The Glass House by Bella Bryce

Author:Bella Bryce
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Romance, Age Play, BDSM, Contemporary
Publisher: Blushing Books
Published: 2014-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

The numbness hadn't gone away. Elisabeth awoke the next morning feeling like a horrible dream had seeped through the boundaries of reality and completely stole her joy. Then she realised – it wasn't a horrible dream – she really was an orphan.

The memorial service had been short but touching. Several neighbours, a third cousin, the nurse aides, some old classmates of her mother's and several people Elisabeth didn't know had been in attendance besides Bennett and her three friends. There was a catered buffet luncheon in the beautiful dining room at the funeral home next door to the crematorium although Elisabeth had no desire to eat or to be social. Or even civil. Bennett told Elisabeth he expected her to say hello and thank you to everyone who attended, but nothing more was required if she couldn't manage it.

She looked younger than her nineteen years, but grief made her look even younger. Her always classic and somewhat juvenile wardrobe embraced the look of abandon and loneliness in her eyes. When she met eyes with Bennett, she appeared to be a little girl who needed to be taken home and looked after.

"I need some air," she said, when the luncheon was at its peak for socialising. Elisabeth turned and walked away from Bennett as he was speaking to someone from her mother's past. Emma spotted her leaving and, as if she had been a predator lying in wait, followed Elisabeth straight out of the dining room.

The crematorium gardens were beautiful although they were nothing compared to the immaculate and extravagant landscaping of Barton-Court House or Waldorf Manor.

"Oy!"

Elisabeth stopped walking, but she didn't turn around.

"It seems like that's all you've done today is run off."

Elisabeth closed her eyes and when she opened them, Emma had walked around and was standing directly in front of her.

"Emma, please. Not today," she said weakly.

"I haven't seen you in months," was all Emma could spit out.

One of the doors opened and Bennett walked straight toward them.

"I guess that our conversation over then," Emma said, glancing at Bennett. She'd not had more than a limp hug from Elisabeth since before the service that morning and no more than a weak smile afterward.

"Girls," he said, as he approached. Emma looked away when Bennett put a hand on Elisabeth's back. His handsome, black three-piece suit made Emma want to roll her eyes at him even more. "Is everything all right?" he asked. He was looking at Elisabeth, then glanced at Emma.

Elisabeth nodded.

"Emma?"

She couldn't resist looking at him, albeit with a sour expression.

"Nothing. I'm fine," she looked away again.

"I understand you two have some catching up to do, but today isn't an appropriate time." Bennett looked at both of them.

"Fine. We'll just wait until there's another funeral to see each other, I suppose. Or maybe the next event will be a wedding."

"I beg your pardon?" Bennett asked. He raised his eyebrows and regardless of Emma's preferences or dispositions, she couldn't help but look away. Bennett had that kind of effect on people, especially girls ten years his junior.

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