The Folly (17 page)

Chapter
31

Elizabeth awoke to see sunshine streaming through the leaded window
,
and looked around
in confusion
.  Jeremy was nowhere to be seen and his things were not in the room.  She looked at the carriage clock on the mantel.  It showed just after nine
,
and she realized that she must have slept straight through the night.  She felt rested and restored
,
ready to face the day. 
Elizabeth
rang for the maid to help her dress and do her hair
,
and went downstairs.
  Jeremy and the Colonel were in the dining room having breakfast
.  They
both sprang to their feet as soon as she entered.

“Good morning,
Mrs. Sutton
.  I trust you slept well.  Please help yourself to some breakfast from the sideboard.  Peters, get
Mrs. Sutton
some fresh tea.” 
The Colonel seemed very welcoming
,
and
Elizabeth
felt something unclench in her belly.  Whatever Jeremy had told him seemed to be the right thing.

Elizabeth took some eggs, a fried
tomato
and mushrooms
,
avoiding the sausage and kippers.  She sat down as Peters brought her a fresh pot of tea and a rack of toast.  She was famished.  The Colonel rose from the table. 

“Please excuse me, I have some business in the village, but I
’
ll see you both later.”  He bowed stiffly and
departed
, leaving them alone. 

“You look rested,
Lizzie
.  I didn’t have the heart to wake you last night.  You were sleeping so peacefully.  I just told Hugh that you were tired from the journey.  I slept in the adjoining room so as not to disturb you.”  Jeremy seemed happy and relaxed
,
and
Elizabeth
began
to relax as well.  After nearly two weeks on the road, she craved some fresh air and
exercise
,
and asked Jeremy to go for a walk with her.  She
followed Jeremy out
to the garden
after finishing her breakfast
.  It was surprisingly artful
and well kept.  Elizabeth
Jeremy’s arm and
strolled among the neatly clipped hedges. 
She
was anxious to hear
about
Jeremy’s conversation with Hugh Brand.

“Don’t worry,
love
.  I explained the situation to Hugh and he is happy to help us.  He
’
s invited us to stay with him for as long as we like.  I think he
’
s longing for a bit of company aside from the servants.  What do you think?”

“Did you tell him the truth?”

“I did.  I couldn’t ask for his help while lying to him.  He understands.  We
’
ll be known as
the Colonel’s friends,
Mr. and Mrs. Sutton, since that was my father’s surname.  No one needs to be told anything more.”  Jeremy gave her a conspiratorial smile.  “It seems Hugh is conducting an affair
of his own
, so he
is
more than sympathetic. 

I asked him to recommend a ta
i
l
or and a
seamstress
,
and he
’s offered to
assign a maid for your personal use.  It seems that Kitty has been longing to improve her situation, so Hugh thought she might make a good lady’s maid for you.  Would you like that?”

“Yes, that’s very considerate of him.  Jeremy, how are we for money?”  Elizabeth hadn
’
t asked Jeremy before about their financial situation, but she was worried. 

“Don’t worry, my love.  I have everything in hand.  I
’
ll no longer have the allowance from Henry, but I
have
plenty saved from my wages.  There wasn’t much to spend money on during a time of war.  I
’
ve withdrawn everything
, so
we have enough money to live on comfortably for the rest of our lives.  Leave everything to me.  You just take care of yourself and the baby.” 

Chapter
32

The church clock had just struck 10p
.
m
.
when Hugh Brand alighted from his
curricle
,
looking
furtively up and down the dark street.  There was no one about at that late hour
,
and he threw Archie a few coins, instructing him to go to the nearest pub for a pint and return in two hours.  A light rain was falling
making
Hugh eager to get inside.  The brick house
looked
solid
and imposing
among several others just like it
, the light of a gas lamp piercing the darkness and bathing the front steps in a warm glow. 
Hugh walked up the path and knocked three times, paused, and knocked twice more.  The black-painted door was opened at last by a fleshy thug who looked ill at ease in his black suit. 

             
“Right this way, Colonel,” the man said, directing Hugh to an elegant parlor.  The room was already occupied by several young ladies, who lounged around while Rose
plucked out
a romantic tune on the pianoforte.  Hugh always enjoyed coming into the parlor.  Decorated in shades of mauve and
cream,
it made him feel surrounded by warmth and luxury
.  H
e smiled at the girls, his eyes traveling to Jeanne, who returned his smile shyly and glanced at him through lowered lashes. 
The
apricot gown accentuated her mocha skin and rosy lips
,
and Hugh felt himself
stir just
thinking of the delights that awaited him once he took her upstairs. 

