CHAPTER 556: WEDDING BELLS ... OR NOT (2)

The estate was quiet as usual at that time of night, but deep within the north wing, the silence was broken. This was because no one wanted to see an angry or upset Geneva. She was something else in those states, and for this evening, no sooner had she set her teacup down to enjoy the thought of her new future grandchild, when Erik’s report had reached her.

Two figures, one trembling, the other too proud for their own good, had been shoved forward by Erik after he was given audience. The younger woman, a maid with downcast eyes and clenched fists, stumbled first.

This was the person who had tried to deter Alicia from getting into Brad’s room. Behind her, another with smug arrogance tried to straighten her dishevelled shawl, which was the only thing she had managed to get to cover her almost naked body after she had taken off her clothes for Brad. This was Tammy.

At the end of the room sat Geneva, in green-blueish robes that shimmered with understated authority. She didn’t even look at them at first and just sipped her tea, mildly annoyed at the interruption of her alone time with her husband, but it was Alex, who understood the depth of her emotions at that time. He took a backseat and let her handle such matters as she had done for the entirety of her life.

When she finally did raise her eyes, the air shifted.

"So," she began, voice even and deadly calm, "I hear we nearly had a scandal tonig-" then she paused, not bothering to mask that irritation, especially when it finally dawned on her the probable implications for their actions. She set down the teacup with a loud thump,

"So, you mean these foolish ones tried to foil my plans? ... MY PLANS!!!!!! WHO GAVE YOU THE AUDACITY!"

Geneva spat out.

"... and where are all of them when they are needed!"

Erik cleared his throat, not sure how to answer this. He had debated reaching out to Geneva on this that late into the night, because even he could smell Geneva’s hands in Brad and Alicia’s situation, so though he had been instructed to take care of the two maids, he still wanted to ensure that it was done per the former matriarch’s way.

Erik had still done his due diligence that night, but he was unable to reach Suzie or Currey, no matter how many times he tried. As this was a domestic issue, it fell under Suzie’s jurisdiction, but Erik knew better than to disturb Ian and his wife after they had retired for the night, so that only left the Seniors.

Standing there, with his head lowered, he was glad that he had listened to that inner voice. Because he thought he had seen it all, but the tone and aura coming from the older woman were starting to make him sweat in places that he never thought were possible.

Alex sat not far from his wife, shaking his head at the fact that young people were always impulsive about everything!

Tammy finally choked on a breath, while the other was still shaking so much that no comprehensible words could come out of her. Erik smirked until Geneva turned her gaze on him, and a semblance of it was gone.

"I sent you there with a simple task, and you tried to take advantage of that?"

The maid opened her mouth, but Geneva raised a hand.

"Do not insult us with lies. You were heard. You were seen. And did you think that climbing into my son’s bed would secure you a place in this family? I think you have too many delusions!"

Then Geneva turned to the shivering one,

"... and YOU!"

"Please," the maid whispered. "I didn’t mean for it to go that far... I just-"

In fact, it was she who had been given the instructions that evening, but had looped Tammy in, as she knew Tammy’s wishes and the promise that she would be elevated in status to head maid, should Tammy succeed.

"Oh, I believe you. I believe your small, selfish mind never thought that far, but you forgot one thing, we; we have no use for staff who cannot follow simple instructions!"

Silence stretched. Then Geneva’s eyes softened ... barely.

"We could just make you disappear ... yeah, maybe we should," she continued,

Loud wails sounded at this,

"P-lease... I – It- won’t happen again.... Have mercy...!"

".... but that would be too swift."

Geneva interrupted as if she had not heard of her cries.

"Instead, you’ll serve at the roots under the overseer there. She has a particular talent for... humbling disloyal staff. And you," she looked to Tammy, "will be escorted to the docks and put on the first boat off this island to where you were brought from. If I hear of you again..."

She let the silence finish the threat.

Both maids collapsed on the ground. ’Serve at the roots’ just meant that she was demoted to the lowest of the lowest and would be subject to the dirtiest and most challenging work that no one wanted to do willingly.

But at least, she had a way out to work up the ropes if she was on good behaviour. Tammy, on the other hand, was done for. Because being sent off the island to the unknown had killed all her chances ever!

