Claimed By Chaos (31 page)

Chapter 56

“I have a gift for you.” Alastair whispered in Giselle’s ear as he lifted her cloak from her shoulders. They had just returned from a musicale and Maman was making her way up the stairs for the night. They were back hours earlier than usual and Giselle had planned to change and run to Burton Place as soon as Alastair departed. With the evening traffic, she was betting that she’d get there before his carriage could make it’s way home.

“Can’t it wait? We could be spending this extra time in your bed.” Giselle whispered as she leaned close. She felt Alastair’s body become taut and his hand squeezed her waist. Her eyes met his and she knew he was considering. They blinked and he shook his head.

“This first.” He said as he stepped back and pulled her toward the library. She pushed her lip out as she followed.

Alastair opened the door and guided her through, his hand pressed just above her bottom. She looked over her shoulder at him and felt herself become heavy and warm between her thighs as her eyes met his. When she turned and let her eyes sweep through the library she saw a large hat box on the table. There was a large violet bow on top and a card with her name on it. She raised a brow at him and he gestured toward it. Giselle crossed the room and picked up the card.

The end is the beginning.

She looked up in confusion. Alastair smiled enigmatically and nodded at the box.

“Open it.” He said softly. She lifted the lid and set it on the table.

Giselle’s stared for a moment before she reached in. She lifted the first folder and opened it. There were reports, letters, maps… She recognized dates, names and places. She set the first folder down and flipped through the second, the third and then the fourth. Most of the documents in the fourth folder preceded her escape to France by as much as twelve years at the earliest. She looked up at Alastair.

“What is all of this? I know that most of these are me, but this last folder?” Giselle asked as she looked back down at the folders spread in front of her. Alastair opened the first folder and pointed at the document on top.

“This was two days before you were shot by LeVan.” His jaw twitched as he closed the folder. He opened the fourth folder and pulled the last document. “This is the first report that Aldous submitted to the War Office.” He watched her face as she took the sheet from his hand. Giselle’s vision swam as she stared at her father’s handwriting. “This is everything. I went all the way back to Aldous so that there isn’t even proof that you were the daughter of a spy.” Alastair hooked his finger under her chin and raised it. “I’m in awe of everything you’ve done. I’m so proud and it doesn’t seem fair that I was knighted and no one can know what’s in these folders.” Giselle felt as if the breath had been knocked out of her. Her hands trembled and she blinked to clear her vision as she rose on her toes and pressed her lips to his.

“Thank you.” She whispered. Alastair nodded as he caressed her cheek.

“I couldn’t bring myself to destroy all of this. You have to do it. I know you think your name and past are a burden but I don't want to be the one to erase you.” He stepped aside and gestured toward the fireplace.

Giselle didn’t hesitate. She took the first folder and fell to her knees in front of the flames and started feeding them pages and maps. She was hypnotized as she watched each piece of paper glow, shrink and curl before it turned to ash and melted into the fire. When the first folder was empty, Giselle held up her hand so Alastair could pass her the next and continued until the fourth folder was empty.

She felt lighter, cleansed as she stood. She turned to Alastair and reached for him. He pulled her into his arms and she sighed in relief as she pressed her face to his chest. He stroked her back and hair for several minutes before he stepped back, took her face in his hands and kissed her gently.

“I need to leave.” The words were warm against her lips. Giselle’s eyes snapped to the clock and she quickly counted the hours until she needed to be in her bed. She smiled mischievously.

“I’ll race you to Burton Place.” She whispered as she pressed herself against him. Alastair smiled as his hand slid around her waist and then squeezed her bottom. He lowered his lips to her ear and let his breath make her shiver.

“Go.” He said and he released her and swept from the room. Giselle giggled as she grabbed her skirts and ran from the library.

Chapter 57

The clarity was sublime. Alastair smiled as he let his heavy eyes close. Giselle’s body was soft and draped over his. His heartbeat was starting to match the soft huff of her breath against his neck and his body was relaxed. His mind was miraculously still and blank. He couldn’t remember the last time it had been so placid. The only thing Alastair was aware of was the feel of Giselle’s body and the taste of her in his mouth. His body was sated and pleasantly numb.

Just as he felt the his consciousness succumb he saw the chimera seal. The vision from his memory flashed and he knew who it was. His eyes snapped open and he became tense.

