Ryan had decreed that I was to be parading as his sister during tea the previous evening, though it wouldn’t be known until the first ball when he would need me for distraction techniques. Who wouldn’t be busy admiring the newly debuted Cromwell sibling? Especially one that had been kept quiet for so long. He needed a reason to explain why he was going into the Bradley casino, a nagging younger sister who had only just returned to Laurelia was the perfect cover. It was nothing beyond a scouting mission, the less I knew, the better really. It was definitely best to keep quiet on being Ryan’s sister until the latest point possible, it would never do for an aristocrat seen to be serving other people. They were always the ones being served, of course.
The following morning was more than a little shocking. Alec Bradley was grumbling into a teacup and dressed as though he was going to work at the tea parlour. I managed to stun him into gaping at me like some attraction at a fair. Then, later on, I nearly dropped my tea tray in the tea parlour as Ewan Bradley appeared as a customer.
Alec was refusing to serve him and had shoved me in his direction before I got a chance to take a look at Ewan’s face. He was just as surprised to see me working in a tea parlour belonging to the Cromwell’s. Apparently, the Byron family had already been trying to tarnish my reputation with others to ensure I wouldn’t return.
“As much as I would love to hear the exact details, I have other customers to attend to,” I started, checking over my shoulder to look over the shop.
“I’ll have lunch with you then if that’s okay?” Ewan’s proposition took me by surprise, but I nodded and smiled at him before returning back to take care of the other customers.
It was the start of my daily routine. It didn’t vary a lot. Breakfast would be spent teasing Alec, who would usually just grunt at me while I was pouring his tea. I spent my time analysing his preferences to make the perfect cup, which irritated him greatly much to my delight. Then lunchtime would be spent with Ewan in the square, where I would catch up on the gossip and chaos I had left behind at the Byron household. Then Noel was starting to come into the parlour on a daily basis now. It began as an afternoon thing, he liked to flirt with anything that moved was the impression Alec gave me, but Noel was smart enough to ensure that it was always me who served him regardless of how busy or empty we were. Then he came in one time to ask me about lunch.
His face dropped when I mentioned Ewan, an expression that clouded over and I couldn’t read exactly what he was thinking before his usual charming persona came back in full force. He raised the back of my hand to his lips, kissing the knuckles, and giving me a smile that was fully capable of making me swoon.
“I will have to start arriving earlier and intercepting you then,” he promised before we continued our daily interactions.
“Mallory,” Harry was wearing a deep frown that was silently making me panic. I’d just come back from my lunch with Ewan, and he had walked me back as he always insisted. “I need to talk to you when things have calmed down.”
I nodded solemnly, wondering instantly what it could be about as I dove dutifully into my work. The pace never ceased throughout the afternoon, keeping my feet and body busy, though my mind was still lingering on Harry’s words. I always tried to be the best I could in my work, but something had obviously caused offence at some point. I kept on my best graces as I flitted about the shop until Noel grabbed my forearm while I was taking his order.
“Your smile doesn’t reach your eyes, are you okay?” Noel was strangely sincere, no ulterior motive as I felt his eyes studying me and peeling everything away.
“I’m just tired that’s all,” I brushed it off with a twist of my lips. “It’s a busy shift.”
Then we had the biggest surprise of all as the café began to quieten down finally and we started the cleanup duties between the three of us. Ryan strolled in after ignoring Alec and me calling out to say we were closed and laughed brightly before any of us looked at him.
“I need to borrow Mallory, I assumed you two could finish without her?” It wasn’t going to be anything that Harry refused. It came from Ryan as the gesture from the head of the family was given to me to go and collect my things.
It was still taking a lot of getting used to coming up the drive to the Cromwell family manor. I was used to grandeur, but nothing on this scale, and especially not being treated as an equal and not being required to use the servant’s entrance. My usual path to go and bathe was intercepted before I had much of a choice. A couple of maids had appeared and taken my things to my room before Ryan ushered me into the family parlour.
Tea was already laid out. This had been appropriately planned I could tell, especially with the quantity of food present, since it was renown that I would eat vast amounts after working and even more after a shift like today. I had heard the joke that I could eat a horse without any assistance, but then I did do a lot of running about in general.
I didn’t even think about what I was doing. I was preparing all the tea as I would have done at the Byron household, ensuring that the blend wasn’t over brewed and that Ryan had the exact level of milk that he liked in his tea. I had seen him enough times at breakfast to know where his level was.
“You have impeccable etiquette. I don’t think most socialites are as neat as you in anything,” Ryan broke the silence that had been settled in between us as I was pouring the tea.
“Thank you,” I quietly replied. It still made me feel uncomfortable to receive compliments, the way I had been brought up and taught at the previous manor was that no comment was the sign of a job well done. Otherwise, it was risking the displeasure of the house mistress.
“We’re going to the casino tomorrow night, so you’re not at the parlour tomorrow as we need to go dress shopping,” Ryan explained as he gestured towards my well-known weakness of scones with a jar of jam and clotted cream were present. “Harry will cover for you at the parlour.”
It was comfortable between us at least. I had nothing to hide from Ryan, as I felt my body relax from the tense afternoon. He explained that he was after a painting that had originally belonged to his grandfather, and there were rumours that it was being housed in the casino belonging to Logan Bradley. But if he just turned up on his own, then he wouldn’t be able to verify anything. He would be sent back fairly swiftly, but turning up with an unknown woman on his arm who he claimed to be his sister returning from abroad would buy him time for certain. She was likely to be harassed by men who claimed to be gentlemen, which brought out a bitter laugh in time for Harry to arrive back from the parlour.
“Mallory?” Ryan’s head was tilted towards me, a deep frown of concern on his face.
