Victor's Vow [Lords of Hawksfell Manor 6] (Siren Publishing Menage Amour) (2 page)

Wilson looked as though a heavy weight had been lifted as he handed over the letter. She placed it beside her plate on the table, eyeing it as she finished drinking her tea. Well, at least she would have an excuse to speak to Victor today. She admitted to herself that it was a comfort to know he would have to pay attention to her, if only on this matter.

It was a pity he would never pay her the particular attention she craved.

* * * *

When Victor came in from his ride she was ready for him. She’d been waiting in the parlor for the past half hour for him to make an appearance. The fire crackled behind the grate, warm and merry, but her hands felt cold. The letter from Lord Hawksfell sat on the table beside her chair, and her head ached from trying to figure out just what possibility it could present. She’d finally just put that darn thing on the table to await Victor’s compelling eyes.

He stalked into the parlor through the glass doors at the back of the house, and her breath caught. The wind had made his cheeks ruddy and he exuded masculine strength. His thick dark hair was dusted with a few snowflakes which sparkled as they rapidly melted. Her pulse leapt and she stifled a sigh.

“Hello, Victor,” she managed to say.

He froze, his dark eyes snapping toward her. “Violet?” He pulled off his gloves with deliberate tugs. “What are you doing here?”

“Here at Ralston House?”

He waved a hand. “No. Here in the parlor.”

“Did you think to avoid me?” She’d tried for a light, teasing tone but flirtation was never her forte. “That is, where did you think I would be?”

“I don’t know.” He shrugged and took off his long coat, placing it over the back of the chair across from her. “The library?”

It was a valid answer. She spent quite a bit of time lost in those books now that she no longer had to care for her aunt.

“Nevertheless, here I sit.” She picked up the letter from the earl. “This came for you.”

He blinked and took a step toward her. Oh, she could smell him now. She held the letter out to him.

“Why do you have it?” he asked, taking the letter and turning it over.

“Wilson didn’t want to leave it in the salver,” she answered with a shrug.

“The Earl of Hawksfell,” he read aloud. He studied the letter and she could tell he was intrigued. His nostrils flared and his fingers traced over the seal. “What could he possibly want?”

“There is one way to find out,” she said.

He lifted his head, pinning her with those eyes. Then he flashed her a curve of his lips that might be considered a smile. “Right.”

He broke the seal and unfolded the paper within. As she watched, a flicker of emotion crossed his rugged features, accompanied by a narrowing of his eyes as he read the earl’s words. His sculpted lips parted for a moment, then pressed into a thin line. “Preposterous.”

She was fairly trembling with curiosity as she considered just what the earl had to say. “What is it, Victor?”

“He wants me to come to Hawksfell Manor.” He dropped the hand holding the letter to his side. “To meet the other Hawk relatives.”

It was her turn to let her mouth gape open. “The other Hawks?”

“Yes, the earl and his brother. As well as a few cousins.”

She heard something in his voice, a wistfulness she’d never heard before. “Never say you’re going.”

His brows drew together. “I don’t suppose I should feel compelled, but…”

Realization struck her then. He
wanted
to meet the other Hawks, despite the lack of any indication he’d ever given in the past. Rising out of her chair, she reached out to touch his arm. “You should go.”

He looked down at her hand, then into her eyes. The floor tilted beneath her and she forced herself to remain still.

“You deserve to have someone else in your life,” she said softly.

“Other than you, you mean?” he asked, his voice rough.

Her throat tightened. “Victor…”

He dropped the letter and grabbed her upper arms. “Violet, are you tired of me?”

She blinked rapidly. Her emotions were a riot inside of her. “What? I don’t understand.”

He brought his face close to hers. “You came here for my mother. You can leave Ralston House at any time.”

Swallowing thickly, she tried to think of a reasonable answer. There was really only one, however. “You know as well as I that I have nowhere else to go.”

He nodded and brought his mouth to hers, his lips brushing over her flesh. She could scarcely breathe. He kissed her, at first quite softly then with a hard press of his mouth before he set her from him.

“Victor?” she managed to ask.

“Nowhere else to go,” he repeated, reaching down to pick up the discarded letter. His eyes were intent on her before he turned away. “That is a pity.”