With a quick call, two guards knocked and entered. A sharp look from Geneva and even Alex silenced all protests. The maid looked back once, remorse written across her face, but found no sympathy in anyone. Tammy was in shock to the point of being unable to react.

"Make sure that she never returns to the island!"

"Yes, ma’am!"

"... and learn to deal with such menial issues on your own!"

Erik smiled wryly and bowed before leaving the room as well.

When the doors shut behind them, Alex asked quietly, "Was that not too merciful?"

Geneva sighed, leaning back.

"It’s just getting rid of wannabes. That shouldn’t take too much effort from us."

Then she smiled, "I like Fanny more and more. The fact that she punched the daylights out of that maid shows that she cares for Brad. I think we did well this time...."

Alex nodded, moving closer to her.

***

The morning rays filtered through the light drapes. Shelby stirred beneath the soft, rumpled sheets, the scent of early morning and familiar cologne wrapping around her like a second blanket. The room was quiet, save for the distant chirping of birds and the occasional sigh of wind through the open window.

Ian’s arm was draped protectively over her waist and under her slightly protruding belly, his chest warm against her back, breathing deep and steady. She didn’t move right away. Instead, she smiled, eyes still half-closed.

Of course, he had carried her here. At this point, she was not even surprised anymore. She had fallen asleep curled up on the parlour couch the night before. She remembered the quiet lull of conversation, the gentle nature sounds playing in the background from the open door, and his soft voice asking if she was tired.

Now, here she was, curled up in the warmth of his arms.

She tilted her head slightly, catching the curve of his jaw in the corner of her vision—dark stubble, a faint crease between his brows even in sleep. Her fingers twitched, tempted to trace the outline of his face.

"You’re staring," he murmured, voice low and sleep-gravelled, without even opening his eyes.

Her smile widened. "I thought you were asleep."

"I was. But then someone sighed like they were in a dream sequence from a romance novel." He shifted closer, pulling her in until her back was snug against his chest.

She turned with difficulty, facing him now.

"I love looking at you sleep," she whispered playfully.

"I know you do," he said without missing a beat, nuzzling and kissing her forehead, while moving slightly back so not to press on the tummy and the little guy who liked to kick whenever he was close.

She laughed softly, looking up to his face, him now, eyes half-lidded with sleep and contentment. "I didn’t even hear you lift me."

"You never do," he said, brushing a stray strand of hair from her forehead. "That’s how I know you trust me."

Her gaze softened. "With everything."

There were no grand declarations, no dramatic music, just the comfort of skin against skin, breath against breath, and the quiet joy of waking up exactly where she belonged. Shelby had missed that and never tired of it.

She chuckled softly against his chest, fingers lazily tracing circles along his collarbone and then slipping to the back of his neck, caressing it softly. "We should be getting ready for the wedding," she murmured.

He grunted in protest, tightening his arm around her. "We’re not the officials in charge," he said, voice still thick with sleep but firm with purpose. "Besides, my Elfin needs her rest... and she is playing with fire."

He added the last part in a low growl as he tried to keep himself in check, because when Shelby caressed the back of his neck that way, he almost always lost his reasoning with desire.

She smiled at the way he said, knowing exactly what she was doing and wanting him as well.

His hand started caressing her back, inching dangerously down, but telling her he desired her as much. Shelby shivered and went bolder, touching those points that she knew would make him go crazy.

"But it’s your only brother’s wedding," she teased.

"And he’ll live. Besides, he doesn’t need me for his wedding to go on... I never made it for mine!"

His displeasure at the memory made her laugh, pressing a kiss to his jaw. "You’re terrible."

"Terribly in love with you," he whispered smugly, dropping little kisses all over her.

She rolled her eyes at the cheesiness, but her heart swelled all the same. She sighed and relaxed fully into him, savouring the warmth, the stillness, until ...

"Ian ... I think I felt Murray last night. Is he-"

Knock-knock-knock. A rapid, urgent thudding at the door interrupted them.

Shelby froze, but Ian just went on with what he was doing, kissing her, with his hands caressing her all over.

*********

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