“Apologies, but I’m beginning to think that the previous family I worked for had very different circumstances and ways of treating the staff,” I began. It wasn’t a pleasant story, but leaving hadn’t come to me out of the blue. Leonard hadn’t been the only issue pushing me. “The Byron family worked in ways that I assumed all other aristocratic families worked. They aren’t as influential with the Bradleys as others, but I was trained to be a Lady from the moment I was born. I was given the same education in etiquette as any of the legitimate children, but they always refused to say who was even suspected to be my father. The Head Butler was always very hands-on with any female, but then I was an exception constantly. Where he told and scolded others, he would merely correct my actions, and it ensured that I was always isolated among the maids and staff for getting special treatment. So my theory is that my mother was his favoured bed warmer, but I have no real proof aside from the way he treated me. I was also brought up mostly as the heir’s dance partner, I had to be able to perform in public perfectly. Which then also did allow for Leonard to showcase his abilities at the balls and things. It proved that he was worthy as husband material to the higher-ups, and maybe increase the standing of the family from the lower aristocratic tiers,” I paused, taking a mouthful of tea and hating that I was so predictable as my favourite blend was in the pot. “Since I was gifted the title of Governess as well, then I was to act less like the maids and more like the Ladies of the house. It was a few days after I had come of marriageable age that I was called into Lady Byron’s study. I was to assist Leonard in ‘controlling his urges’, and I accepted that with the look of the room weighing down on me. It became clear that I wasn’t expected to get married anytime soon, and especially not before the heir was engaged at the very least. It wasn’t going to be negotiable, I found out that night time anyway as Leonard didn’t even hesitate to come to my room. I was to teach him how to pleasure a woman apparently, the unspoken extra duties of Governess and why I was better kept than the maids,” my chuckle was dry as I paused for another mouthful of tea. I could feel the weight of the room on me.
“What pushed you to leave?” Harry couldn’t stop himself, disgusted with the way that some aristocrats behave.
“I had a third pregnancy scare. And I knew exactly what would happen if I was pregnant, I would be dismissed and turned out on the street without thought, regardless of what Leonard would whisper into my ear at night. His mother would simply never allow a Governess to be in such a state and unmarried. At best, I would be married to someone of their choice and stuck in it, but the general pattern when the maids were pregnant was to dismiss them without a second thought. References were never given either, so it would be impossible for them to work again in a decent house. They liked to punish the girls, they saw it as they paid their wages and thus owned them,” I frowned, staring into my cooling cup of tea. “I had also noticed that in the recent months, I had been brought along as Olivia’s Governess in some fine dresses when attending balls and the likes. I was being shown off as a breeding horse to try and ensure a relationship with a higher house. Ewan Bradley was one of those who knew me,” I locked eyes with Harry, who had a shocked expression. “He would usually be the only gentleman of the evening-”
Ryan’s scoffing noise broke my voice. His disdain at my words were apparent before I continued.
“His hands would stay in an appropriate place on me, where others would try to grope me or even force me to the corridors outside of the room for their fun, but Lady Byron was eager for me to pursue Ewan of course, so I was allowed to scold and dismiss the lower statused males,” I explained. “And Ewan became accustomed to my pleas. He was trying to get evidence of what the Byron family was doing to ensure that Logan would disgrace them, but we had to continue meeting up as we did for that. Then I was being pressured to sleep with Ewan and most importantly, ensure a pregnancy sooner rather than later to enhance the position of the family.”
“I see,” Ryan was looking thoughtful as Harry then collected all the tea together, clearing up in a hurry.
“Could you help please, Mallory?” Harry pointedly asked, his eyes flicking to the second tray with empty plates on. It was also going to give him a chance to talk to me privately about earlier I was hoping as I gathered everything together before balancing it on my hip to push through the door.
It was an awkward silence between us as we reached the kitchens. The staff were absent while we began to sort through the dirty dishes.
“I had seen you with Ewan on lunches,” Harry explained. “I wasn’t sure of your relationship with him, but you are going to be introduced as Ryan’s sister. A Cromwell cannot be associated with a Bradley,” he lowered his voice purposely. “It would create far too many problems for Mr Cromwell if someone has photos of you both.”
“I… hadn’t thought of that,” I admitted. “My apologies, I will cease.” I nodded in affirmation as Harry smiled fondly at me.
@toloveawarlord I told you I’d get around to it in time. Everyone else was trying to distract me. And thanks to @plumpblueberry for helping me with the title problems.
“At once, my lady,” a swift curtsey, and I was even quicker to leave the room. I was always eager to avoid the wrath of Lady Byron, ever more so since I had just handed my notice in. Then she declared I was to leave the manor first thing in the morning, and it left me with virtually no time at all to pack, never mind finding accommodation in Laurelia before I was due to start work in a few days time. That was just how the family worked, of course. It allowed them to get rid of folks who they found to be unsavoury, but I know they had been expecting the same devotion from me that they had experienced with my mother. Not that loyalty would ever be rewarded. It was meant to be enough that they ‘gifted’ you a job. I still couldn’t get rid of the sneaking suspicion that I was the product of my mother’s inability to say no, and the well-known abuse of position by the head butler.
He harassed every girl who joined the staff, and I was the only exception. I was different from the start of my employment, and I was certain if my mother had still been alive, then she would have done everything in her power to ensure I stayed. She had died as I had begun working from illness, not that it was able to be divulged further what illness had killed her.
My feet were flying through the corridors, I was determined to avoid as many staff members as possible, and to utilise the time I had left before I would be forcibly removed.
I only had two suitcases of things to pack at least. Most of my dresses were extremely frilly, heavy in the corset and very over the top for what I was comfortable in, and the Lady of the House would certainly never let me take any with me without paying for them. They were all classed as uniform anyway, and the Lady of the house certainly loved to remind me that I had to uphold a standard and show the youngest of the household how to behave.
The maids were hostile to me with the title of ‘governess’. They assumed I believed I was better than them, and it left me very isolated and vulnerable. They didn’t realise that the role was more than meets the eye, and it was a usually high turnover role anyway. The eldest son of the Byron family was a few years my senior. He had watched me with an avid interest and had just always ensured my mistakes went without the usual strict punishment at the beginning of my job. I learned quickly, but Leonard was always in the shadows to ensure that the head maid and butler didn’t come down too hard on me.
Leonard used my isolation to his advantage. He knew the maids were always going to sneer at me, I was always exempt from the harassment of the head butler and the punishments that they had always experienced. He was there as a shoulder and a friend. Then it seemed natural to end up kissing, and beyond. His nighttime visits to my chambers were a regularity, though it was just for the deed instead of the company. I would fall asleep with him in the bed and wake up to it empty. I knew I was never going to be good enough really for him, I was just the governess. Leonard’s engagement to a follow aristocrat made me grimace and left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Even more so when I had to attend the event with Bethany to ensure that she acted appropriately as a young lady should at these events. Not that Leonard how I corresponded his recent engagement with ceasing his nighttime visits.
