Page 19 of Weeping Roses

I offer it to her with a challenge and she faces me off and plucks the glass from my outstretched fingers.

“Fine. Here’s to your imminent departure. May it come sooner than I think.”

She tosses back the spirit and coughs as it hits the back of her throat, causing my men to laugh out loud and the distaste on her face makes me smile as she staggers back and gasps, “That is a truly horrible drink. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have an urgent appointment with a pot of English breakfast tea.”

We watch her bolt for the door and Artem catches my eye and grins. “Lightweight.”

I nod, staring after her with a gleam of interest sparking inside me. She may be a lightweight where drink is concerned, but the challenge in her eyes as she plucked the glass from my hand has only made the game an even more interesting one.

Two hours later and I’m done. Nothing is reaching out to me and it’s been a complete waste of time.

Leaving the men to it, I head back along the path toward the house and note the soft lighting burning in the small office that Polly appears to prefer spending time in.

The scent of something cooking drifts from the kitchen and reminds me how hungry I am. I’m guessing my men are too and we need food as a matter of urgency over anything else right now.

I head for the office and as I open the door, it makes me smile when I see Polly slumped on the desk, her face on the wooden polished surface, a gentle snore telling me she is sleeping deeply.

I take a moment to stare at her and once again appreciate the beauty before me. I’m used to beautiful women, but she has a fire that burns inside her that makes her even more attractive. I note the discarded mug of cold tea and the plate with a few crumbs on it. She is lying on a sheaf of papers that she must have taken from the drawer and I’m curious what she found.

I reach down and run my fingers through her gorgeous silky hair and she stirs, a small moan escaping that heads straight to my cock. I already know I will fuck this woman. It’s a written invitation in her eyes every time she looks at me. I will enjoy every minute of it too before I leave her to head back to my well-ordered life.

I slip the pages from under her and she grunts and then shifts, resuming her position, and I wander over to the window seat and peer at the script on the page.

This isn’t a formal letter, it’s a personal one and my heart beats a little faster when I see who wrote it.

My darling Veronica

How I miss your bright smile that lights my world. Has it really been two long months since I last held you in my arms? I have a favor to ask of you, my love. I know it’s another one, but this is important. I will meet you in Thorn House on the seventeenth of next month and explain everything. Until then, I will count the days and pray for time to pass quickly.

Yours always and forever.

Your devoted

Andrei.

Anger swirls like a vengeful disease in my heart as I stare at the damning piece of evidence. Betrayal swirls around me like a virus, and my anger knows no bounds.

He was having an affair, and this is the evidence of that. If I hoped it was all a mistake, that hope is now lost because all the evidence is pointing to the fact my father was living another life that didn’t include his loving wife and children.

“Valentin.” A soft voice interrupts my pain and Polly crouches before me and takes my hand.

“I’m so sorry.”

She stares into my eyes with concern and then surprises me by reaching up and tenderly stroking my face.

I say nothing and just stare into her gorgeous green eyes that are brimming with concern and say with a ragged breath, “It was true. They were having an affair.”

“I’m so sorry.” She shakes her head. “I found it in a hidden compartment underneath the drawer.”

I raise my eyes and she shrugs. “I watch the movies. It was worth a shot.”

She sighs heavily. “There are several that you may want to read, but they are all much the same. She obviously treasured them because they were tied in a red ribbon and some are smudged, which makes me wonder if she cried onto them.”

She makes to stand and I reach out and grasp her wrist and whisper, “Stay.”

I edge along the window seat and pull her down beside me and stare into her eyes that are brimming with concern.

“I’m struggling with this, Polly.”

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