The Hands of Time (11 page)

“What are you two looking so pleased about?”  Finn strode into the dining room, looking as if I wasn’t the only one who
’d
wanted
a bath.  His hair was still slightly
damp
,
and he
’
d changed into a clean shirt and pants and a different doublet, this one in dark brown. 

“We are going to the Midsummer Night Ball at Lord Weston
’s estate
,
” I
announced, “and Alec has bought me a gown.”

Finn gaped at his brother for a moment
,
before turning
to smile at
me.  “If Alec bought you a gown, then it
is
up to me to provide the jewels.  Now all you need is a story.”

“Not to worry, I have it all worked out,” chimed in Alec.  “We will simply tell everyone that she is our cousin from
Virginia
.  She can be one of Uncle Thomas’s daughters.  No one has ever met any of them, so no one would raise an eyebrow.” 

“Splendid idea.  Or maybe we can introduce her as my
fiancée
.”  A hush fell over the room
,
as the two brothers faced each other over the table.  I got the impression that this wasn’t a joke.  Finn was
openly
laying
claim
,
and Alec suddenly looked as if someone had punched him in the stomach.  I felt it was time to intervene.

“I think being your cousin is a much better idea, that way I can pay an equal amount of attention to both my handsome escorts
,
and no one would think anything of it. 
Come to think of it, I think I’
ll require some dance instruction.  I am not used to dancing.”

That broke the tension and they instantly offered to teach me the latest dances. 
“We
will
ask John to play for us tomorrow
,
and you can have your dance lesson. He is quite skilled with the lute
,
” 
suggested Finn. 

I found that both of them were watching me and I
felt my cheeks begin to redden again
.  Something happened in
the
dining room this evening
,
and it wasn’t just an invitation to a ball.  I suddenly felt that if they
’
d been
dogs, they would be pushing each other out of the way to pee on me to mark their territory.  I had to admit to myself that secretly
,
I was very
flattered
.  How many women had two good
-
looking men fighting for their affections
,
but I
had to be very careful
,
because not many women share a house with the men in question and depend on them for their very survival.

Chapter 1
5

I woke up, my heart pounding like a drum
,
and held my breath, afraid of making a noise.  There it was again, the sound of stealthy footsteps that stopped right outside my door.  I watched the
doorknob
, waiting for it to turn, but the footsteps resumed, walking away down the hall.  Who could it be?  There were only four of us at the castle during the night.  Betty slept upstairs on the top floor, Finn and Alec on the floor above me, and anyway
,
the steps sounded too light to belong to a man.  Mr. and Mrs. Dobbs had their own cottage on the grounds
,
and Robbie preferred to sleep above the stable with the horses. 

I took some deep breaths to relax
,
and my heart
eventually
began to return to its normal pace.  Just as I began to drift off again, the footsteps returned, only this time
,
they were heavier, definitely belonging to another person.  I watched the
doorknob
turn
as
Finn slid into the room wearing only a pair of
breeches
and a linen shirt.  His feet were bare
and his hair fell to his shoulders, released from its customary thong.

“You nearly gave me a heart attack,
” I
said accusingly.  “Why are you creeping around the house at night?  Did you come here a few minutes ago?”

Finn gave me a strange look.  “I just came down now.  There is no one else here except us, Alec and Betty
,
and I am sure they are sound asleep.  I was the only one lying
awake, longing for you.”  With that he pulled me close to him and slid his hand under my nightdress.   “I meant what I said earlier.  I want us to be wed as soon as possible.”

“Finlay, you barely know me.  What’s the urgency?”

“I know you well enough, my sweet,” he said sliding his hand between my legs and making me gasp, “and I see no reason to wait. 
I want you
,
and based on your response to me, I think you want me too.  You might already be with child for all we know, so we should make it legal in the eyes of God and man.  What better reasons are there to be married?”  I thought love was a good reason, but this was a different place and a different time
,
and Finn would not be the first man to confuse lust with love.  I had no doubt that he desired me, but I wasn’t sure that love entered into it.  I
desired him too, but I wanted his love as well.  As for the phantom child, there was no danger of that, so I wasn’t worried about being an unwed mother. 

“Finn, I need a little time.  Will you give me that?”  Finlay pulled me on top of himself,
impaling
me and moving my hips with his strong hands
,
making me moan with pleasure. 

“As you wish,
m
y
l
ady.  I am not going anywhere and at the present, neither are you.”