He never needed to knock to enter my chambers, his only announcement was his arms slipping around my waist and his head leaning over my shoulder from behind.
“Really, Mallory?” His voice was low in my ear, his body warmth seeping through my clothing. “You have one pregnancy scare-”
It took everything in me to just push his arms down and not slap him. He could end my plans to leave, and kidnap me back to his manor, leaving no one any the wiser as to my true status. He had been gifted a manor on the announcement of his engagement, and it would leave me at his mercy. I was trembling with rage as I glowered at him.
“That was the third one in four months,” I spat, my temper threatening to fray under the pressure.
“You know that any child of mine would be well cared for-” Leonard tried again, reaching out to stroke my cheek in comfort.
“You’d deny all knowledge. An illegitimate child would break your engagement, and it would never do your family well if you married the governess!” I laughed coldly, “I’d be kicked out, left homeless and jobless and have two mouths to feed instead of one.”
“Sure, Mallory, drag me down to that level,” the Byron son turned to the very model I could only expect of an aristocrat, cold, stoic and protective of himself only before he stormed out of my room.
I didn’t have the luxury of time to mope around. I had to sort out my essentials, and just hope that my new job would give me enough of a salary to pay for anything else I would need.
The station was filled with the sounds of steam engines, voices, the clattering of luggage coming on and off the trains and the static of the announcement system. I was feeling very lost in the place, a country bumpkin now in the city as I was bumped throughout my passage to the entrance.
The manager of the tea parlour had come out to greet me to the city. We had met previously to discuss the job, and he was as stiff as ever when we shook hands again. I had never expected him to be friendly, but he was fair, which is I truly wanted as my two cases were loaded into the car.
“Where are your accommodations?” He was abrupt before allowing me into the car. My gaze dipped to the floor, too embarrassed to admit that I had struggled to make any commitments while under my previous employment. “I see, please get in the car.”
I had no chance to object that I was a big girl, one look from the man and he wasn’t going to accept any argument. The journey was in silence as we headed to the outskirts of the city, where the gaps between the houses were more substantial, and eventually turning into manors that I had grown up around in the countryside.
My assumptions that he would be taking me to a hotel to allow me to set up a base, my jaw dropped in the most unladylike fashion as we pulled up outside a manor that put the Byron one to shame. It sprawled was the only way to describe the building and the grounds, and it was all immaculately kept. I had every confidence that not a blade of grass would be out of place, the Byrons had been stuck up and continuously trying to assert themselves as ‘proper’ aristocrats. They had the bloodline for it, but the money wasn’t as good as it had been.
Harry, the manager, was still all formalities as the car was stopped outside the front entrance, getting out as though it was all perfectly normal. It was too otherworldly, though I flew into a blind panic as he went to take my cases in through the front door.
“Sir, shouldn’t we use the servant’s entrance?” I rushed straight up to him, my hand on his arm before I knew what I was doing.
“Sir?” A voice came from behind us, followed by a soft laugh and then a bright coat of fur began to weave through my legs under my dress. “What have you been telling her, Harry?”
I was more than a little shocked to see the Ryan Cromwell standing there, dog lead in hand and grinning like a little boy. He was nothing like any aristocrat I had the pleasure of spending time with, his hand already extended towards me.
“Mr Cromwell, this is Mallory, the new waitress and tea expert,” Harry stoically replied, before I slowly went to return his greeting.
“Call me Ryan, there’s no need for formalities,” the head of the Cromwell household beamed brightly, before realisation set in. “But you’re due to start tomorrow at the tea parlour, so what are you doing here?”
“Her previous employers were tasteful enough to allow her to leave employment in time for her train departing, she has not had the chance to secure a new home,” the manager explained before I could even open my mouth. I was starting to feel invisible and unnecessary to the conversation as I held my tongue like I had always been trained to do in such a situation, though.
“Well, then!” Ryan brightly chimed, picking one of my suitcases out of Harry’s hands, “I assume there’s more to follow?” He tilted his head at me.
“No, Mr- Ryan, this is everything,” I cast my eyes down, I had little in the way of possessions. It never was as though I had the need for more, but even without looking at either male, I was carrying the weight of their judgment for certain.
“Well, I’m sure that’ll change soon enough,” Ryan replied, his tone reminding me of Leonard when I had first made the move from maid to governess. It was that of an older brother, but I had fallen into that trap before. “We have plenty of rooms here, there’s no point in you going somewhere else. We know you are someplace safe at the very least,” he smiled.
This contains major spoilers as an alternative route to Luca’s romantic ending. Also highly NSFW though it’s all very floofy too. Please enjoy.
@cyikemen
My mind was reeling. Luca had pushed me away, stating that I couldn’t possibly feel what I had confessed towards him. A bulging suitcase in hand, he made a final request. To forget him. I couldn’t stop the tears as the crashing weight of his words hit me. He’d lost all faith in me and everyone around us. He had lost the will to keep fighting just because he was the mayor’s son as I dropped to the floor and pulled my knees to my chest, hiding my face in my skirt as I couldn’t hold back anymore. His footsteps swiftly disappeared, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the growing darkness of the world.
The glimmer of my glass ring caught my eye. It sparkled so prettily, it looked so captivating. But it was just as false as his feelings it appeared. I tore it off my finger and threw it across the room, screaming at the clattering costume jewelry as it bounced off the wall and hit the floor. The glass was cracked, I had used all of my anger to fling it and now I was left with an empty feeling inside my chest.
I managed to drag myself back to Cromwell manor at some point, avoiding Harry and Ryan as I was still processing that the night before had apparently now meant nothing to Luca. The night had been fitful at best, drifting in and out of light sleep and my pillow was soaked with my tears.
The morning sun broke the unfortunate news that it hadn’t all just been a dream. And then Harry storming my room was the most out of character thing yet, especially since he was just in a shirt and trousers. I had never seen him so emotionally undone or in such a state of ‘undress’ for the man.
“Saskia,” his voice was hitched, making my eyes wide. “You have to come with me right now.”
There was no room for any kind of argument as I immediately threw my dressing gown around my nightwear before swiftly following Harry back to his room. Any staff who saw us would have raised eyebrows and start gossiping, but that was the least of my worries right now.
Maria was hopping about inside her cage. The little canary chirping away happily at the attention as the realisation hit us both in the gut. Luca was leaving Laurelia for good. He had no intentions of staying if he left Maria with Harry.