With long strides, he left the parlor. Sinking back into the chair, she touched her fingertips to her mouth. His taste was like his scent, spicy and hot. She closed her eyes and reveled in the memory of that too-brief kiss.

It was a lamentable truth she couldn’t ignore. That would most likely be the only kiss she ever got from him.

“You look quite pretty standing there, Cabot.”

Cabot Reilly looked over at the new lady’s maid poised against the wall opposite. With auburn hair and deep brown eyes, Ivy was a pretty thing, though she had nothing on her predecessor. No, Lily was a remarkable beauty.

“Lady Hawksfell isn’t in need of your services, Ivy?” he asked, giving her a smile.

Her eyes widened, then her lips tilted in a grin. “Not at present.”

He was adept at flirting. He knew that. More than one girl had fallen into his bed in the past two years since he’d come to Hawksfell Manor. Yet his charm hadn’t gained him anything but frustration with the last maid he’d fancied. No, Lily was now wed to yet another Hawk man.

It seemed that the Hawks who came to visit the Earl of Hawksfell found true love or something or other. He didn’t really hold much to the theory of love, despite the earl’s apparently happy marriage. His parents had certainly never been happy on the farm. Oh, they’d seemed content but he’d never seen any passion there. More than once he wondered if he’d been left at the farm by fairies. Yes, he had his mother’s blonde hair and blue eyes but in mood and temperament he’d always felt out of place.

Here at the manor, though? Here he felt in his element. He was poised to take over the position of first footman, once William vacated it sometime in the near future. William was also involved with a Hawk man, along with the pretty little former parlor maid Posy. Yet another woman put out of his own reach, not that he’d really had chance with either Posy or Lily. No, both those girls had seemed immune to his particular brand of charm. This one, however, seemed ready for a tumble.

“I’m waiting for Mr. Carstairs’ orders, Ivy,” he said, letting his eyes run over her, taking in her crisp uniform and pristine apron. The little lace cap on top of her head was straight and her hair was neat and tidy. “Not all of us have such an undemanding employer.”

Ivy shrugged, an obvious gesture that drew her blouse tight against her ample breasts. “It’s true Lady Hawksfell doesn’t like to be fussed over.” Her eyes ran over the front of his trousers and his body began to react. “I’m content to watch you standing at attention, as it were.”

He waited for the rush of heat the exchange should bring. For his heart to pound as his blood rushed to his cock. It wouldn’t take much to make himself respond to her. She was lovely and built for pleasure. That was certain. Did he want to start up something with another servant, though? For the first time in his memory he didn’t believe so.

He glanced down the hallway and saw that no one was about. He was in the bachelor’s wing, seeing that the rooms were ready for another Hawk to visit within the next few days. These rooms were far from the family bedrooms though, which confirmed his supposition that Ivy was ready for a ride. Not only did she have no business in this part of the house but they were far from any other servants at this time of day. Stepping away from the wall at his back, he came to stand very close to her.

She swayed toward him and placed a hand on his arm. “These rooms are vacant, Cabot.” She licked her full lips. “The manor has no visitors at present.”

He let his body brush against hers. “Never say you want a tumble, Ivy.”

“With you?” Her eyes flared. “Oh, I’ve heard you give a woman a good ride.”

That comment stilled him. She’d heard about him, then. From whom? He’d pleased a good many of the maids and a few of the grooms over the past two years. Though after the business with the earl’s particular rules of employment, he didn’t believe anyone would speak of such matters. Not now that the earl was happily married and no longer needed release from his staff.

“You’ve heard?” He braced his hands on either side of her head and leaned close. “From whom?”

She shrugged, her cheeks going pink. “Not
heard
, precisely. No one would tell me anything about what goes on at the manor.”

“What went on,” he corrected automatically.

He immediately regretted his words. Interest showed in her big brown eyes.

“What went on, Cabot?” she asked, breathless.

He thought for a way out. God, maybe he should just fuck her to shut her up. He felt loyalty to the earl for giving him this position with no experience. He knew he’d been hired because he was tall and considered handsome, as a good footman in a great house should be. If he’d had to please the earl before that business ended, he didn’t want anyone speaking of it. Certainly not this pert maid so newly come to Hawksfell.