“Son of a bitch!” Alastair swore. Giselle jumped and sat up.

“What?” She asked as she turned to him. Her eyes were alert and expectant.

“I know who I saw with Weering’s seal.” Alastair said as he sat up and slid from the bed. He fixed his trousers as he crossed the room. He sat and started pulling on his stockings.

“Who is it? Where are you going?” Giselle was excited as she crawled across the bed. He frowned as he looked at her.

“Eric Yardley, Lord Gasden.” His voice was low. Giselle gasped.

“Do you think he could be involved?” Concern filled her eyes and Alastair shook his head. He didn’t like the idea of Eric being involved with Weering and he was praying there was a good explanation.

“I hope not. He’s one of the last people I would suspect of treason.” He stood up and buttoned his shirt. Giselle crossed the room and reached for her chemise.

“You’re going to see him now? At this hour?” She asked as she pulled it over her head. Alastair nodded as he passed her shirt and reached for his cravat.

“He’ll be up. I need to see him now. We’re running out of time and I won’t be able to rest until I know what his role is in this.” He quickly tied the cravat and then pulled on his waistcoat. Giselle was hopping into her breeches and she froze.

“You know where he’ll be at this hour? From what Mirabelle has said, he’s a bit of a mystery.” Her brows rose when Alastair laughed.

“Just because Mirabelle does not know everything there is to know about something, does not make it a mystery. Eric is at home.” He pulled his coat on and reached for Giselle. He gathered her face in his hands and lowered his lips. She pulled away and frowned up at him.

“How can you be sure he’s at home, that he’s awake and that he’ll see you at this hour?” She asked. Alastair smiled as he led her to the window and pointed across the street.

“He’s in his study.” He nearly laughed when her jaw dropped. As they watched, a figure passed by the window. Giselle turned to him and crossed her arms over her chest.

“He’s been there this whole time and no one has told Lady Gasden? Someone should talk to him!” She insisted. Alastair felt his brows pull together.

“I often do. Some nights, if I find myself struggling with a mathematics problem, I’ll go across the street. Sometimes, he comes over when he needs my opinion on a political issue.” He explained. Her eyes became wide. He held up a hand. “I’m certain his mother knows where he lives. They are estranged but they are both aware of the other’s welfare.” He turned and reached for her coat. “I’m not getting involved. I’m sure he has good cause for not wanting to deal with his mother.” Alastair stated. Giselle’s mouth twisted stubbornly.

“Can I go with you?” She frowned when he shook his head. “I’m curious to meet him! What is he like?” She asked as she sat to pull on her boots. He shrugged as he leaned against the bed post and waited.

“Eric is a good man, rather uptight and conservative but highly intelligent.” Alastair offered. He was again worried that he could be linked to Weering. Eric was one of the rare individuals outside of the family that he could tolerate. Because of Lady Gasden’s connection with the family, Eric, Alastair, Gilles, Lucien and Mirabelle had been thrown together on many occasions. Eric had always been reserved and preferred to be left out of their adventures. He would often insist on remaining in the library when they tried to include them. Alastair had always felt grateful that despite having the same tendencies as Eric, his siblings and Lucien had never allowed him to remain behind. Giselle was blinking up at Alastair, one boot on and the other held in front of her. “What?” He asked as he gestured for her to hurry.

“You think he’s uptight and conservative?” She asked incredulously. He shrugged.

“Yes. Why is this difficult to believe?” He asked. Giselle shook her head and pulled on her other boot. She stood and went to Alastair.

“This is a bit like throwing a stone in a glass house, isn’t it?” She pulled on his lapels until he bent down and pressed his lips to hers. He frowned.

“You think I’m uptight and conservative?” He asked. She giggled as she traced his lips with her tongue.

“No. But I see a very different Alastair than most people do.” Giselle felt him relax slightly as he opened and let his tongue brush hers gently. A moment later his head snapped up.

“What if there’s a different Eric that we aren’t familiar with? What if he has been working with Weering?” He asked. Giselle’s head tilted and she smoothed the front of his coat.

“You’ll have to go and talk to him. We’ll decide what to do after.” She said softly. Alastair nodded as he raised her hand to his lips.

“I’m sorry to have to leave. I’ll see you at breakfast.” His voice became weary. He dreaded what he’d learn and he wished they were still in bed. Giselle smiled as she pulled his hand to her lips. She kissed his knuckles gently and Alastair felt his body become warm.

