Love Everlasting (Kingston Novel Book 3), page 20
“You are always welcome and you know it.” Kimbra told him. “Is your mother going to join us after she’s done at the dressmakers?”
“I believe so.”
“I’m so glad. I do enjoy her company.”
Javan smiled. “I’m glad she has you as a friend. I have seen a nice change in her since this friendship between the two you has come about. Before your friendship, mother stayed to herself and never did any kind of personal socializing, if you know what I mean? I want to thank you for being her friend.”
Kimbra blushed. “We’ve had our difficulties in the past, but like your mother, I have never been one to socialize outside of family. But, Javan, you don’t have to thank me for being her friend. It has been my pleasure. To be honest, I’m most thankful that she’s mine.”
Bartley put his arm around his wife and smiled at Javan. “Sometimes the most unlikely people become friends.”
“There is truth in what you say,” Javan agreed. “A month ago I would have never thought that one day I would ever be standing inside your home or that I would think of Logan as my friend…but here I am.”
“And Logan is indeed your friend,” Bartley stated.
Javan sighed. “My best friend, it would seem…but don’t be telling him that.”
Bartley laughed. “Your secret is safe with us.”
“I think when all is said and done you will have several best friends,” Kimbra predicted. “Give yourself time to get to know Vance, Drake, and Casler…and give them time to get to know you. Once you do, you’ll see what I mean.”
“Javan!” Logan called out. “Quit terrorizing my parents and come over here.”
Javan ignored him and turned his attention to Grandfather Justin. “Your Grace, how are you today?”
“You’re to call me Grandfather or Justin. I told you that yesterday, didn’t I?”
Javan nodded. “I did forget.”
“Well, remember. As to how I’m feeling…about mid-way,” Justin replied and then laughed. “Give me about another thirty minutes and I’ll be feeling more myself.”
Bartley shook his head. “I’ll get you a brandy now,” he stated as he stood and walked across the room.
“You’re a scamp,” Kimbra whispered to her father-in-law.
“And you love me,” he whispered back.
“With all my heart.”
“Are you ignoring me?” Logan called out and then laughed.
“If you will excuse me,” Javan told Kimbra and Grandfather Justin.
“Go on, my grandson is determined to annoy you.”
Javan smiled at the older man. “He likes to think he is annoying people,” he told him, before turning around. “Why aren’t you upstairs resting for the Wesard’s party tonight?” he teased as he crossed the room.
Logan raised a brow over his attempt at humor. “We’re not going. Father already decided that we’re waiting for our other grandparents to arrive before attending any other functions. Why aren’t you resting up for it?”
“I’m not going either. I was only going to attend because of your family.”
“You won’t find a wife that way.” Logan grinned.
Ignoring him, Javan greeted the ladies before taking a seat. “You ladies all look most lovely today.”
“Save your sweet talk for women who aren’t already spoken for,” Logan told him.
“Kinsley isn’t spoken for,” Alianore pointed out.
“Kinsley is off limits to him.”
Vance glanced at Kinsley. “Want me to take care of your overprotective brother for you?”
“No.” Kinsley laughed. “Javan and I are friends.”
“Best friends,” Javan corrected her.
Kinsley nodded. “That’s right. We’re best of friends.”
“Javan is like another brother to us Telford sisters,” Toriana pointed out and smiling at Javan.
“Alianore doesn’t need another brother,” Vance stated bluntly.
Alianore turned to face her husband. “A girl can never have too many brothers. Casler is like a brother to me.”
“You’ve known Casler most all your life.”
“I haven’t known your staff all my life,” she stated, “and yet they are now part of my extended family. Gustus and Cyril I haven’t known all my life and yet they are my dearest friends.”
Vance glanced over to where the two men stood just inside the door like two stone statues…except for the gloating smiles on their faces. “Dearest friends?”
“Yes, dearest friends.” Alianore nodded. “If I want to adopt Javan as a brother, as I have Casler, I can’t see the problem with it.”
“Fine,” Vance muttered. “He can be your adopted brother.”
Alianore smiled and then leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”
Javan couldn’t believe how fortunate he was to have become a friend with this amazing family. “I am most honored by all of you,” he stated humbly.
“Very nicely done.”
Javan turned to Logan. “Thank you…brother.”
Logan scowled at his sense of humor. “Grandfather Justin is going to show me how to throw a knife later. I volunteer you to help me practice.”
Javan raised a brow. “What as your target?”
“That is a thought, but no. Come to think of it, can’t hurt for you to learn as well.”
“And if I don’t wish?”
“Not an option.” Logan laughed.
Javan glanced over to where Grandfather Justin was sipping at his glass of brandy. “Do you think you should have him show you before he starts drinking?”
“I heard that, young man!” Justin called out. “I might be old, but I’m not deaf…and my hands are probably steadier than yours.”
Drake laughed at the skeptical expressions on Logan and Javan’s face. “He’s right…Grandfather Justin’s hands are probably steadier than both of yours.”
Logan recalled how much his grandfather had drunk the day before. “Were they last night?”
