Page 79 of X: Command Me through Alexander’s Eyes

Chapter Twenty-Nine

I’ve lost my bloody mind.

The thought occupies me so completely that I barely speak to Clara on the drive to Norfolk. There’s no way to prepare her because I hadn’t bothered to look at the guest list my office sent me. It’s not hard to guess who will be there. The usual sycophants always turn up for the hunt. There’s nothing more appealing to the aristocracy than chasing down a helpless animal and murdering it.

I just have to make sure they stay focused on the fox and not the woman at my side.

I’m out of the car as soon as we pull into the front-drive, making my way to Clara’s side of the car to help her out. I need to keep her with me as much as possible. It’s the best thing for her. A few valets are already bringing our bags inside. She pauses, looking around like she’s not sure if she should offer help or not.

“They’ll take it to your room,” I tell her.

“My room?” she repeats. “I thought I was here with you.”

I lift her knuckles to my lips, kissing her hand. “First rule of country weekends. Propriety must be observed.”

“So we sleep in separate rooms? Will they be sending a chaperone with us?” she asks dryly.

“You’ll find my family is all about appearances, poppet. Separate bedrooms are one thing, but that just leaves people to find new, exciting places to fuck,” I tell her in a lowered voice as we climb the stairs.

“Is that so?”

“I’ll prove it to you,” I say, allowing my wicked thoughts to edge into my voice. Finding dark corners to drag her into is about the only aspect of this weekend I’m looking forward to.

Manfred, Norfolk’s head butler, greets us at the door. “Everyone is in the parlor, Your Highness. Your bags are being taken to your rooms. Perhaps, you would like to freshen up before joining the guests?”

“Please,” I say.

“I will have Charles show Miss Bishop to her room,” he says.

“Is that necessary?”

“Your father asked for her to be placed in the southern wing,” he tells me stiffly.

And my room is in the north. “Naturally.” I force myself to stay calm. It’s not as though it matters where they put her. No one bothers to worry about the bed-hopping that goes on after dark, but I dislike sending her off.

“It’s fine,” she says, squeezing my hand before letting it go. “I’ll find you back here?”

I nod as a young valet appears to show her away.

“Will you require any more assistance? I can send a valet up?” Manfred asks as they disappear from sight.

“I haven’t needed anyone to help dress me in years.” I stride off in the direction of the family quarters as Edward appears in the hall.

“I thought you might have changed your mind.” He swirls a glass of Scotch.

“I should have,” I admit to him, looking around to be sure we’re alone. “They put her in the fucking south wing.”

Edward snorts. “Geography never stopped you. I still remember you trying to explain it when father caught you sneaking across the grounds at dawn when you were eighteen. I believe you said you’d been out for a run.”

“I had been exercising.” I smirked, trying to remember whose bed I’d been visiting that night. In truth, those times all blurred together. It had probably been one of my sister’s friends. “Sarah’s friends were always good for a little overnight aerobic activity. This is different, though.”

Edward fell into step beside me. “You didn’t really expect them to make you two a bed? Why have thirty guest rooms if you don’t use them?”

“She’s not a guest,” I bite out. “She’s my girlfriend.”

“I’m aware,” he says dryly. “Honestly, I’m shocked you got her here at all. Father’s been on a rampage all day.”

“I didn’t give him a choice.” I cast a meaningful look at my brother. “Sometimes, you have to take what you want and say sod the consequences.”

“Let me know how that goes for you.” he says with a bemused smile, taking a sip. “Speaking of what I want, I better go back. I left poor David with them.”

At least, everyone plays along with Edward, pretending not to know about his secret romance. That means that while he and David are miserable at these things, they aren’t targeted. I have no idea how my father will punish Clara for being here, but I expect the others will be just as bad.

“Edward,” I call before he gets too far. “Help me keep an eye on her?”

“She’s really important to you, isn’t she?” he asks.

I hesitate, uncertain how to answer that. If anyone might understand loving someone you can never have, it’s him. I settle for nodding.

“Will do. I haven’t been asked to join the hunt, so I will shield her as much as possible.”

“Thank you.” I stalk toward my room, finding it exactly as it’s always been. Apart from the lack of dust, there’s no sign that anyone’s stepped foot in here. No waiting bags. They’ve been unpacked already, I assume. Crossing to the wardrobe, I find a suitable change of clothes and begin to undress.

I have a part to play this weekend, my suit is the costume, and everyone around me is an ally or antagonist. It’s tradition to take a weekend in the country each summer, everyone ready to flee the heat of the city. But I know better than to think this will be an escape. I’ve walked Clara into hell itself. Who knows how badly we’ll get burned?