alastair knew he'd narrowly escaped death. It wasn't the first time but it was the closest he'd come. Who? More than anything, that unsettled him. He could think of no loose ends from his work during the war that might come after him or anyone unrelated to the war that he'd wronged personally. Perhaps it was just an accident.

  Alastair's instincts whispered that it wasn't. He needed to talk to Gilles as soon as possible. He knew that he and Lucien would be down in half an hour or so for breakfast. They usually enjoyed a few moments of quiet at the table and discussed their plans for the day over coffee before the women joined them.

  Quitting the parlor, Alastair went to the study to look at the map of the estate. Again, he looked at the field and tried to estimate the shooter's location. He couldn't even pinpoint a good location for where he and Munin had been. It was irritating him. Alastair threw himself into a chair and squeezed his temples. He was most likely focusing irrationally on the facts to keep from dealing with feelings related to his own mortality. He could have died. Alastair digested that fact. He let his heartbeat rise and then settle. He didn't. He let the relief bloom within him and recede. He breathed in deeply and rose as he heard steps and masculine murmurs coming from the stairs.

  It wasn't until he greeted Gilles and Lucien that Alastair realized he was still wearing his coat. Both looked at him curiously.

  "Just get back from a ride?" Lucien asked as they turned towards the dining room. "Who did you take?"

  "Munin. He was in good form this morning. It was unfortunate to have to cut our ride short."

  "Afraid you'd miss breakfast?" Gilles teased as he elbowed Alastair.

  "No. I don't think I have much of an appetite. Someone shot at me." He said calmly.

  "Shot at you? What the devil, Alastair? Perhaps you should have led with that!" Lucien exclaimed as he grabbed Alastair's arm.

  "I'm fine, though my jacket needs mending. Perhaps Anna and Alice could trim the collar with leather? I'm sure they'll come up with a solution." He said as he removed his jacket. Gilles snatched it from him and examined the hole.

  "Bloody Hell, Alastair! That's damned close! Did you see anything?" Gilles asked as he handed the jacket to Holserson.

  "Nothing. I can't figure out where the shooter would have been either. I told Jameson to send some of his lads to look the field over. It could have been a mistake. I'll give them time and ask after breakfast."

  Gilles nodded as he sipped his coffee.

  "I'll send a few men into town to see if anything can be learned there. Between Jameson's boys looking over the area and asking around, there might be a simple explanation."

  "If they don't find anything, I'll ride around the estate after lunch and see what I can find." Lucien added.

  "Be careful. I don't think anyone else should leave the immediate grounds until we're certain it was an accident." Alastair went to the window and looked out onto the gardens. He didn't like how tense he felt. It felt like the hours just before a fight.

  "I agree. No riding lessons today. We'll keep everyone indoors as much as possible." Gilles nodded to Holderson as he supervised the trays being delivered.

  The matter was put to rest when Mirabelle strode into the room. As was usually her habit, she piled her plate high and sat next to Alastair. He noticed that she didn't seem as focused on Lucien the last few weeks. She seemed to watch him less and spent more time alone. Had there been a falling out? Alastair shook his head mentally. She wasn't cold towards him and Lucien seemed unchanged. Perhaps Mirabelle's feelings were changing. He hoped so. The whole situation didn't fill him with confidence.

  Deciding that going hungry wouldn't benefit the situation, Alastair filled his own plate and put both matters from his thoughts for the duration of breakfast.

  Chapter 40

  Later that day, Elise sat at her piano and considered all the ways her life had changed. She rarely had time to herself, not that she minded. Her nights and mornings were for Gilles. As were the occasional afternoon. Elise smiled wickedly. Her husband could be very demanding, and creative. He described her as casting spells and being an instrument of pleasure, Gilles had powers and skills of his own. And his body fascinated Elise as nothing had before. He was so hard, all over. The muscles, bones and sinews came together to form the cleverest instrument. When he was tense and focused, he was like a spring and a trigger, powerful and precise. His hands stroked, tickled, and probed. Gilles' mouth was another matter entirely. It teased, incited and tortured her when he wanted her whipped to a frenzy then soothed and relaxed her when Elise was raw and exhausted. As for the other part of his anatomy that featured in their lovemaking... Elise blushed. She'd become quite familiar with it. It seemed to have appetites and a
mind of it's own. Gilles did his best to remain in control but now and then, it would take over. Sometimes, Elise helped. She loved the feel and the taste of it and the way Gilles adored her when she gave it her attention. Mostly, Elise loved the way she felt when she was pleasuring Gilles and when she was asserting herself. For so long, she had just floated along, being card for yet alone. When Elise held him in her hand, or in her mouth or commanded Gilles, she felt powerful and desired. It was the most intoxicating thing she'd ever experienced. Those times balanced the moments where she felt completely helpless to resist Gilles or what he made her feel. He made her feel everything and then flung her from her body to drift about senseless and weak.

