I got rid of him soon after that, and lounged around feeling at a loose end for a bit. Then Anne Russell phoned me as I’d instructed her to update me.
“She’s asleep now, sir. When I got here, she was in the spa and seemed quite all right. She slept in front of the TV on and off. But then she seemed to stiffen up a bit, so I suggested she have another go in the spa and she took some Tylenol as well before going to bed. She didn’t want any supper.”
There wasn’t much I could do about that. Still, I could see at lunch tomorrow how she was. I sat there as the dusk crept through the room. My body ached for her. I needed her, needed her close. Things were better now I knew she was safe. The last week had been so terribly dark without her. I had to court her all over again, show her how her life could be better with me, how much I cared.
I shook my head. Why couldn’t I just come out with it and say I loved her, that my life was incomplete without her and that whatever she wanted was hers?
* * *
The phone rang, echoing through the quiet room. I reached out for the receiver.
“Hello?”
“James, is that you, Son?”
“Hello, Father.”
“I wish you’d ring me back when I leave messages for you, Son. I rang twice yesterday.”
“I know you did. But I had problems here, and I didn’t get the chance to ring.” I felt impatient. As he got older, his horizons had narrowed, and he was becoming more insular. Still, I supposed he was lonely. It must’ve been hard, losing my mother so young. But he’d had time to build up a network of friends.
“Anyway, what did you ring about?”
“The Inspector wants you to come home if you can, or to ring him if that’s the best you can do. Apparently one of the passengers sent back a selfie, whatever that is, from the plane. They think that they can identify Edward in the background, but they wanted you to check it before they do anything else.”
I sat silent. It seemed that my brother was lost. I hadn’t really believed it, really taken it in. I felt anger, rage at such a waste of a life.
“James? Are you still there?”
“Yes, I’m here, Father. I’m sorry, I was just feeling sad.”
“I know. He was a good boy once. Still, it looks like you can keep the girl and she can be the Countess too. Isn’t that right?”
“Father, I’m not going to even think about that for a while yet. I’ll ring the Inspector in a day or two. Goodnight.”
* * *
Noon the next day found me at the apartment, feeling like a young man on a first date again. I took my features in hand and went in. Toni came to meet me, looking pretty and fresh. She smiled.
“Thanks so much for finding me and bringing me back. I don’t know what I would’ve done without that.” She looked up at me. “Are you feeling better? You still look tired.”
I smiled down. “I’m so much better now that I know you’re safe, Toni.” My heart skipped a beat as she smiled up at me, lips parted invitingly. I wouldn’t push this, but it was going to be bloody hard. “Where would you like to have lunch?” I asked, not sure of the sort of place she’d like, whether she could sit comfortably.
“Could — could we go back to your house for lunch? There’s something I want to get from my room.”
“Of course. That would be fine.”
I called through to the kitchen. “Anne? Could you ring the house, please? Tell them we’ll be in for lunch.”
She came bustling through. “Yes, of course, sir.” Then she looked at Toni.
“I’ll fetch your coat.”
“Thank you.”
Soon we were back at home, and it felt complete with her there again. David took her coat, and she turned to me.
“Will you come up to my room with me?”
I nodded and followed her, glad that she still called it her room, seeing that her walking was better this morning. Perhaps she would heal now that there was no heavy lifting to do.
Up in her room, she stood and looked all around, as if she’d thought she was never coming back. Her expression was that of utter contentment. Then she shook her head as if to clear it and closed the door firmly. She went through the whole suite as if checking we were the only ones there.
Then she was in front of me, her eyes bright but unsure. “Will you …? Will you spank me? Punish me for running away?” She went pink and dropped her eyes, pressing herself into my arms.
I felt myself harden at the invitation, even as I was surprised at her words. My arms went around her, and the scent of her and her nearness completed me.
I nuzzled into her hair. “Toni, we’re going slowly with this. We’re going to get to know each other over again, slowly. I want to show you that you can trust me, and that I’m sorry for the way I acted.” My hand across her back, I wanted to keep her close forever.