Page 32 of Tainted Reasoning

Chapter Fifteen

William

Sitting at the breakfast table shoveling my Weetabix into my mouth, I keep staring down at the small piece of paper in front of me. It’s a picture drawn by Cory from the center the other day. It’s of me and him lying on the floor in the sensory room staring at the lights. We must’ve lain there together for at least half an hour just saying the color of the lights or a variation when they changed. He was really impressed with my knowledge of the color wheel and even more that I knew of a blue-green color called zomp. He’d always wanted to know if you could get a color for every letter of the alphabet. I was hesitant at first when I found out the center was for those on the autism spectrum, but the more time I’ve spent there, the more confident I’ve become. Although at the same time a sadness has developed within me when I see the interactions and the love between the children and their parents, reminding me of what I didn’t have growing up. To be different is not the scandal or embarrassment my father led me to believe. It’s something to be cherished, making the person unique. I need to try and keep that thought in my head.

My brother pops his head over my shoulder. “Good picture, little brother, but I’m not sure you are up to the standard of Van Gogh, just yet. I’m uncertain whether Victoria’s critical eye will accept it as a replacement for the ‘Poppies’.” He laughs at his unfunny joke.

“It’s not mine. It was drawn by one of the children at the day care center,” I reply testily.

“I know.” Nicholas chuckles. “If it was your drawing, it would be so much worse.”

I snort my frustration and folding the picture up, I tuck it in my pocket. I think I’ll get a frame for it and put it up on the wall in my room, later.

“Has Victoria got her head down the toilet again this morning?” I ask my brother with blunt honesty.

“You’ve such a delicate way with words, but you always speak the truth. I left her trying to eat a ginger biscuit to settle her poor stomach. I think I’ll get a doctor out to her today. This has been going on far too long now,” he says, shaking his head. The butler steps forward and pulls out a seat for my brother to take his position at the head of the table for breakfast. “I’ll have two slices of toast with a piece of bacon, two poached eggs, and a large coffee please. The Duchess will also be down in a minute. She’ll have a slice of toast and lemon water please.” My brother turns to me, “What do you think Tamara will want?”

I shrug and push my finished bowl of cereal away.

“Food?”

“Helpful.” He rolls his eyes. “Bring Miss Bennett the same as me, but with one egg.”

“At once, Your Grace.” The butler scurries away.

“I miss Reggie,” Nicholas states flatly. “He would have known immediately what Tamara wanted.

“I know.”

We both fall silent in memory of our previous butler and stand-in father figure who was killed during Victoria’s trials.

“I don’t give a fuck if he’s taking his breakfast. I’ll see him now, or I’ll shove your head through this god damn door.” I instantly recognize the not so dulcet tones of Lord West, coming from out in the hallway.

“He must have received the legal letters from Tamara.” My brother pushes back his chair and prepares to greet our uninvited breakfast guest. I remain seated, continuing to eat my toast.

The dining room door bursts open and ricochets off the wall behind it. An antique vase on a nearby table wobbles but doesn’t fall.

“I will ruin you, Oakfield.” Lord West storms into the room. He’s dressed in a navy blue, formal suit and brandishes an umbrella in his hand.

“I believe it is you who’ll be ruined, West,” my brother replies with a bored nonchalance. “In accordance with the letter, unless you comply with the new rules of the society, you will be ejected and will forfeit assets to pay the subsequent fines as a result.”

“I’ll do nothing of the fucking sort. Just because you’re too much of a wimp to run the society as it should be and has always been, it doesn’t mean we’ll allow you to ruin all our hard work and fun.”

“Fun!” my brother spits out. “Have you met my wife and seen all the trials she had to go through.”

Lord West smirks. “Yes, I’ve met her, and I seem to remember how good her perky little tits felt in my hands. Shame I never got a chance to savor her pussy.”

Nicholas steps forward, prepared to make Lord West pay for his statement, but I’m on my feet quickly and place myself between the two.

“No,” I tell my brother. “He’s baiting you.”

“Yeah, Nicholas. Listen to your freak of a brother. Hit me and I’ll have you arrested for assault. Another reason for me to gather a ‘no confidence’ vote in you as the leader.” West waits a heartbeat before continuing to antagonize my brother. “I’m sure Viscount Hamilton would make a perfect new leader. After all he’ll be able to keep his bitch of a daughter in control better than you can.”

My brother struggles harder in my arms, and I’m on the verge of not being able to control him when I hear Tamara’s authoritative voice. Seeing her so near to this man, and knowing what he’s capable of, sends shivers down my spine.

“Lord West.” Tamara steps into the room with her head held high while Victoria lingers in the doorway behind her, looking white as a sheet. Tamara’s dressed in a tight skirt and blouse with a jacket over it. Her long black hair is pulled back in a bun at the nape of her neck, and she looks every inch the professional lawyer… fuck…she's hot as hell. “I must advise you that I’ve just recorded every word of slander you’ve made against my client, the Duchess of Oakfield.” She holds up her phone, and I can’t help but smirk at her genius. “In it, you’ve also admitted to touching the Duchess inappropriately. I’m sure if she were to give me a statement to that effect, then a court of law might find you guilty of sexual assault. Furthermore, should His Grace, the Duke of Oakfield, escape his brother’s restricting arms and feel the need to administer a punch to your face – one, which given his strength and current demeanor, would be likely to damage your good looks via a broken nose, then I’m sure a court of law would also find he had due cause to protect his wife’s good character and person. Especially having heard your previous admission of sexual assault upon her person.” Tamara moves closer to Lord West as I let go of Nicholas who’s stopped struggling in my arms. I step back into the shadows and can feel myself getting hard at Tamara’s majestic display. I’ve thought her a weak woman before, but here in this room, she’s commanding and authoritative. It’s the biggest turn on ever. She could match me blow for blow in a duel of words. Maybe she is the woman for me and could handle the darkness within me.

“I suggest you leave this place immediately. At the very least, the recording I’ve made will be enough to have a restraining order put in place against you. I’m certain that would affect your ability to continue as an active member of the Oakfield Society despite its unlawful conception and activities.” Standing directly in front of Lord West, Tamara places both of her hands on her hips and stares him down.

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