Jeanne was from somewhere in the West Indies, a mulatto born to a black mother and a white father.  She was by far the most exotic of the girls and Hugh hadn’t been with anyone but her
,
since Rachel acquired her a few months back.  He was more than ready to take her upstairs to her bedroom, but business came before pleasure
,
and he turned to Rose, who was usually in charge in the absence of Rachel.

“Rose, I would see Rachel.  It’s rather important.” 

Rose stopped playing and swept out of the room
,
expecting Hugh to follow.  Hugh bowed to the girls
,
following Rose into
the darkened corridor and up the stairs.  Rachel had her private
parlor
on the second floor at the back of the house
,
and very few people ever got to visit her there.  It was her private sanctum, but Hugh was a frequent visitor.  Rose rapped on the door gently and turned to leave.  The rest was up to him. 

Hugh heard Rachel bidding him to enter
,
and let himself into the room.  Rachel had decorated the room in
rose
and gold, creating the perfect backdrop for her dramatic beauty.  She was tall and lithe
,
with
masses
of ebony hair piled high on her head and dark, almond-shaped eyes that missed very little.  Rachel’s cerise silk gown showcased her dark looks
, drawing
the eye to the creamy breasts spilling over the square bodice.  Rachel put down the pipe she was smoking and beckoned for Hugh to sit down.

“Good evening, my dear Colonel.  It’s a pleasure to see you.  May I offer you a drink?”

“Brandy, please.  You
’r
e looking lovely, Rachel.”

“Thank you.  To what do I owe the honor?  Has Jeanne displeased you in some way, Hugh?”  Rachel handed him a crystal glass filled with the amber liquid and took one for herself, raising it to her lips slowly. 

“No, Jeanne is exquisite.  I congratulate you again on finding her.  Where did you say she came from?”  Hugh took a sip and watched Rachel’s face.

“I didn’t say.  You know I don’t discuss my girls’ private lives.  I hear she is quite a favorite of yours.  She is rather talented, isn’t she?”  Rachel’s eyes narrowed as she took another sip of brandy, clearly waiting to hear why Hugh was really there.

“Rachel, Jeremy Flynn is here.”  He enjoyed seeing the shock on her lovely face.  It wasn’t easy to catch Rachel off guard. 

“Why?”

“Our brave captain has run off with his father’s young wife
,
and is now staying with me
at Tower House
.”  Hugh’s eyes never left Rachel’s, enjoying her discomfiture.

“Did you invite him here?” Rachel asked, setting down her glass on the polished end table. 

“No, he asked if he may come and stay for a while.  I could hardly say no under the circumstances.”

“Get rid of him, Colonel.”

“Are you suggesting I kill him?”  Hugh felt goose bumps as he gave her an appraising look.  Rachel had never asked that of him before.

“I am suggesting that Captain Flynn would be better off someplace else.  I am not a murderess, Hugh.  However, should some unfortunate accident befall him, I might be interested in acquiring his lady friend.  No doubt she is young and beautiful
,
and would make a fine addition to my stable.”

“You are ruthless, Rachel. 
Lady Elizabeth
is the wife of a
b
aronet.  She is hardly a whore.”  Hugh chuckled at Rachel’s brazen suggestion. 

“If I understood you correctly, the young lady ran off with her stepson, making her an object of scandal and ridicule.  If her lover were to perish, she would be left with nothing and no one to support and protect her.  What do you think sends women into prostitution, the desire to be used by numerous men until they get old, lose their looks and wind up on the street?”  Rachel smirked and picked up her glass again, taking a long sip as she watched Hugh over the rim. 

“Point taken, my dear.  I’ll see what I can do in that respect.  She is quite beautiful, I assure you, but she
’
s with child.”

Rachel shrugged her shoulders.  “That’s no great impediment.  Children can be gotten rid of.  Now run along.  You’ve kept Jeanne waiting long enough.  I
’
ll be expecting to hear the good news soon, hmm?”  She rose from her damask upholstered settee and walked to the door, making it clear that the interview was over. 

Hugh was only too glad to leave.  He had delivered his message
,
and now he was ready for a more pleasant diversion.  He
bypassed the parlor and went straight up the stairs to Jeanne’s room.  She was already there, wearing nothing but a sheer wrapper over her supple form.  Hugh could see the glint of the gold hoops in her dark nipples
,
and instantly grew hard.  He didn’t know if women from that part of the world routinely pierced their nipples, but he found the effect terribly erotic, as well as the fact that Jeanne meticulously removed all her body hair,
leaving
her skin silky and smooth to the touch. 