“Go below to see if Mrs. Holmes needs your help, then,” he said. He softened the dismissal with another smile. “You’ll find Mrs. Holmes a caring housekeeper and a gentle woman.”
And a person who doesn’t pass or allow gossip in the servants hall.

Ivy nodded even as she blinked in confusion. “She is kind.”

He just stepped away, straightening his jacket. “I’ll see you after dinner service, Ivy.”

She nodded, her eyes downcast now. “Indeed.” With that she left for the stairs down to the servants hall.

He breathed a sigh of relief as he headed in the opposite direction. He could have taken her into one of the guest rooms along this corridor and fucked her until she couldn’t walk straight. It would have shut her inquisitive mouth and eased his own frustrations. As he passed through the family wing and went down the main stairs to the ground floor, he thought about the past months since the earl’s marriage.

More than one damn Hawk had come to the manor, some with their lovers in tow, some with their minds set on stealing one or another member of the earl’s loyal staff. Even as he thought that he knew he wasn’t being fair in the assessment, however. Over the past months quite a few marriages had taken place with a Hawk man at the center. One or the other of that Hawk’s lovers did prove to be a maid or footman, though. It was passing strange. He’d never imagined servants could mingle with people of quality. Yet all he’d seen suggested they’d found love here.

“Love,” he muttered as he reached the servants hall.

“What’s that, Cabot?” Mr. Carstairs asked.

The stout butler was imposing and still frightened Cabot a little bit. “Nothing, Mr. Carstairs.”

“I take it the rooms in the bachelor wing are readied?”

“Yes, Mr. Carstairs. How is this Hawk related to the earl?”

Most of the Hawks were cousins but there was the time the earl’s previously unknown half brother came to stay. He was now Posy’s husband, actually.

The butler bristled, his round face going a little red. “It is not our place to inquire, Cabot.”

Cabot kept his expression even and the butler eased in his rigidity.

“It seems another Hawk cousin is indeed coming for a visit, however,” Mr. Carstairs finished.

For some reason, the confirmation made Cabot feel out of sorts.

“The rooms are ready, Mr. Carstairs,” he said.

The butler nodded. “Good, good. I don’t know if he will arrive alone, however.” His lips thinned. “I believe I’ll have one of the maids see to the rooms near the family wing as well.”

Cabot’s brows rose. A woman was coming as well? He knew he couldn’t ask that question of Mr. Carstairs. The man would turn apoplectic at such open curiosity. Instead, he just nodded and went to see about dinner service. His mind was churning, though.
Was
this newest Hawk coming alone? The last one came with his friend in tow, and both men had swept Lily off her delicate feet. Fucked her, too. Hard and often before making an honest woman of her.

He didn’t fault Lily one bit for succumbing to Graham Hawk’s raw sexuality. He himself had been attracted to all of the Hawks who visited. He was able to admit that to himself. They were all of them much like the earl himself. Big and strong with those compellingly dark Hawk eyes. No doubt all would fall under this new Hawk’s spell upon his arrival, whether he brought a gentleman or a lady with him or arrived alone.

Cabot went to the long table in the common room and settled into a chair. What was it to him if they got up to something?

“Let them fuck Ivy,” he grumbled.

He would just focus on his work and put all thoughts of sex and Hawks out of his mind.

* * * *

Victor sat before the fire the next afternoon, mulling over the response he’d sent to the Earl of Hawksfell. He’d decided to accept the man’s offer and, in a flash of foolishness, added that he wouldn’t be arriving alone. He was going to ask Violet to accompany him. His gut told him it was a big mistake to take her along, yet his heart ached when he thought of her alone in this big house. The memory of the hurt in those gorgeous violet eyes of hers still cut him. “No place else to go,” she’d said. As much as he longed to get away from the temptation she posed every day, he couldn’t leave her here.

He hadn’t broached the subject yet, however. He suspected that, deep down, his motives were less pure on that count. Perhaps if he got her away from Ralston House he could find a way to indulge in a few fantasies without ruining her. Maybe kissing her some more or touching her pussy to make her come. His Hawk beast swiftly rose and he cursed.