Harry had spent most of the night looking for the jack of all trades, and on his return to the manor a maid had delivered the message that Luca had left Maria for Harry to look after. My stomach was sinking faster than a rock in water.
“He’s really left the city,” I murmured, trying to keep my knees steady to hold my weight before realising that Harry was helping me to sit down on the sofa in his room. Maria’s chirp reminded me of the night after visiting the casino, when Luca had sung in such a clear voice and it was making my tears threaten to fall again. I was biting my lip as Harry placed both his hands on my shoulders, bringing him to my attention. I must have looked a sight with so little sleep and puffy, red eyes brimming with tears.
“Are you going to give up on him?” Harry’s words brought a shock to me. I couldn’t ignore what he had told me, the way he had reacted to me the previous night. He hated the way that people targeted him because of who he was rather than anything he fought or worked for. He believed that no one liked him at all for who he was.
I couldn’t just not try one last time as I shook my head.
“There’s no way that Luca left this city because he wanted to,” Harry smiled. It caught me off guard, he had stout beliefs that his friend wouldn’t do this and it made me want to try just one more time. “We will get him back.” His promise was innocent and resolut. Luca hadn’t said those things because he believed them, he said them so I would move on instead of being hurt by everything going on.
I wiped my tears away, trying to find a smile as my breathing calmed down from the near hysterics I had managed to work myself up to. I wasn’t the only person hurt here, Harry had lost his best friend just as I had lost my boyfriend. Harry was explaining that there hadn’t been any trace at Luca’s apartment of his intended whereabouts, which left us with little to go on. We must have just missed each other if Harry had gone, and then with Luca dropping Maria off as well. It was so chaotic even in my head. We could have all crossed paths so many times over, but somehow we didn’t.
I managed to stop crying finally, and Harry passed me some tissues to wipe up the excess before giving me a soft smile.
“Let’s get going now.”
“Going? Going where? You just said we have no leads,” I asked, confusion painted all over my face.
“We’re going to use our secret weapon.”
***
The day had dragged. Our secret weapon had turned out to be going to see Pastor Chris in his church. He wore a kind and warm front, then Harry had stepped in and said it was a job for him and the facade was immediately dropped. Then he finished with a joke about selling me in marriage to the highest bidder before saying he’d have an answer on Luca’s whereabouts by evening.
I was pacing impatiently in my room. I had been on edge all day, and I wasn’t sure what I was running on exactly. I had barely slept or ate, and I only drank enough to stop my mouth from going dry. My suitcase was ready to go, I had packed the essentials so I could leave the second we knew of Luca’s whereabouts.
Then Harry burst through the door.
“Saskia! We know where Luca is!”
A telegram was thrust into my hand with just two words on it. East Howardstown. My hometown more importantly. I frowned, Luca had never mentioned knowing anyone from there but before I could ask Harry any questions, he already had an answer for me. “You can ask him yourself,” he said gently. “But you must remember that Luca has been exiled, so being reunited with him won’t mean that he can return to this city, and if you follow him then the same can be said for yourself.”
It was a heavy thought. What if Luca meant every word he said about not believing me? And that he didn’t love me? I wouldn’t be able to return until Luca had been proven innocent regardless of his feelings.
“I will obviously stay here and work to overturn his sentence,” Harry nodded as I was hesitant in my resolution. My doubts were starting to plague me but I merely smiled and nodded at the blond male. If nothing else I would just have to try.
I should be able to catch the last train if I hurry.
A familiar voice stopped me in the hallway as I was rushing to leave.
“Saskia!”
Ryan was waiting for me in front of the door, a smile cracking across my face to see him as we gravitated naturally towards each other.
“Harry told me everything. You’re going to find Luca?”
There was a hitch in his voice, a tinge to his features as we faced each other. His eyes momentarily dipped to my suitcase before looking into me. He’d always been here, he’d sheltered me and made me an unofficial family member whilst I was working at the Blue Bell. It made my heart twinge to see him look so desperate.
“You realise that you’ll be labelled as an outcast by going after him?” He asked me again, there was something pulling at me. His fingers stroked at my cheek softly, my eyes still puffy from all the tears I had spilled. “I can’t forgive a man who makes you cry. No matter what the reason,” his voice was set in stone as I tilted my head in confusion at him. He had spent so much time working to prove Luca’s innocence, and now he was saying that he would never forgive him because he made me cry. His touch was making my skin burn in a way that I hadn’t felt better, even through the gloves he was wearing. His gaze was intense, and I could feel my heart threatening to break free of my ribs under it. “It’s not just that either…” There was a heavy pause before I was pulled into his arms, my suitcase clunking against the floor loudly. I was feeling hot at any point of bodily contact and his gaze was making me flustered in such close quarters. My breath was hitched in my throat as his green eyes were sucking me in completely. I was going to drown in them. “Do you think Luca is the only one who thinks you’re special?” His voice was a murmur, there was no need for him to be any louder for me to hear him. “Don’t go, Saskia. Please.” His tone was turning my legs to jelly. I could barely think as our lips were millimeters apart, and he was desperate. I knew that much. I could feel his pounding heart against my chest.
His lips were as smooth as his smile, one hand sliding up my back to cradle me against him as we couldn’t seem to stop. We staggered back into the wall, my suitcase forgotten and discarded as I was clinging onto his jacket for some kind of grounding. I couldn’t get enough as my arms ended up around his neck, while we were constantly pulling each other back in for another kiss.
“Please, don’t go,” his voice was heavy before I could kiss him again. I needed to let him know, as his tongue slipped back into my mouth, coaxing all of the emotion that I had kept repressed out. The noises I was making were sinful before Ryan could stop himself for long enough to see if anyone had heard me.
“I’m not going,” I whispered.
It was the first time I’d seen the head of the Cromwell house caught off guard. His eyes widened with shock, and then I swore my lips were going to be burnt off. How he had managed to keep a lid on these sorts of feelings was insane.
“I’m about to do everything against the etiquette book,” Ryan could barely keep his lips off me. “I need you. Can you stay with me tonight, please?” His voice was raspy, a new low of desperation before capturing my lips again.
“Yes,” it was the word that broke the aristocrat. I was picked up in his arms, I could feel his heart pounding in his chest and I already knew that sleep was the last thing on our agenda for the evening.