  When she wasn't mindless in Gilles' bed, Elise was often with at least one member of the family. Mirabelle and Celine would help her walk Lucy and play with her. They often discussed dresses that Anna and Alice were making for one of them, though Elise usually had very little understanding of those conversations. But she enjoyed them, having a mother and sister to talk about fashion with had been a childhood fantasy. Mirabelle would sit with Elise at the piano at least once a day and they'd teach each other music or learn a new piece together, another fantasy of Elise's.

  Sometimes, Celine would sit and listen to Elise play or they would chat idly while Celine embroidered mystery items. She seemed to be stockpiling embellished fabric items that Elise could not know about. Regardless, Elise treasured those times. Having a mother proved to be more delightful than Elise had ever imagined.

  Alastair was always a surprise. One moment, he busied himself with making diagrams of Elise's environment and would question her endlessly about how she measured spaces and distances. The next, he was opening up to her about the things that he kept hidden from everyone else. Alastair told her about witnessing the death of his father and the nightmares that had followed. Elise's heart broke for the young Alastair to have seen such a thing at six and then to relive it almost every night. She understood why he'd been so effected when he'd learned of Gilles' nightmares. But her heart had lightened when he told her about how his brother had rescued him. Sleeping on a cot in his room and sneaking him out to lay under the stars to be near their father, keeping him warm and protecting him so the dreams wouldn't return. Aside from Gilles, Elise had never been as close to anyone as she was becoming with Alastair. She felt blessed to have him as a brother.

  Lucien's mother arrived two weeks after the wedding. Madeline was energetic and affectionate.

  "Where is this lovely child that has stolen our Gilles' heart?" She demanded as she surged into Longwood.

  "Here, Your Grace." Elise had said shyly as she curtsied.

  Elise felt as if she'd been swept into a perfumed cyclone, hugged and kissed and disoriented when she was finally released.

  "Mon petite ange! You are more than I imagined!"

  Madeline pulled Elise to her again.

  "Celine! Just think of how lovely the babies will be!" She laughed like the chime of bells.

  "Oui, Madeline! And I do not think we will have to wait very long. My son keeps her very busy!"

  Both women laughed and hugged while Elise felt as if her face was on fire.

  "Don't mind them. They've always been a bit... too much together. Though I fear I'm going to be hounded endlessly to catch up. My mother will become unbearable once you give birth." Lucien whispered.

  Madeline and Celine were inseparable. Elise found that she now had an adoring, doting aunt to share her days with as well. An aunt that became as single minded in her devotion to embroidery as Celine. Whenever Elise would ask about their projects they would just laugh and say cryptic things like "You leave this to us, when the time comes we will be ready."

  Smiling, Elise tilted her face towards the sun, feeling the soft heat on her skin. It was a lovely day. It was a day much like this, almost two weeks ago when she was sitting at her piano enjoying the sun when she'd heard footsteps on the terrace, approaching her. Gilles and Lucien, and they were excited. Both entered her sitting room, smelling like confident, powerful men, the outdoors and horses. Gilles sent Elise to her room to don her new riding habit and boots. She'd rushed and was quickly ushered to the stables.

  Elise's new horse had arrived. A gentle young mare Lucien had selected, she had a sweet and shy nature. Keeping her head down and constantly seeking Elise's palm with her nose, she'd enchanted her new mistress.

  "Lucien, she's lovely! What's her name?" Elise giggled as she rested her face against the horse's forehead.

  "She's yours, gorgeous. You can call her whatever you'd like." Lucien pressed an apple into Elise's palm and she gasped as it was carefully plucked from her hand.

  Elise felt a wicked smile fill her face.

  "Calypso. My lovely girl will be Calypso." She announced as Lucien laughed.