Hugh sucked in his breath
as
she came closer and ran her tongue over his lips, beginning to undress him slowly.  She smelled of jasmine and woman and he smiled, anticipating the pleasure she was about to give him.  Jeanne removed the rest of his clothes, giving his hard cock a look of appreciati
on
,
before pushing
him toward the bed
and tying
his wrists and ankles to the posts with silk scarves.  Hugh moaned
with pleasure
as Jeanne straddled his chest
,
then moved higher, positioning herself right above his face.  As Hugh ran his tongue over her flesh, he forgot all about his conversation with Rachel
,
giving
himself up to the lust surging through him.
 

Chapter
33

Rachel Hilson waited for the door to close behind Colonel Brand
,
before rising to add another splash of brandy to her glass
,
and settling herself on the fainting couch in front of the glowing hearth.  She stared at the reflection of the flames sending ripples of light through the amber liquid, her mind a thousand miles away.  She
’
d seen the look of satisfaction on Hugh’s face when he announced the arrival of Jeremy Flynn
,
and she hated him for it.  He thought he could hurt her and it delighted him. 

The truth was that Rachel never really blamed Flynn for Josiah’s death.  The man had a filthy temper and no honor, despite being a gentleman and an officer.  Shooting Captain Flynn in the back after the duel had been an act of criminal stupidity
,
and she secretly thought Hastings had gotten what he deserved, even if she didn’t. 

Rachel did, however, blame Jeremy Flynn for rejecting her.  She had never wanted a man as much as she wanted him
,
and his refusal had wounded her deeply.  Her last desperate attempt to seduce him had resulted in the ill-fated duel, but it was really her pride that got killed. 

Rachel had snuck out of Josiah’s tent while he was in a drunken stupor
,
and climbed into Jeremy’s bed.  He might have been indifferent to her flirtation, but no man had ever resisted her touch.  Rachel had watched him sleep for a minute, marveling at his masculine beauty and the power he had over her.  His face was relaxed in sleep, long dark lashes brushing his lean cheeks.  He was naked to the waist
,
and she ran her fingers over his muscled chest before sliding her hand into Jeremy’s underwear
,
wrapping her fingers around his cock.  A few strokes and he would be awake and panting for her, the way Josiah always did.  She began to stroke him, her movements practiced and sure, as he grew hard in her hand. Rachel watched his face, anticipating his surprise and passion
,
panting with her own need. 

Jeremy opened his eyes and looked at her, not with desire, but with disgust, taking her hand and removing it from his stiff cock. 

“I believe you are in the wrong tent, Miss Hilson.  Now, if you would be so kind as to leave.” 

Rachel had been speechless with humiliation when an enraged Josiah burst into the tent, challenging Flynn to pistols at dawn.  Captain Flynn threw her a filthy look before accepting the challenge
,
then
throwing both her and Hastings out of his tent.  Rachel felt a fresh wave of humiliation as she remembered that night and reached for her glass, taking another sip.  That was a long time ago and she had to be practical.  She knew that Hugh Brand would not kill Flynn.  Killing men in battle was one thing, but to kill a man
in
cold blood was not his style.  He was too much of a coward for that.  The best she could hope for was that Hugh would find a way to get rid of Flynn and his stepmother. 

Just thinking of Jeremy’s “wife” brought a smile to Rachel’s lips.  She might have wanted revenge at one point, but it seemed like Jeremy Flynn had done a spectacular job of ruining his own life.  Running away with his own stepmother
,
ensured that he would lose his inheritance and reputation.  Not many people could live down a scandal of that magnitude.  She wondered at the girl who captured Jeremy’s heart.  She must be something very special indeed to inspire such devotion from such a controlled man. 

It would be the most delicious justice if she could get Lady Elizabeth to whore for her after Flynn had been dealt with.  She would be defiant at first, but then she would have no choice, just like Rachel herself
hadn’t
.  If she wanted to survive
,
she would have to earn her living and eventually learn to spread her legs for her clients like a good girl.  After all, what else could she do if Flynn was gone?  Her husband would not take her back
,
and her parents would be shamed by the association.  Rachel stretched out on the couch smiling at her fantasy.  She doubted it would happen, but it was fun to contemplate.