Lust For My Husband’s Best Friend (Book 3)

Chapter 3

Cecilia

“Now, Sir Leon said he’d like for you to wear the deep blue dress tonight with the gold lacing, the satin gloves and for you to wear the the pearl necklace he had brought in from Scotland. He also asked for you to wear your hair up and away from your face.” My lady’s maid Sophie said. “How does that sound my lady?”

I rolled my eyes and laid back in the tub, resting my head on the towel. “It sounds like Leon already picked for me so who cares.”

Sophie pursed her lips and went back to the bath cabinet. Leon had instructed for everything to be restocked every Sunday night with bath salts, oils and soaps of his choosing. Everything in the house was his choosing. Even I was. It had been a year since we had married and I had grown accustomed to it.

“What is the event tonight for again Sophie?” I asked as she began to scrub my arm.

“I believe it is for Lord Pierre of the Martin family. He’s just returned from his studies in Greece.” Sophie smiled. “I believe it’d be rather nice to go to Greece.”

“It’d be nice to go anywhere but here.” I said under my breath.

I knew Sophie had heard me but she didn’t say anything. She rarely did. Leon had assigned her to me the day we arrived. He said she was young, quick,and too dumb to do anything reckless and not too terrible to look at in public so she’d be the perfect fit for me. When he had said this Sophie had turned a red as a tomato but didn’t say anything back. She never said anything rude about him, even though I knew deep down she wanted to.

I had seen her glancing at him several times throughout the day and wondered if she was imagining pushing him down the stairs. I know I did.

After getting cleaned up Sophie helped me dress. And I wore exactly what Leon wanted and had my hair pinned up like he said. When I headed downstairs he was already waiting for me outside and the footman was holding the door open for me.

“You look lovely tonight May Lady,” he said bowing.

“Thank you Hugo, you should thank my husband for picking everything out tonight.” I said giving him a smile.

Leon glared at me and we both were quiet throughout the entire carriage ride to the Martin Estate. As we approached Leon spoke up, his voice cold and direct.

“Watch your tongue tonight Cecilia. These are old family friends and important business partners of my parents’. Don’t make a fool out of me.”

“Of course not Leon. I know better, it’s not like you don’t remind me everyday.” I replied bitterly.

He gripped my knee and squeezed it so hard I jerked back. “I told you to watch your tongue Cecilia. I mean it.”

I gritted my teeth but nodded. Every time we left the house I was the obedient but charming wife and he the stoic and poised husband. Little did they know that as soon as we were alone, he was a monster. I had tried exposing him the first month we were married but that led to endless be arguments, shouts, broken glass and tables everywhere. So I decided it was best to play my part and go out separate ways back home. And yet, I still had the urge to fight him now and then which was why I indulged in endless quantities of alcohol on our nights out. I had learned to control my words and movements when I was drunk because it was the only thing getting me through the night.

***

The Martin Estate was lit up and decorated from top to bottom. The weather was a bit chilly so everyone was inside. Leon as always, introduced me as his lovely wife and I played along. We danced twice and had dinner with his friends and played the part of the lovely couple to perfection. Everyone told me I looked so happy and in love, and I’d just nod and laugh along with them.

After dinner was when the men would congregate and chat and the women would go off to drink and gossip as well. At this point everyone was too drunk to notice if someone was missing so I’d usually slip off to some quiet corner of the house. This night I found myself on the second floor’s back balcony looking out over the forest behind the house. Everything was pitch black but there were outlines of the trees under the moonlight. I sipped my wine, which was probably my seventh glass of the night, and imagined what would happen if I went into the forest and never returned.

“You look deep in thought,” a voice said behind me.

I turned and Gabriel was standing at the door smiling at me. He wore a deep red jacket which caused his pale skin and pale blonde hair to stand out even more. In a quick glance he looked like Leon, but those chocolate brown eyes of his reminded me he was the complete opposite.

“I thought I’d find you here Cecilia, drinking under the moonlight and far away from everyone else.” He said coming to sit next to me on the bench.

“Yes well, it’s the most fun I’ve had tonight.” I replied.

He looked at hid hands and nodded. He very well knew what my situation with Leon was like. He had been present for numerous arguments and helped deescalate them. He’d actually shoved Leon away from me multiple times and taken away glass plates from my hand before I threw them. He knew very well how unhappy I was and how much Leon and I hated eachother.

“Well then I’m happy to bring you good news.” He gave me his charming smile and winked. “Leon is quite drunk right now and will need help getting into the carriage and into his house. So I will be joining you on your way back.”

I grinned. “That’s the best thing that could have happened tonight. And that means I can also do this.” I reached up and pulled the pins out of my hair. The strands fell to my shoulders and my body relaxed. If Leon was too drunk to even stand then he probably wouldn’t notice me letting my hair down.

“I absolutely hate that hairstyle. I rather let my hair hang loose.” I said as I continued to run my fingers through my hair. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the feeling of letting my scalp breath and feeling the blood flow again. I took deep breaths and rolled my shoulders back, more than eager to get out of the hideous dress Leon had picked too.

When I opened my eyes Gabriel was looking at me with a unique glint in his eyes.

“What is it? Is there something on my face?” I asked him. “Or is my hair too crazy right now? Should I pin it back up before Leon sees me?”

He smiled and shook his head. He reached out and took one strand of my hair and twirled it around his finger before tucking it behind my ear. The movement was so gentle it caught me off guard.

“Not at all Cecilia. You look perfect.”