***
The mid-morning sun was peeking through a gap in the curtain as I lifted my head off the pillow, confused about the change of scenery. Then a flush burned through my cheeks as the memories of the previous night began to filter through my sleep addled brain. I ran my fingers through my hair whilst keeping the sheets against me and shielding my naked body from the world.
“Saskia?” Ryan stuck his head in at the sound of the bed creaking while I was rubbing the sleep from my eyes and going to get some form of clothing on.
“Oh, Ryan,” I blushed much to his enjoyment as he shut the door behind him, and kissed me on the forehead after crossing to the bed. “I didn’t cause too many problems with work, did I?” I frowned, realising this was the first time I had seen him still at the manor this late in the day.
“Nothing that can’t be sorted later,” he soothed, before tilting my jaw up to slowly kiss me. His hands starting to tangle in my hair as we couldn’t stop. Each kiss was heating me up, I was craving his touch already and just having the sheet between us was too much.
“Ryan,” I moaned as his lips began to trail down my neck. “Please,” was all I was able to whimper out as I started to undo his waistcoat.
“You’re impossible to resist,” his voice was low. “I’m going to show you how dear you are to me,” he was already helping me undress him, carelessly tossing his tie and shirt to the floor before I was pinned back to the bed.
His kiss was all consuming, the sheet flung aside as though it was offensive to us before his arms were under my back and arching my chest into him.
His fingers were nimble, sliding up my back and then down again as though to memorise how I felt. My moans were being swallowed eagerly, clearly any noise that I made was for him to hear alone this morning. I didn’t want to think of who heard us last night, but my mind was already beginning to lose the focus outside of how Ryan was making me feel.
Two fingers teased at my slit and pussy, before I felt the ghosting touch of his thumb over my clit. His mouth swallowed my gasp, demanding my attention as his tongue slid against mine, my head tilting back to allow him more access as the briefest slip in and outs of his fingers made me whine.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to leave you wanting princess,” Ryan’s whisper was lilted with a chuckle as I felt his cock press slowly into my core. “I’m just going to take my time this morning, and show you how much I love you,” he promised, his breath hot on my ear before I wrapped my legs around his hips, eagerly sinking all of his length into me. “You feel so good,” he breathed, slowly working his hips.
He was in no hurry, he was more interested in changing the angle and the length of his thrusts to see what was more pleasurable for me. His fingers were always teasing, my nipples and clit were the obvious targets, but he liked to touch me all over. Pulling on my ear lobes, and then tracing over my lips. It had caught him off guard when I wrapped my tongue around the tip of his digit, and it made him glaze over. The hunger in his eyes set a new pace, his other hand digging into my hip enough that I knew would add to the sets from last night before his teeth were grazing the crook of my neck. There was going to be another red mark I would never be able to hide, mostly likely completely intentional as I threw my head back. My hand slipped between us, pushing and grinding down on my clit as my climax was suddenly looming.
My whole body was plunged into bliss. Pleasure was ringing throughout me as I vaguely heard my name sharply called. It was nothing like I could remember feeling before I slowly came back.
Ryan’s head was resting on my chest, getting his breath back as I realised that my legs were still locked around his hips and largely preventing him from moving.
He looked startled and threw the sheets over us in time before the door was opened by Harry. Who then proceeded to stare at us both before the faintest of blushes appeared over his cheeks, and muttered something before promptly leaving again.
My giggling was instant.
“You know when he’s going to open the door?” I asked as we finally disentangled ourselves.
“I recognise his footsteps when I’m doing something I’m not meant to be,” he replied, kissing me on the forehead before standing up to get dressed again. “Take your time and get sorted, I’ll take you out for lunch so the maids can have their gossiping time out of our hearing range.”
“I swear you seem to know where all the parties are happening,” my housemate complained as I finally arrived home in time for her to leave. “Though you lost your dress again,” she huffed while eyeing me up in a spare shirt of Luca’s and a pair of trousers I had left previously at his place.
“I didn’t lose it, it’s being cleaned,” I corrected her. “And Luca’s keeping my dress wardrobe safe anyway,” I shrugged.
“How do you even afford the dresses?” My housemate paused, realising that it was far beyond my wages as a waitress.
“I never wear the same one twice, I’m always trading them in and swapping them,” I shrugged, brushing past her to go and change into my uniform.
“Gia, I had that feeling again last night,” Rebekah spent a lot of her time worrying about me when I went out and paraded as my alternate self. “That you’re going to get caught at a ball, and then you know how it ends.”
“I’m playing a big game, but I never give a name, and I never go home with anyone who isn’t Luca,” I smiled softly, trying to reassure her and patted her on the arm before getting into my room.
We had a tiny two bedroom house, with a kitchen, bathroom and what was called a ‘living space’ but you could barely fit two chairs in the room. It was affordable, and we had seen things in worse shape on our budget. We lived on the edges of the slums, and violence was part of the day. Muggers were around most corners, murders were commonplace, and you just had to know when to give in to demands. Though recently it had been escalating beyond normality, and the police wouldn’t come in alone anymore, and pairs were a rarity to see. Our landlord didn’t force us into things, though my boss had raised concerns regarding my living situation and that maybe one day I wouldn’t make it home or to work.
I didn’t linger, I needed to get to work as soon as I had changed and redone my hair. I had pulled my loose curls back into a ponytail, a professional and clean look for the clients as I glanced at our direct competition across the street. The Blue Bell was a posh looking place, but The White Rose was cosy and warm. The range of teas at Blue Bell was meant to be unmatched, their main waiter was someone who kept rebutting any offers of employment from our boss, not that I was keen for him to join us since he always seemed to be a sourpuss whenever I caught sight of him before or after a shift.
“Gia! Glad you’re here,” my boss was all smiles and a middle-aged male, he had taken me under his wing several years back despite all the warnings from anyone who caught sight of me at the first meeting. I waved brightly and nipped behind the counter to take a glance over today’s special cakes. “I need someone to take a sample of my wife’s cooking- she said mango and elderflower sponge with a passionfruit frosting before she adds it to our list,” he was smiling too much for me to say no.
“How much sugar did she add?” I coughed. The frosting was thick and heavy, and the sponge barely passed off the flavour of the fruits it was meant to, I frowned and pulled back, studying the sponge before my head began to feel heavy.
“Enough to cover the sleeping agent,” he murmured, already catching my falling body before I could hit the floor.