“I think that everything will be alright with Eric. I’ll see you later.” With that she left. Alastair turned to the window and looked across the street. He waited until he saw the figure pass in front of the window again before he strode from the room.

Chapter 58

“Good evening, Sir Alastair.” Woodley held the door open and let him pass through. “His lordship is in his study.” Alastair nodded to Eric’s butler as he crossed the hall. He knocked on the door and waited until he was bid to enter.

Eric looked up as Alastair took the seat in front of his desk. His eyes went back to the book in his hands for a moment before he shut it and leaned forward.

“What’s on your mind tonight?” Eric’s gaze held Alastair’s.

“This.” Alastair reached into his coat and withdrew the fragment of an envelope he'd carried around for weeks. It was a piece of a letter to LeVan, the chimera seal. He slid it across the desk. Eric’s eyes flicked to the seal and he became alert. He reached for it and examined it. His eyes went to Alastair’s.

“I’ve seen this before.” Eric said. Alastair nodded.

“I know. I saw you with it at the War Office.” He offered nothing else and waited. Eric frowned as he passed it back.

“One of Weering’s many assistants, you know how he’s always replacing them… Anyway, he left a stack of Weering’s papers in my office. He’d been in to have me sign something and left a mess in his wake.” His gaze narrowed and fell upon Alastair. “Weering had been furious when I delivered them. He seemed especially upset about the item with that seal.” He said softly. Alastair felt the tension ease from his shoulders. He could detect nothing but recognition and curiosity in Eric. He didn't sense any defensiveness or deception. Alastair leaned back and pointed at the seal.

“That seal is one piece of proof that we have against Weering in regard to treason.” He watched Eric carefully. He blinked a few times and nodded.

“I don’t find that hard to believe. I’ve never trusted him.” Eric rubbed his chin. “What can I do to help?” He asked. Alastair shook his head.

“Unless you still have the document, nothing as far as I know.” Alastair looked at Eric hopefully.

“Sorry. I gave it back.” Eric held his hands up in apology. Alastair waved it off.

“It would have made my life a lot easier if I knew what it was. I’m starting to worry that Weering will escape.” Alastair admitted. Eric smiled broadly.

“Oh, I know what the document was. I examined it thoroughly before I returned it.” His grin was mischievous. Alastair leaned forward.

“What was it?” He held his breath. Somehow, Alastair knew everything was about to change and the investigation was taking a turn. Eric pointed to the seal.

“It was a letter to the captain of one of his ships. He had just purchased the ship and was very specific about the crew he wanted.” He looked at Alastair and his grin became very wide. “The ship was called The Chimera.” Eric pushed the seal back toward Alastair.

Alastair shut his eyes and swore violently. He let his head fall into his hands. All this time! All this time, and all he needed to do was search the docks. If he had spent a few days checking which ships were in port, he would have had it. He looked up at Eric and sighed.

“A word of caution: if you value your intellect, avoid falling in love. Apparently the brain and the heart do not work simultaneously.” Alastair warned. Eric’s eyes grew wide and he was still for several moments. Then, he snorted defiantly.

“I can assure you, I am at no risk. I’m already married and there is little chance that I’ll ever fall in love with my wife.” Eric declared. Alastair was taken aback. How did he not know that Eric was married? Eric laughed heartily. “You didn’t know? Terrible disaster. I’ll have to tell you about it sometime.” Alastair recoiled. He was sure he didn’t want to know.

“Perhaps.” He got up to leave. Eric rose and followed him. He stopped Alastair at the study door.

“Tell me, do you still have trouble with the dreams?” He asked softly. Alastair studied his eyes. One of the few times he and Eric confided in each other they discovered that both suffered from nightmares as children.
Is this why he stays up?
Alastair wondered. He shook his head.

“No. As I became older I realized that my father’s heart had given out and there was no way I could have saved him. Once I made peace with that, the dreams stopped.” Alastair said softly. He saw pain flash across Eric’s eyes. He gripped his arm. “I would hope that you don't still suffer from dreams about your father.” Eric’s face hardened and he shook his head. “Goodnight, Eric. Thank you.” With that, Alastair left. He had much to set in motion, he just hoped it wasn’t too late.