  "An inspired choice, my lady. I'll start training her to follow Lucifer during our lessons." He stated as he gave Elise her lead. "We can start by having you walk her around the paddock."

  "When can I start riding her?" Elise asked. Her saddle had arrived the week prior and Elise was immediately put on Lucifer's back and led around. It had been terrifying, feeling nothing around her but air and being constantly in motion but Elise wanted to be able to ride so she swallowed her fear. Lucien walked her on Lucifer's back twice a day. He was always flirting, teasingly, to keep her relaxed and she suspected to irritate Gilles. Most of all, he was gentle and patient. He encouraged Elise and praised her. For the first few days, Gilles watched, resting against the paddock fence. Eventually, he started leaving to tend to any earldom business that needed his attention. Elise didn't mind if it meant he had more time later.

  "You need to get more comfortable riding alone and your Calypso needs to get stronger, learn to carry a rider and follow Lucifer. It'll be months but once you're both ready you'll feel like she was born to carry you." Lucien placed Elise's other arm on his and they started what had been the first of many short walks.

  Elise sighed and returned her attention to her piano. Her life was so full now and everyone that filled it was precious to her in their own way. Just she thought the word "precious", Lucy began to whine in the basket next to Elise. She found the puppy's snout and playfully tugged it, then tried to calm her by scratching just above her tail. Daniel hadn't arrived yet to take her so Elise could get ready for dinner and no one else was present to help her walk Lucy. Elise felt the lead in the basket and considered taking Lucy herself. Surely she could manage on her own. As long as they didn't get tangled, it was just like walking in the garden. What was the worst that could happen?

  As she and Lucy turned into the rose section of the garden, Elise sensed that something worse was about to happen. Her pulse hammered, her skin felt clammy and her stomach churned. Lucy wasn't enjoying their outing either. She sniffed and growled, tugging towards the forest.

  "Come along, girl. Let's see if we can find Daniel." Elise tugged at Lucy and turned towards the house. Just then she heard someone emerge from the woods.

  "Hello? Who's there?" Elise called, trying to sound relaxed and confident.

  "Sorry, My Lady. I just came to trim the lilies, don't mind me."

  Elise tensed and pulled on Lucy's lead. She was tugging, trying to get at the stranger. Elise wanted to get back to the house quickly. She knew this man was lying. She knew all of the estate staff's voices and that lilies didn't grow outdoors in the garden. He smelled like leather, soap and horse. There was no soil, moss or other greenery about him. He was no gardener.

  She turned to run and felt him grab her, an arm circling around her as a sharp point pressed into her ribs.

  "Easy there, princess. Just come with me and I promise you'll live." He began dragging Elise towards the forest and she opened her mouth to yell. The blade pressed more forcefully. "Don't make a sound, not yet. If you do, they'll find you and your puppy bleeding to death in your lovely garden."

  Elise tried to keep track of how many steps she'd taken from the roses and how ma
ny times he turned but the rocks, sticks and thorns in the underbrush tore at her feet and she became disoriented.

  "Please, let me go!" Elise begged. "Whatever you want, we can give you. I have money, my husband has money!"

  The man laughed and pulled her deeper into the forest. Terror overwhelmed Elise. Not just because she was being abducted at knifepoint but because she was lost as well. She had no idea where the house was. If she could break free, she wouldn't know where to run.

  "Almost there, lovely. Then you'll scream all you like for your hero to rescue you." He laughed coldly as he hauled her over a branch. Elise's feet dragged over it and she felt her dress catch and snag. She continued brushing against anything she could so her dress would leave threads and pieces so Gilles could find her.

  Elise tired to keep her breathing calm, afraid she'd lose consciousness if she didn't. Lucy continued to follow, growling and barking. She'd hear a muffled growl as Lucy attacked the man's legs and he'd kick her off. Elise would hold her breath until she heard Lucy shake and storm after them. She wasn't going to give up. Elise sent a silent thanks to Gilles. If it weren't for Lucy, Elise would have fallen apart ages ago.

  Finally, the man stopped. Elise heard him turning and moving from side to side.

  "This looks good." He pulled her against him. "Now, lovely, I need you to call out so your husband can find you."

  Elise felt all the warmth leave her body. She realized that she was meant to be a trap and she'd left a trail for Gilles to follow, she shivered and shook her head.