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

Chapter 7

Gabriel

An entire week passed without me visiting Cecilia or reaching out. Which was a good thing because I had so much to do back at home regarding money, the estate and businesses with trading partners I had. However, even throughout the meetings, the numbers and the endless correspondence, my thoughts always went back to the woman I could never have. I wondered what she was doing throughout the day, if she missed seeing me and especially if Leon was in any way hurting her.

It infuriated me thinking that it was even possible for Leon to hurt her, but the anger in his eyes the night after the Martin party, assured me that he was capable of more than I thought. But I also knew that Cecilia was stronger than Leon gave her credit for, and I knew she would defend herself. I saw how the house staff treated Cecilia, they all adored her. They tried their best not to upset the master of the house but they would definitely step in if their lady was in any sort of danger.

“Will you stop brooding over my tea? I didn’t invite you here so that you could dampen my mood as well Gabriel.” My Aunt Michelle said. She was sitting across from me on her porch and eyeing me carefully.

“I thought getting you away from that grand house of yours and your snobby friends would help you clear your mind. But you seem to have brought the gray clouds with you.” She added with a smile.

Aunt Michelle was as blunt as ever. But that was what I missed the most about her. “I’ve missed you,” I admitted.

She laughed, “Yes, I know.”

Aunt Michelle was my mother’s older sister. When my mother passed five years ago she became the only mother figure I had. Her and mother could not be any more different, yet they were close and the other person’s better half. My mother was a small woman with a wispy, pale blonde hair, blue eyes and a bubbly personality. She was adored by everyone and loved being social. However, my aunt was not as outgoing. She very much preferred to stay in her cottage on the countryside, read books, garden, attend fancy dinners but only for the food, and she used sarcasm shamelessly. She had dark brown hair with little red streaks, small brown eyes, extremely long lashes, an oval face with pink cheeks and was a bit taller than Mother. They had both loved each other so very much, and it had broken Aunt Michelle when my mother had passed. But she remained there as my rock nonetheless.

“Does the young baroness have your mind all scrambled again Gabriel?” She asked me.

I nodded and sighed. “Yes she does. But what’s new?”

She shrugged and looked out at the large field behind her house. The sun was high over us but the large trees gave her house shade. We could hear birds singing in the distance and the neighing of the horses in the nearby stables. You could even hear the buzzing of bees and the light breeze through the leaves on the trees. I had always loved it here.

“I can see why you left society Auntie,” I told her as I sipped my tea. “What you have here is irreplaceable.”

She smiled and nodded. “Yes it is isn’t it? Your mother loved it here too. Even if she acted like she didn’t.”

“Father loved it too. It was nice for them to take a step away from the grand parties, endless dinners and fancy clothes. They could be themselves here.” I smiled to myself remembering them. “Mother would sit on the porch swing with me and tell me stories. Either from a book or from her life. And Father and I would try to catch fireflies in jars late at night and sleep under the stars.”

“Isabella and Andre were great people, and the finest, kindest and most selfless in high society. Nothing like the other toads in suits and jewels.” Aunt Michelle said laughing. “You were blessed to have had them as your parents Gabriel.”

I couldn’t help but get emotional remembering them. It had been 5 years since they had died in a fatal carriage accident leaving me all alone. I had been fresh out of university at 22 and hadn’t the slightest idea of what it meant like to live without them, be a Duke or navigate the toxicity of high society.

“Good thing I still have you though Auntie, who knows what would have happened to me if you weren’t there to help guide me.” I said squeezing her hand.

“Trust me, you would have gotten lost in alcohol, brothels and gambling just like all your other friends. Making a fool out of your father’s good name and mother’s pristine reputation,” she said scowling, “but no matter what, I know you would have never ended up like Leon. That man is cruel and cold by nature. He gets it from his father.”

“I just don’t understand why he’d treat Cecilia that way. It’s bad enough that he’s her husband all while I yearn for her, but knowing that she is miserable with him and he hates her while I’m dying to even be next to her is torture.” I buried my face in my hands and took deep breaths. “The other night I caught him trying to go into her room when she was asleep. He was drunk and angry, who knows what he would have done if I wasn’t there to stop him.”

Aunt Michelle bit her lip in concern. “Is the girl alright?”

I nodded. “Yes, I was able to pull him away and get him to his room. But even then, it’s not enough to assure me she’s safe from him.” I gritted my teeth. “I wouldn’t hesitate in killing him if he hurt her.”

She reached out and patted my cheek. “Oh my sweet boy, I can see how much she means to you. But I don’t want you to get pulled into a scandal, or worse, an actual situation where your life is in danger.”

I smiled at her. “I know. But I can’t just sit by and let her be in harm’s way.” I thought back to Cecilia’s warm smile and bright green eyes.

“I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something happened to her.”