“Even after we shared several glasses of brandy.”
“Bloody hell!” Logan mumbled. “I believe there is more to Grandfather than we know.”
Drake nodded. “He is an interesting man. I like him very much.”
Toriana smiled at Drake. “And Grandfather likes you.”
“When we get home to Hertworth Hall I want you to pick out the suite of rooms you would like him to have when he pays us a visit. They will be his and none others and they will always be ready for him.”
“We’ll have to do the same for my other grandparents as well,” she told him, already knowing what he would say to that.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way, love.” Drake lifted her hand and kissed it. “I also want you to do the same for your parents, your sisters, and your brother…or rather brothers.”
“You make my heart so happy,” she whispered.
“I wish to do that for the rest of our lives.”
“Is Hertworth Hall really that big?” Kinsley asked.
Drake gave her his attention and nodded. “It is. I’m not even sure I’ve seen all of it yet.”
“It’s a bloody palace…a huge one at that,” Logan stated.
Toriana’s eyes widened. “A palace?”
Drake kissed her hand again. “It’s just a home…one where our children will run the halls, slide down the banister, and their laughter will be heard for years to come.”
Grandfather Justin smiled proudly at the young man.
Bartley met Kimbra’s gaze when she took his hand. Like Drake, he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it softly. It was at that moment they fully understood exactly why their daughter had instantly fallen in love with Drake Easton. Somehow she had recognized the man within the man…and he was a very good man.
Javan nodded at Logan. Drake’s response was one he was going to have to remember. It was not only a good one; it was quite true and pertained to any home where love resided.
Logan scowled at him in returned, but in truth, deep down inside, he couldn’t have picked a better man for his youngest sister.
Kinsley and Alianore both sighed over Drake’s comment.
Vance shook his head and promptly pulled his wife closer to his side to remind her exactly who she was married to her.
“Each day I fall more in love with you.”
“That’s as it should be, I think,” Drake murmured.
“All right,” Logan cut in. “You’re not alone in the room and I for one don’t care to hear all this mushy talk.”
Kimbra laughed. “I will be happy to remind you of those words one day.”
“But that will be years from now and most likely you won’t recall them,” Logan teased.
“I’ll remind her,” Toriana replied, smiling.
“You aren’t by chance saying I’m getting old, are you?” Kimbra asked her son.
“No!” Logan muttered.
Kimbra laughed. “I love you, son, and I was only teasing you. Why don’t you men go out and do a bit of practicing with your grandfather and leave us women to ourselves for a bit?”
“Sounds like a good idea.” Bartley gave her a not so quick kiss and then stood. “Let’s go outside for a spell.”
“Do you have enough knives?” Justin asked, coming to his feet.
“If not, we’ll borrow some from the kitchen.”
Chapter Twenty
“How is your hand?”
Logan shot Javan a glare. “Fine! How’s your nose?”
Javan touched his nose. “There’s nothing wrong with my nose.”
“There will be if you mention my hand again,” Logan growled out. “It’s a knick! Nothing more! And I don’t need you to bring it up every few minutes.”
Toriana was walking past them when she overheard Logan’s words. Linking her arm with her brother’s, she offered him a smile. “Will you excuse us for a moment, Javan? I need to borrow my brother.”
Javan nodded and made his way across the room to where Kinsley was sitting with Alianore and Vance.
“What do you need?”
“Nothing.” Toriana faced Logan. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, you know? It was your first time handling a knife.”
Logan looked away, even as his face turned red.
“Drake told me when he first started working with knives that every one of his fingers ended up bandaged…more than once. It takes time…not minutes or hours.”
“I feel like a bloody arse,” Logan muttered.
“You shouldn’t,” Drake stated from behind him.
Logan turned and scowled at him.
Drake ignored the scowl and continued on. “Learning something new takes courage…becoming good at it takes determination and hard work. If you really want to learn to be good with a knife, I’ll work with you…and nobody has to know but us.”
“And me,” Toriana added.
Logan was taken back by the offer. “Really?”
Drake nodded.
Logan had realized how foolish he had been when in his assumption that learning to throw a knife would be easy. It wasn’t. It was damn hard. He had been bloody stupid! Vance and Javan seemed to catch on quicker than he did.
One would have assumed with the life Gustus and Cyril had lived prior to working for Vance, the two men’s talent with knives would have surpassed his grandfather and father’s ability, but such was not the case.
It was actually quite amazing to watch just how bloody good his father and grandfather were when it came to this pastime that they both shared.
“I appreciate the offer and accept…after your wedding and honeymoon.”
Drake nodded.
“You once mentioned something about using common sense tactics when it came to fighting…you wouldn’t by chance care to show me some of those, too, would you?”
“Would be glad to,” Drake responded. “Like I told you, it’s nothing fancy.”
“Would you care if I brought maybe Casler and Javan along?” Logan asked.
Drake shrugged. “That’s up to you and them.”
“I’ll give it some thought.”
“I think Grandfather is trying to catch your attention,” Toriana whispered to Logan. “He’s waving his cane.”