***
My body was feeling stiff as I began to come around. I was in a dimmed room, on a made-up bed that was of considerable better quality than my own. My head felt as though I had my own collection of miners inside it and I tried to sit up.
“I wouldn’t do that,” a rough voice pushed me back down. “You’re lucky who found you. You need to sleep this off.”
In the darkness, I could make out his figure. It reminded me of the pastor who worked his rounds in the slums as a damp and cool cloth was placed across my forehead.
“Where am I?” I managed to force my voice out before a loud tut told me that the man didn’t care for my stubbornness.
“A safe place,” he abruptly replied. “Now go back to sleep.”
The Sandman had me in his grip before I could ask any more questions, lulling me back into a forced sleep and at the mercy of whoever the male was.
Luca was asleep in the chair as I opened my eyes again. I was still feeling lethargic, but my limbs were moving of a better free will at least as I rubbed my face, trying to chase the sleepiness away enough to be able to get at least a look at the room I was in. It was a large bed, and the sheets felt amazing against my skin as it dawned on me that I wasn’t in my uniform before I went to pull the sheets up.
“Settle down will you?” The rough voice was back, and a firm hand pressed me back before the door to the room opened.
I was surprised to see the blond man who had been accompanying Ryan Cromwell to the ball enter the room. Though he was extremely puzzled by my expression as he glided through the room with all the elegance expected from an experienced butler and bent over to wake Luca.
“Your friend,” he gestured, and then to see Luca’s eyes so wide before he scrambled to grab hold of my hand and make sure I was okay.
“What happened?” I asked, trying to frown but then realising it made my headache much worse and winced slightly at the sharp pain.
“We were going to ask you that,” the rough voice to the side attracted my attention, and I was finally able to get a good look at him. “I saw you being carried by your boss out of his carriage and on the way to one of the rough houses in the slums before I intervened.”
“He gave me a slice of cake, said it was a new recipe to try. Then when I complained it was too sugary, he laughed and said it was to mask the taste of the sleeping draught. I don’t know what it was, but it was rapid-acting,” I explained, shielding my eyes from any light as the pain was starting to get worse. “It was … sudden. I’ve worked there for several years, and nothing untoward has ever happened,” I added on.
“Your boss has a twin actually, a rather unsavoury one,” the rough voice said, drawing the focus of the room. “He had his eye on you and tied his brother up in order to get you. It’s a ring that’s been evading the police for a while, mostly because they can’t get to the girls in time, and it was sheer luck that I was passing to come and make sure you hadn’t been captured.”
“Pastor,” I murmured, closing my eyes again. It was too much to keep them open as someone replaced the cloth on my head, the touch felt like Luca. “My housemate, she’s just as likely to be worried.”
“Rebekah never showed up for her shift, and your house has been ransacked, we already checked,” Luca quietly said, already holding my hand in preparation for the news. “We’re looking for her in the usual suspect places, but this gang tends to go after those who won’t be missed. You don’t fit that profile, but Rebekah does. You’re the only one who would truly miss her, and since you’re just housemates, then there isn’t a lot of weight behind you going to the police.”
“So Miss Rivers is the exception to the rule, why go after a high chance?” the butler pushed his glasses up his nose as I peered through my half-lidded eyes, desperate to read the room.
“A message,” the Pastor spoke abruptly. “It’s a warning.”
“Well then, I’m sure Noel would be interested to hear about this,” the butler nodded before turning to leave. “We should let Miss Rivers rest, it was a powerful drug. I have a room set up for you next door Luca-”
“I’ll sleep in here,” my best friend waved him off.
“It’s just like when I stay over,” I laughed softly. “Only the bed is bigger.”
“Don’t look at me like that. She’s my best friend, and I don’t think of her in that manner,” Luca was scowling at someone as I shifted over in the bed to make some space for him. “Plus if she has a bad turn then I can alert you all. You’ve already said that you aren’t sure what it was that was used.”
“Mr Cromwell will probably insist on coming in then,” the butler sighed.
As though on cue, the green haired male came in wearing a deep frown on his face.
It wasn’t proper, I knew that much, but things were just natural between us. There wasn’t any romance, though I had been the ire of so many of the women that fawned around him. I was often an escape from invitations if I was passing by, and he would always throw his arm around my waist and pull me into him. We didn’t have the chemistry between us that a relationship required. It was safe and secure as Harry was as blank-faced as ever.
“Luca-” the head of the Cromwell household sighed, but then looked stumped as Luca interrupted.
“It’s not proper to sleep with a lady, I get it. But she’s my best friend, and right now, she’s in danger. She’s ill, and I’m the last person she has that she can count as family,” I had to give Luca his dues. He was actively prepared to sleep in the chair again if necessary, it was clear that he wasn’t leaving the room until I was recovered.
“Let the boy sleep in here, he was doing that anyway,” the Pastor snorted, all traces of his softness disappearing instantly much to my surprise. “It’s not like she’s your sister or anything.”
Ryan was staring down hard at Luca, before sighing and shrugging his shoulders in defeat.
Love, Lies and a Heist from Cybird can be found on their Otome Novels App.
Sneaking into the ball had been the fun part. I had used the chance of too many faces and a copied invite from Luca’s table to get past the entrance, and now the evening had been mine. It was a glitzy party of glamour and shining as the many aristocrats used the opportunity to try and one-up each other, as I was twirled around the dance floor by yet another masked man. I asked for no names, merely his attention for the song so I wouldn’t be thrown into any other couples.
Then Luca had apparently lined me up, my hand barely leaving the other gentleman’s before it was encased in his familiar warmth. A traditional waltz started, and his hand was on my waist to keep me close before he was leading me in the dance.
“You are in so much trouble when we leave,” his voice was low in my ear, as several sets of eyes seemed to fall on us from the edges of the room. I recognised two of them as the heads of the Bradley and Cromwell family, but a few others I didn’t.
“You wouldn’t let me attend,” I pouted in response, making sure to keep my feet swift. “I told you I wanted to come, and you should know better than to expect me not to turn up. I’ve behaved myself perfectly thank you, and I’ve been on the dance floor all night with only occasional breaks for a drink of anything nonalcoholic. I’m not here to attract attention to myself,” I quietly snorted before I was suddenly twirled away and then locked back into Luca’s arms. A sign to the other males that I was now occupied for the evening it seemed as I would see the same eyes following us around the room. “I just wanted to dance,” I laughed as our bodies were lightly pressed together. “I was unnoticed until you appeared.”
