Castle Death by Helen Louise Caroll

Author:Helen Louise Caroll [Caroll, Helen Louise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Gay & Lesbian
ISBN: 9781611244625
Published: 2013-07-29T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

The day of Orpha's funeral dawned bright and warm. By the time of the service, it was hot.

Victor tugged at his shirt collar, disarranging his tie once again. He wished he could take it off, but there was still the graveside service to get through and the meal. He resisted the urge to pull at the collar again.

It seemed as though everyone in the county had crowded into the clapboard church. As Orpha's employer and the area's most prominent family, the Deaths had taken the pew directly behind Orpha's parents and brother. Victor was at the end, Phillip on one side and the empty aisle on the other. Despite that, Victor still felt smothered. The gathered people behind around him were a palpable weight.

The heavy mixed aroma of perfume, soap, cows, pigs, and earth was enough to make him gag. Bunches of tulips and lilies, as well as flowering branches decorated the altar, their scents adding to the mixture. Victor breathed shallowly through his mouth, keeping his eyes fixed on the plain coffin at the front of the church.

He thought the minister would never stop speaking. He was a big man with light blond hair. If not for his clerical collar, Victor would have taken him for a dockworker or a boxer. He spoke well, painting a glowing portrait of Orpha and her love for her family. The Deaths were also honored for hiring her. Victor wished he could see Darcy's face. He was certain Nike and Julia were accepting the tribute as their due, but though Darcy was a proud man, his was a pride of achievement. Not of personage.

Losing the thread of the sermon, Victor's thoughts returned to the thicket they'd been lost in since the scene in the library. What would have happened if Julia hadn't entered just then? Would Darcy have taken Victor in his arms? Kissed him? Made love to him right there?

Victor looked down at the clenched hands in his lap. He would have let him. He would have let Darcy make love to him. He would have urged him on. Even now, just thinking about it made him hot and dizzy.

For all his resolutions not to let Darcy have him again, he knew he'd forget them the minute the other man touched him. He wanted Darcy in a way he hadn't wanted Adam and he couldn't fight it. Even though Darcy was married.

It wasn't a happy marriage, he argued with himself as the minister droned on. Darcy and Julia were ill matched. She was a sick woman. She drank. It shouldn't matter that Darcy took his pleasure elsewhere.

And how much, a voice within asked, of Julia's illness is because Darcy takes his pleasure elsewhere?

His knuckles were white, so tightly were his hands clenched.

Victor forced them apart. Blood flowed back into them, turning them bright red.

Someone coughed. There was a rustle of movement. Everyone stood.

Victor shuffled out behind the Deaths, pausing a moment once outside the door to take a breath of fresh air.

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