Logan laughed. “He’s quite the character. I wish he had been around more over the years.”
“I know what you mean.” Toriana smiled. “He’s a joy to watch and listen to.”
“He’s a good man,” Drake stated. “I’ve enjoyed my time with him.”
“He’s taken quite a liking to you…as have we all,” Logan stated, before walking away.
Toriana moved to Drake’s side and stared up into his handsome face. “My family loves you almost as much as I do.”
“If your family knew exactly what was going through my mind right now I’m sure they wouldn’t love me…they would be getting out their knives and practicing their throwing skills on me,” he teased.
“Oh?” she whispered. “And exactly what is going through your mind?”
“It all begins with us both getting naked.”
Toriana’s cheeks blossomed with color as she stood on tiptoes and placed her hand over his mouth. “Perhaps you can tell me about those thoughts later.”
Drake kissed her hand and then laughed. “I’ll do that.”
“Come join the rest of us,” Bartley called out.
“They must have noticed that beautiful blush you’re wearing,” Drake told her, before guiding her over to join her family.
Kimbra noticed Mr. Tadmen at the doorway. “I was just going to ring for you. Will you see about having some tea and coffee served?”
“Yes, milady,” Mr. Tadmen stated coming forward. “This message just arrived for His Grace, The Duke of Hertworth.”
Drake stared at the white envelope in the center of the silver tray Mr. Tadmen held out toward him. He glanced around and found everyone watching him, but still he didn’t reach for the letter. The last time he had received a message while he was with the Telford family he had ended up inheriting a bloody title.
Toriana, along with everyone else, noticed his hesitation. Taking the letter, she smiled at Mr. Tadmen. “Thank you.”
Tadmen nodded, turned, and exited the room.
“Here, it won’t bite,” Toriana teased, holding it out to Drake.
“No, thank you.” Drake shook his head. “You can open it.”
“Why?”
Drake looked into Toriana’s blue eyes and sighed. “The last time I received a message when I was with you I learned I inherited my title. I would just as soon not get any more messages of doom.”
Vance laughed. “Most men would call it a blessing.”
“Most men didn’t have to leave behind what I did,” Drake replied, staring at Toriana. “I had to leave everything important behind…my heart, my very soul. Anything could have happened during those six weeks we were apart. So, for me, doom it was.”
Vance nodded. “I see your point.”
Toriana smiled at Drake. “But nothing did happen and now it’s over and we’re together.”
“I’m still not going to open that bloody message,” Drake replied, with shake of his head.
“Fine.” Toriana laughed. Breaking the seal she quickly read the message. “It says your townhouse is ready and the staff is waiting for your inspection. It’s signed, Henry. Who is Henry?”
“Henry is our butler,” Drake mumbled. “Inspection? What the bloody hell does that mean?”
Kimbra took mercy on him. “It’s nothing too hard, I assure you. If your housekeeper is proficient, she’ll know just what needs to be done and will have seen to it. All they really want is your stamp of approval for a job well done on such a short notice.”
“And how am I to know if everything looks right?” Drake asked. Without waiting for an answer he turned to Toriana. “You would know. Come with me. It’s going to be your home, so it should have your stamp of approval also.”
Bartley shook his head, but Kimbra ignored him. “That’s a wonderful idea. It will give Toriana a chance to meet your staff before the wedding and put her at ease for after the marriage.”
“Did you purposely ignore me?”
Kimbra laughed at her husband’s grumbling tone. “I did, but you’ve forgiven me. Besides, a short trip will do them good as we wait for my parents to arrive.”
“You think you have me wrapped about your finger, Madame…and damned if you don’t,” Bartley stated, pulling her to his side.
Drake smiled as his gaze lingered on Toriana’s face. Finally, they were going to get an intermission from her family, if only for a few minutes. Already he could imagine being alone with her inside the carriage, inside their home, inside their soon to be bedchamber.
He was honest enough to admit that he wanted nothing more than to ravish her…but he wanted the ravishment to be slow and unhurried, which meant his ravishment would have to wait for it couldn’t be accomplished in the few minutes they were going to allow him alone with her.
Blood hell!
It looked like a bloody damn procession converging on his townhouse, Drake thought as person after person emerged from the two carriages. Vance even brought along one of the two guards that was always with them. While both wanted to join them, it was finally Gustus who came and Cyril who stay behind to help guard Bartley’s home.
Drake smiled remembering Toriana’s father’s expression over that decision. He didn’t much care for the idea of being protected.
Toriana stood at his side and smiled up at him. “It was kind of you to invite my sisters, brother, and brother-in-law, along to view your townhouse.”
Invite?
Drake wouldn’t have called it that. Coerced would be a better term in his opinion.
“It was the only way your father was going to let me get you out of the house…and this is our townhouse.”
“Ours…I do like the sound of that.” Toriana glanced toward the house. “Have you been inside?”
Drake shook his head. “This is my first time here. We shall see it together. Any changes you want to make here, or at Hertworth Hall, I will agree with.”
