Page 9 of Tainted Reasoning

Chapter Four

Tamara

The chauffeur opens the door for me while William comes around and offers me his hand to hold, so I can ease myself with ladylike dignity into the car. William’s palms are clammy, and when he comes to sit beside me, I can see the trepidation etched on his handsome face. His jawline is square, dotted with the stubble of a day-old growth, and his dark brown hair is trimmed short at the sides and shaggy on top. His brother has the air of pristine grooming, but William is more natural. He’s the type of person who can roll out of bed, have a quick wash, clean their teeth, and look catwalk ready. At the moment, though, he looks ready to climb out of his own skin. His left hand is flicking at his ear, then the top of his head while his legs bounce up and down in a rhythm known only to him.

“William,”–I reach out to take his right hand– “Is everything ok?”

He gives me a wry smile.

“You can talk to me,” I offer a little more reassurance, but he won’t look me in the eye.

“The world moves so fast in a car,” he says, staring out of the window. Turning my own head to observe the lush green fields of the countryside change into the densely populated suburbs of west London, I hold my breath while we weave down the once familiar streets toward my childhood home. I guess it does move fast, changing so quickly. The calmness I’ve been feeling disintegrates into nerves.

“You’re not used to traveling like this, are you?” I ask. Victoria has told me a great deal about William. For most of his twenty-eight years, he’s been hidden away, rarely leaving his bedroom let alone his home. To suddenly have all this freedom must make him feel agoraphobic as the intensity of the different sights, sounds, and smells overwhelm him. I’m aware of his autism diagnosis and how that can heighten his senses in comparison to those not on the spectrum, leaving him with a fear of unknown danger in these sorts of situations.

“No. I’ve been in a car only a handful of times in my life, and I can’t drive one.” He looks toward the driver who is indicating to make a right turn. William’s eyes narrow with the ticking of the indicator as if the noise is too loud for him even though it’s barely audible to me. “The first time I left with Victoria to rescue Nicholas, I didn’t really think about what I was doing other than getting to my brother. But the second time, they had to virtually tranquilize me to get me to our destination…there’s too much stimulation. I don’t think I want to drive a car. I’d prefer to have my driver do it. With all the noises and movement, it’s a lot to concentrate on, and even though it’s easing, I still feel nervous.”

“I can understand that. I don’t like driving in London anyway. The drivers are too unpredictable. They could turn left while indicating right…I’ve had that happen to me before. It’s not something you should be scared of, though. Sometimes, car journeys can be beautiful, and at other times insightful. You see different things, which can help you learn and study the world we’re living in. For example, take the fields we just drove by… at the moment they are green, but travel the same road in summer, and they will be scorched yellow with the heat of the sun.”

I stretch out my arm and point to some buildings being constructed. They are halfway to completion, and workmen are sitting on the top of the scaffolding with steaming cups of tea or maybe coffee. “Look at those buildings as well. The last time I came down here there was an old run-down factory from the seventies. It wasn’t really in keeping with the area, so they decided to replace it with luxury accommodation for London’s elite. I remember the Viscount being up in arms about the houses, wanting me to find some legal bylaw or statute to try and stop them being built. He wanted to have the factory demolished and the land converted into green woodland to match the forest area at the back of his property. Unfortunately, the council had a target they had to meet, and this was a perfect opportunity for them.” I chuckle at the thought of Victoria’s father being outwitted for once. When I hear William also emit a soft laugh, I look up at him. He points out of the window at another factory close to the entrance of the long driveway, leading to our destination.

“Maybe I should get Nicholas to purchase that factory and turn it into accommodation for London’s not so elite!”

“Yes!” I exclaim with an evil snigger. “I know everything must be new and overstimulating to you, but truthfully, what you did for Nicholas and Victoria has already shown how strong you can be.”

“Thank you.” William replies and squeezes my hand in gratitude. “How do you want to play this with the Viscount, if we see him?”

My blood runs cold at the mention of the man who willingly sacrificed Victoria to hell on earth. I’m not entirely sure I’ll be able to keep my calm around him. But for the sake of my mother, and a promise I made to Victoria in relation to keeping her brother, Theodore, in ignorance of all matters, I will bite my tongue. If I get time alone with him, though, he’ll get a piece of my mind.

“I don’t want Victoria to be upset, especially after her news this morning… she’s too delicate.” –William and I had left Victoria and Nicholas celebrating the news of a positive pregnancy test– “So I intend to be on my best behavior. I want to check on my mother and persuade her to leave with us. That is all.”

“Good idea. I’ll try to be on my best behavior as well. Though, my brain doesn’t always listen to what I want.”

I wink at him.

“I know. I’ve still not forgotten how you greeted me this morning.”

“Hey, I brought you coffee.” He smirks.

“Yes, and an appraisal of how beautiful my tits were looking.”

“Well, they were.”

We both laugh together, and the earlier tension in the car dissipates just as we pull up to Viscount Hamilton’s home. Once I thought the sun shone out of this place. It was my childhood home. Despite being a single mother with an unwanted pregnancy, Victoria’s father allowed my mother to keep her job and even helped to educate me. I wanted for nothing, and he treated me just like a daughter. In some ways more so than Victoria who he always sheltered, never allowing her to forge her own path in the world. Now we know why! He was part of a secret society who placed no value upon women except for their usefulness as a bargaining chip. It’s a betrayal I feel deeply in my heart, despite not being directly involved. He was like a surrogate father to me, and now it hurts to know the evil lying beneath the surface.

Before I’ve even realized that William has got out of the car, he’s come around to my door and opened it. He holds his hand out for me, and I take it… I could get used to being treated like a lady. I’ve walked on the wild side at university for the last few years, but this feels nice, to be respected and cared for.

“You ready?” he asks.

I nod ‘yes’ and pull toward the servants’ entrance at the rear of the building.

William coughs and refuses to move.

“Where are you going?” he questions and looks toward the main front door.

“I don’t use that entrance unless I’m with Victoria.”

His brows furrow together.

---