Chapter 1
6

Alec rolled onto his back groaning with frustration.  He had been tossing and turning for hours, but sleep would not come.  The house had been quiet as a tomb
,
until he heard the floor in Finn’s room creaking
as he got out of bed
,
and snuck barefoot
past his own door toward the stairs.  No doubt he was going to see Valerie.  He was probably in her bed right now, caressing her, tasting her
,
and sheathing himself in her willing body.  The attraction between them was undeniable
,
and he knew that he had lost before he
had
even begun.   The ironic thing was that he
had not
been interested in a woman since the death of Violet.  He had known her since she was a girl
,
and she had always been the one for him.  Finn
talked
him
in
to
going to a
brothel a month before his wedding, convincing him that he couldn’t go to his bride a virgin.  He would embarrass himself and turn her off to the act of love if he didn’t know what he
was
doing and he went
obediently
,
getting a very thorough education from a buxom blond named Millie.  

He
had not
looked at another woman since
Violet
,
and
finding
himself wanting Valerie came as a shock. 
It wasn’t just her beauty that attracted him, he had plenty of pretty girls paraded in front of him since the death of his wife, it was some other
quality
he couldn’t quite name.  There was
a
vulnerability
about her, coupled with quick wit, curiosity
,
and natural warmth.    Finn had obviously found a way to break through her reserve, drawing her out
,
and winning her love.  He only hoped his brother would not break her heart.  He had a habit of getting bored with his toys
, throwing
them into a corner never to be played with again.  Many a hopeful woman ended
up
on this pile
,
to be replaced by another within a short time. 
It seemed different this time though.  Finlay must be genuinely in love if he proposed introducing Valerie as his
fiancé
e
.  Perhaps he truly meant to marry her. 

The thought of marriage and wedding nights brought him back to his own predicament. 
His cock was hard as a rock
,
and he needed release if he was to find any peace tonight.  Images of Valerie
with Finn
tormented him
,
as he took himself in hand and stroked quickly and
rhythmically
, breathing heavily until his demons were exorcized.
 

Chapter 1
7

The gown was lovely.  Alec must have put some thought into it
,
because it couldn’t be more perfect for my coloring.  It was made of satin, the color changing from a deep blue to violet with every shift of the light
,
and it almost exactly matched the color of my eyes.  The dress consisted of three parts, an embroidered bodice
with a square neckline that made my breasts, pushed up by the corset, swell above the fabric
;
a full skirt, the hem embroidered with the same pattern, and sleeves slashed to reveal more embroidery.  It must have cost a fortune
,
and it was fit for a Queen.  It reminded me of the gowns I saw Queen Elizabeth wear in films
,
and I twirled in front of the looking glass to the admiring looks of Alec and Finlay. 
There were also kid slippers to go with the gown
, supple and dainty
.  Alec thought of everything.  He even bought a
hairnet
studded with sapphires to dress my hair.  I
’
d never owned anything so glamorous in my
modern
life.  Even my wedding dress
,
which had been simple and elegant
,
couldn’t hold a candle to
such
extravagance. 

“Your beauty is beyond words, but there is one thing missing.”  Both Alec and I turned to Finlay.  What could he mean?  Finn waited a moment, savoring our
curiosity, th
e
n
pulled out a necklace from the pocket of his doublet like a magician pulling a rabbit out of
a
hat.  It was a sapphire set in gold and diamonds on a thick gold
chain
.  He came up behind me and fastened the necklace around my neck
, his
fingers brushing against me intimately.  “Now, you are perfect.
  Are you ready for your dance lesson?
” 

I spent the next two hours learning complicated steps of the modern dances
,
and I had to admit it was fun.  Both Alec and Finn were
skilled
dancers
,
and they expertly led me around the floor to the sounds of the lute played by Mr. Dobbs, who was a surprisingly good musician.  I nearly tripped on the hem of the gown a few times, but I avoided disaster by catching myself in time
,
and learning when to raise the gown a few inches during a turn or dip.  I had to admit that I was getting excited about the ball
,
and about the prospect of seeing
something
of the society in which I found myself.  I
wondered
what Lou would think if she saw me now, dressed in this gorgeous gown and dancing with two dashing men, but I nipped the thought in the bud since it instantly brought tears to my eyes.

“I believe
we have
worn you out, Valerie
,” Alec said noticing the change in my
mood.  “
Maybe that
is
enough for today
.”  I curtsied prettily and thanked him again for the dress. 

“It
is
my pleasure.  It has been a long time since I had an occasion to buy a gift for
a lady
.  I am happy you like it.”  With that he gave me a bow and left the room leaving me alone with Finn
, who
gave me one last twirl and patted my bottom when Mr. Dobbs wasn’t looking.  “You are beautiful and you are mine,” he whispered in my ear. 

Betty was busy
helping Cook
with the baking
, so Nell helped me undo the lacings o
f
the gown and
hung
it up
.  She caressed the fabric reverently
,
her eyes shining with
wonder.  “
I ‘ave
never seen anything so beautiful, Miss.  Mr. Finlay has such fine taste.”