“Actually the girl with the golden laugh was attracting all the gossip again,” Luca frowned as the music drew to an end, though his arm stayed around my waist as I found that I was being escorted off the dance floor. It was becoming clear that my night was at an end for now. “Especially since you’re wearing the golden dress,” he muttered as the man tried to ensure we wouldn’t be tracked.
“Luca!” I felt the man tense up, though he didn’t let me turn around as his bright facade was plastered on his face. “I thought we’d lost you,” the voice was something of a familiarity. “Oh? Who is this lovely lady?”
I used the surprise to turn around, a soft smile on my face as I had already made sure that my mask was firmly in place. My identity was never going to be amongst the nobility and higher classes, I just enjoyed the parties before giving a small courtesy to the two men.
“She’s just going home,” Luca interjected and turned me around again, a frown on his usually serene face, my laughter attracting all the attention.
He was huffing as we were exiting through the free-flowing crowd. My hand was enclosed in his before we reached the line of carriages waiting to take everyone away back to their manors. Luca was patting his waistcoat pockets down for some money before a hand on his shoulder made him tilt his head back.
“Allow me,” the green hair of Ryan Cromwell was impossible to miss, especially since he had taken note of my dress and used it to track us down. A carriage appeared from nowhere before another gentleman was guiding me towards it with his hand on my lower back.
“Thank you kindly,” I interrupted before Luca could come up with an excuse to refuse, and allowed myself to be assisted into the carriage by the blond haired male who was escorting Mr Cromwell. “Come on Luca,” I brightly smiled, “It would be rude to refuse such kindness.”
My giggle earned me a warning look before my friend, and his acquaintance clambered on in. My mask was still secure as we set off, I had no intention of telling them my address or name, I would merely get dropped off with Luca and then melt away into the background as I usually did.
“I don’t believe we’ve met before,” Ryan was trying all sorts of charm, lifting the back of my hand in greeting before Luca could intercept us.
“I would remember meeting the infamous Ryan Cromwell,” I coyly replied, before politely retrieving my hand back and settling it on my lap.
“Would you allow me to know a name to go with the beautiful laugh that has had me curious for the night?”
Luca was actively glaring at me now.
“Maybe next time we meet, then you could do me the favour of a dance Mr Cromwell, and then I would allow you the knowledge,” I smiled. “If you would just kindly stop by Luca’s apartment then I would be the most grateful.”
“Surely you don’t-” the blond spoke sharply, and was looking at Luca with hostile intent.
“Nothing of the sort. I simply live close to him, and I do not know either of you, merely safety precautions,” I corrected as the driver pulled to a stop at a gesture from Ryan. I made every effort to not fall flat on my face leaving the carriage, though it didn’t mean I wasn’t listening to Luca agree to come over the following evening to discuss some business with the Cromwells. I made certain that appearances were deceptive at times like this before the carriage left again.
“Gia,” Luca called out as I turned to cross the square. “Would you at least stay for tonight?” His voice was low, not wishing to paint the wrong picture.
“Only if you’ll get the dress cleaned for me and keep it in your place,” I replied after a heavy pause, needing to face reality on carting about a ballgown.
This is for @toloveawarlord for funding me on Ko-Fi. It’s a smut. And this is introducing Love, Lies and a Heist to my growing list of fandoms.
A glittering ballroom and a beautiful band playing as Noel spun me around with a knowing grin. He had been riling up my two known love interests on purpose, knowing that they were watching us both with hawk eyes from opposites sides of the room whilst I was relaxing in the presence of someone I could trust. His hands were a little lower than a friend's positioning on my hips, and his whispers into my ear could easily pass for that of a lover's temptation.
Ryan had insisted I was to be treated to a new dress for the event. It wouldn't do for a member of the Cromwell family to be seen in anything that I had worn before of course. It was all diamonites and small chips of jewels that caught the lights and sparkled, literally making me the centre of attention any of the time I was on the dance floor. Which Noel was ensuring that was almost constantly. He took every opportunity to spin me and show me off to onlookers and would instantly cover up any mistake made when my shoes slipped on a couple of occasions.
“I'm not sure which one is going to break first,” the police officer was chuckling, highly amused with himself as his arm was locked around my waist and stopped me from looking at either head of the families as the speed of the dance slowed down to a lovers tune. He was just enticing them both now and always made sure that I wasn't able to look at either Logan or Ryan whenever they were in sight. “And the glares are getting worse,” he was laughing and enjoying himself. Things were delicate still between the Cromwells and the Bradleys, but there was a remarked improvement from my arrival in Laurelia.
The music ended, signalling that unfortunately for Noel, his fun was over since it was officially the end of the party. I was trying to suppress my giggles as we went through the formalities of him kissing me on the back of my hand before escorting me off the dance floor.
I had a hand on my lower back the second that Noel had his back turned, and I was immediately escorted out of the room. I didn't get a chance to see who it was before Logan practically spun me around and had me pressed against a wall. His fingers demanding my attention as my jaw was tilted upwards to allow the head of the Bradley family access to what he desired.
It took me a few moments to realise that there was more than one set of hands on my waist. The lips at my neck as I was turned away from the wall surprised me. Logan wouldn't stop for anything except to catch his breath and make sure I wasn't going to pass out from lack of oxygen before diving straight back in to thoroughly explore my mouth. The lips on my neck were slow and tantalising, the hands creeping up from my waist to cup my breasts through the dress.
“You looked gorgeous in the spotlight,” Ryan's voice was surprising to me as my chest was massaged gently, the fabric stimulating my nerves and making my nipples harden. “Everyone's eyes were on you,” he was speaking in a hoarse tone as Logan was smirking confidently at me, his thumb trailing over my plump lips. “You're such a greedy girl, do you really think you can handle us both when you look so ravishing whilst teasing us both all evening?”
I didn't get a chance to think about an answer. I was pulled by Ryan into the nearest room that just happened to also be a massive guest bedroom by all appearances. The boys had swapped positions, Logan shadowing my body from behind, though his teeth were more involved than his lips on the side of my neck that Cromwell hadn't touched.
“We need you out of this dress,” Ryan mumbled, barely able to stop himself from kissing me hard. Though I could feel the corset at the back begin to loosen with expertised fingers. “It's too heavy to get to you in,” he was complaining bitterly as the material was stiff and awkward to shift.
