“No.” I bit the inside of my cheek. “I don’t—I don’t have a condom.”
“Oh, fuck it.”
“I don’t suppose you do?”
“Can’t say it’s something I carry around in my pocket while I’m gardening, princess, no.”
I deflated. All this, and for what? A night of dirty, unsatisfying dreams that ultimately end up with me doing the job myself?
Apparently so.
“Do you have one in your car?” I asked hopefully.
He shook his head. “Again, not something I bring to work.”
“Well, start,” I grumbled.
He laughed, getting up. “Can I wait here for five minutes? Don’t really want to explain myself.”
Sitting up, I glanced at his crotch. And grinned.
“Gabriella.”
“What? I can’t look?” I ran my hand through my hair with a sigh, then stopped.
Oh.
“Hang on. I have an idea.”
“I’m not pulling out. That’s how my cousin got his side piece pregnant.”
“Yes, well, I’m on birth control and I’m not your side piece—wait, am I?”
Miles laughed. “No. You’re the only piece, princess.”
“Bloody right I am. Just wait here a second, okay?” I held up my hands and pulled up the shoulder of my dress that had fallen down as he’d undone the buttons. I clasped it at my breasts and quickly darted out of the room, pulling the door closed behind me.
Aunt Cat had condoms in her room. Nobody else was home, so I could slip into her room and grab one from her nightstand. She’d told me that when the storm hit, so she wouldn’t mind now, surely.
Besides, I could put one back for her. I’d just borrow it.
I felt like I was back at university.
Not that I’d lasted long there, but I digress.
I crept down to her room, thankful to be barefoot. It was a lot harder to creep if one was wearing shoes. I gave a cursory glance around for anyone, but there was nobody, and there was nothing to indicate anyone was here, either. Our guests had all left this morning except for Alexander, and it looked as though he was still out with my father.
All right.
I was going to do this.
My vagina demanded I do this.
My brain was in full agreement.
“Two years, Gabriella,” it whispered.
Sod this.
I pushed open the door and froze.
There were people in the room.
In Aunt Cat’s room.
She was in the bed, frozen in place, and—
I screamed and slammed the door, bolting down the hallway back to my room where Miles was already making his way out.
“What’s the matter?”
“Get inside now!” I shoved him in and shut my door, leaning against it.
I was never, ever going to be able to look Arthur Fredericks in the eye again.
Or my aunt, for that matter.
At least she’d been mostly under the covers. Arthur…had not been. Thank God he’d been putting his trousers on and was covered up.
“Gabriella. What’s wrong?” Miles cupped my face. “Is someone there?”
I nodded, horrified.
“Who is it?” He tried the door, but I wouldn’t move. Couldn’t, actually.
“Arthur. In my aunt’s bedroom. Half-naked.”
Miles stopped. “What?”
“Uh-huh.” I stared at the wall on the opposite side of the room. “I think I need therapy.”
“What’s going on? Who screamed?”
“Oh, no,” I breathed. “That’s my father. Hide. I have to distract him.”
I took a deep breath and stepped outside. Both Dad and Alex were there, looking around curiously.
“Gabi,” Dad said. “I heard a scream from your aunt’s room. Is something going on?”
“No, um, that was me.” I laughed, but it was hollow. “Saw a spider.”
“You’re not scared of spiders,” Alex pointed out. “You like them.”
Like was a strong word. I wasn’t afraid of them, but we were hardly friends.
“It came out of nowhere. Spooked me,” I lied.
“Why are you lying?” Dad looked me up and down. “And why do you look like that?”
Laughing nervously, I pulled my dress back up over my shoulder again. “Look like what? I look fine.”
“Your hair is messed up.”
“I was gardening.”
“And your dress is half unbuttoned.”
“I was changing.”
Alex raised his eyebrows.
“No, go, quickly!”
I drew in a sharp breath at the sound of Aunt Cat’s voice. Her room was at the other end of the very long hallway, and there was every chance she hadn’t heard Dad shout.
Arthur quickly stepped out of her room without his tie and jacket and with his shirt only half buttoned.
Dad stepped forward. “Arthur? What are you doing in there?”
“Oh, shit,” Alex whispered.
Indeed.
Arthur froze. “Catherine. We’ve been discovered.”
Alex’s eyes widened.
Yes.
Oh, shit was absolutely correct.
Aunt Cat bustled out of the bedroom in her dressing gown, tying the belt around her waist. “Oh, bollocks.”
“Yes,” my father said slowly. “I’d say that’s an accurate assessment of the situation, Catherine.”
My aunt paled. “I can explain, Henry.”
“I should think you could. Both of you,” he said sharply, then turned to me. “And you lied to cover it up?”
“I, uh—” I stopped. “Yes. I accidentally walked in on them, screamed, and ran back to my room.”
“Why were you coming into my room?” Aunt Cat demanded, turning on me.
“I needed to fetch something,” I said vaguely.
“You’re not alone, are you?”
“Oh, you are not turning your transgression around on me!” I shouted, running down towards my bedroom door.
Unfortunately, she was much closer and beat me to it. She pushed the door open, reached in, and pulled a very stunned Miles out.
“Ah-ha! I appear not to be the only one with a transgression!”
Miles froze. “Nothing happened.”
Alex grinned at me.
Dad looked at Miles, then at me. “Well, nobody is surprised by this turn of events.”
“What on Earth does that mean?” I asked.
“We all knew that was coming,” Alex explained. “It’s been obvious.”
Right.
Okay, then.
“But this.” Dad turned to Arthur and Aunt Cat. “I am incredibly shocked by. Catherine, explain yourself.”
“Please don’t be angry with her, my Lord,” Arthur said, stepping forward. “It was as much my transgression as it was hers.”
“How long has this being going on for?”
“Seven months,” Aunt Cat said softly, finally releasing Miles, who scooted back to my bedroom door and stood in the doorway.
“Under my roof? For seven months?” Dad bellowed.
Aunt Cat opened her mouth to respond but he shut it down.
“I’m not discussing this at this time. I have a meeting this afternoon. I would appreciate it if you would both stay out of my way for the rest of the day.” Dad turned and looked at me, and my heart broke at the pain I could see in his eyes. “Will I see you for dinner this evening?”