Page 73 of The Writer
“It will do. Now get on that bed. It’s been too long since I’ve been inside of you.”
~
Ivy wriggling from my arms brings me around, and I reluctantly let her go.
“Oh, shhh, go back to sleep.”
“No. I’m awake now,” I grumble, turning over onto my back.
“Good morning.” She leans back over to kiss me, which doesn’t help with my morning wood situation. Especially when she hops off the bed, in nothing but her birthday suit, and sets about getting ready.
“What’s the plan then?” I ask.
“Oh, yes. We’re off to Tallington today.” Her voice holds an edge of excitement, although about what, I have no idea.
“What’s Tallington?”
“Our family estate. Nobody lives there anymore. Apart from Derek and Betty. They look after it for us. None of us really want to live in a mansion.”
“Yet you have so many.” It’s too early to hide the sarcasm, although I suppose I should get used to this if I'm going to make Ivy my wife.
“Anyway,” she raises her brow at me and smirks a little. “We’ve found a branch of the family we didn’t know about, or rather, Locke confirmed it from the birth certificate the author left, but that’s not enough to solve this puzzle. There’s something missing still, so I want to go to Tallington and have a look at the journals and books kept there. There might be something about this great-great-uncle or his children.”
“You think you’ve missed something?” I ask. She’s been studying these documents for a while; I doubt she’s missed anything of significance.
“I don’t know.” Her voice tails off, as if she’s in thought working out a problem again. “Anyway, it will be nice to introduce you to Seffi. She’ll be there.”
“Your little sister?” I ask, wanting to make sure I have her family straight in my head. There's another sister I'm yet to meet as well, from what I can gather.
“Yep. She’ll be there with Scott Foxton. Who we’re supposed to hate. Foxtons and Brodericks don’t mix.”
“And Seffi’s dating one?” Having experienced the warnings and her protective brother and father, I can only imagine what would happen to a guy the family was supposed to hate.
“Long story. I can fill you in on the drive up.” She pulls the covers back from me in an attempt to get me moving. “Up. I want to get going.”
“Are you going to take the ring?” I ask, wondering if she’s thought about it anymore.
She doesn’t answer, but does sashay into the bathroom.
~
Despite my persuasion technique of ambushing Ivy in the shower, she wouldn’t agree to let me drive her precious car. We set off, but I keep half an eye on the mirrors. It wouldn’t be hard to spot her car if anyone was waiting for us around Earlwood. She might be focused on putting the family tree together, but I don’t yet see the connection to the wider problems we’ve faced. And, until all of this is wrapped up in a bow, I can’t see Ivy giving much attention to anything else.
She talks most of the way there. First, Seffi and how she’s been living in Paris with Scott Foxton for the best part of three months after they fell in love. As I thought, the rest of the family weren’t impressed with that call.
“Are Landon and Willow joining us?”
“Yep. He can go stuff his meetings up his arse. I need him here to keep Seffi occupied while we go digging around. And her being here was his idea so he can do his part.” She shrugs.
“And Landon and Scott are alright? You know, with the Foxton thing?”
“Not really, but hey, we're family at the moment, and when the shit hits the fan, we pull together.” I guess I'm going to see more of how this family really gets along. Which is fucking tiring, but an interesting prospect for our future.
“And here we are.”
She turns into a long driveway that leads up to an impressive mansion, and we wind through the grounds until the size of the place is front and centre in my eyeline. Family estate is right. This place is like something out of an Austen novel. Huge towering wings dominate either side of the main building. Blackening stone hiding what would have been cream and bright.
Two people, I can only assume to be Derek and Betty, walk out to greet us as she swings the car around and cuts the ignition. She gets out, instantly giving Betty a hug the second she can.