“You bought it,” were the first words I was able to speak since I had been removed from the ballroom.
“And right now we both want you out of it,” Logan interjected, pulling on my nipple to remind me that I was very supple to the demands of both men.
To say the two couldn't stand each other, it took very little to get them to cooperate and have me out of the expensive dress without loosening a single stone. They worked together as my panties were a sudden inconvenience, and removed swiftly before Ryan's fingers deftly plunged into my pussy as Logan kissed me hard. Bradley's fingers were dancing and teasing my clit, ghosting touches as his free hand saw fit to assault my breast.
A gasp and a moan escaped me as my head tilted back to allow Ryan access to bite and nip at my throat.
I whined at the sudden loss of contact from Cromwell's fingers and then gasped sharply at the sinking of Logan's teeth into my nipple. It was reprimand of course for my complaint, especially with the increased pressure on my throbbing and exposed nub. I squealed as he sharply pulled on my clit and then had to try and catch myself from falling ungracefully onto the bed.
Ryan was already prepared for me, his now naked chest distracting me to prove that he was already stripped of his clothing, and some oil on his fingers as he started to tease his fingers towards my ass. I shot a glare towards the approaching Bradley, but as I opened my mouth to bitterly complain that this whole event was planned, his lips covered mine and his tongue demanded my obedience. His slender fingers were teasing my clit like I was his piano to play, whilst Ryan continued to try and prepare me for his grand entrance. Cromwell had my thighs locked open with his arms, leaving me vulnerable to any 'attack' from either male as he continued to nip along my shoulders and teasingly start to bite harder as though determined to leave marks. His jealousy was cute at times, but I was technically unattached and free for the dating market, which had caused some awkward questions for Ryan to answer. I assumed this was his way of asserting his 'property' before my attention was brought straight back to my current situation.
Logan was enjoying himself for certain, he slid two fingers straight into my open cunt. His thumb grinding down on my clit hard and fast as Ryan's fingers were matching the pace to Logan's. My coil was being tightened swiftly.
“Hold it off,” Ryan murmured into my ear, choosing to nibble on my lobe as Bradley slid a third finger into my pussy.
“Please,” I whimpered, my back arching off Ryan's chest and into Logan's.
“No,” Bradley was adamant, and then added a fourth finger, stretching me out and smirking as I began to wreathe and buck anxiously against them both.
“Please!” I groaned. Logan was sinking his teeth into my breast, making his own claim to my body.
“Fine, but you best be a good girl,” Bradley finally relented as my orgasm tore through me. My chest arched further into Logan's mouth as the men continued to thunder their fingers roughly in and out of my holes. My cum liberally coated Logan's fingers, before I collapsed back against Cromwell.
“Mm, fuck, your fingers are so good around my cock,” Ryan was grunting and bucking his hips against mine to try and get Logan closer to him.
“Don't want to waste anything,” Bradley laughed, positioning the other man's now well-lubed member at my ass. “She's promised to be good,” his voice was dark, and I swore that I practically came for a second time just from the tone.
Ryan thrust straight up, pushing half of his cock into my ass.
“She's living up to that promise, she just squirted to prove how eager she is for us to completely ruin her,” Logan was almost surprised, helping to ease the rest of Cromwell's cock in. “Oh my, I should get you to do this more often, though I thoroughly doubt I would ever be able to find you more beautiful.”
I gasped loudly. Neither of the men had promised they would be gentle, but I was glad that both of them were taking me into consideration as I was now stuffed with both of them. Ryan was nipping at my neck, whilst Logan was slowly exploring my mouth with his tongue. Both of them started to gyrate and wreath their hips against each other trying to assert their own dominance.
They both knew exactly what they were doing. I had Logan commanding my cunt and breasts, tugging and tweaking my nipples whilst massaging my breasts in his hands. His cock starting to buck in and out of my soaked pussy, I had barely come down from my first orgasm when they were powering me towards the second.
Ryan's fingers were more delicate, teasing and ghosting touches over my clit. Adding a little pressure, but not enough to do anything than make me whine in desperation as he kept ploughing my ass thoroughly. His teeth were nipping at my neck, mostly to scold but also to make his property known to other men.
“Please,” I groaned, pushing my chest into Logan's grip, his hands tightening as Ryan began applying pressure to my clit. “Please, I need to cum,” I begged.
“Good girls wait until they're told to cum,” Logan bit down particularly hard in response as both of the men began to pace their thrusts to match the other.
Ryan's chest was starting to shudder a little. He was trying to hold himself back now, as I purposely squeezed my walls around the boys, bouncing my hips to encourage them. I could feel nails start to dig in on my breasts and hips, my body rocking in time with the urgent and jerking of their thrusts.
“Fine, you can,” Logan had his teeth gritted, and as Ryan unleashed a torrent in my ass, I screamed the room down. My vision going to white as my head was thrown back over Ryan's shoulder. My body convulsing as my orgasm engulfed and overpowered all of my senses.
Somehow we had all tipped back and hit the mattress. Sweat meant that we were sticky now as we tried to disentangle ourselves from each other, whilst still being oversensitive and the groans from each of us in the mini orgasm ripples as we all insisted on moving.
“Well, I have no idea how you two planned that,” I paused, finally lying on my back. “But I'm not going to lie and say I wouldn't object to doing that again,” I avoided looking at either male, instead focusing on the canopy of the bed.
“Mm, well, we might have something worked out,” Logan begrudgingly admitted, before going to sit up. “You need a bath after that, and sleeping in a clean bed is more beneficial,” he announced, going to the door to summon a staff member to do so. “And I know my bedroom is big enough to house us all anyway,” he finished, tipping his head back in a haughty manner.
“Yeah, clean up, then sleep,” Ryan nodded, making the first movements I'd see before I was wrapped up in an oversized and fluffy dressing gown by Bradley. A small yet affectionate smile on his face before brushing his lips across my forehead.
“Then work out how to work this officially,” Logan had his lips curled at the thought of sharing me, but then picked me up in his arms once he was back in his outfit from the ball. “We're going to my room,” he smirked, knowing that Ryan was only half dressed as he promptly left, laughing as Cromwell began to pursue us whilst semi-naked through the Bradley manor corridors, not caring about who saw us.
