Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
“I should have called first.” Lucas stared up at the mansion as the rental car crept up the long, winding drive. The grand manor sat in the middle of heavily landscaped acreage behind eight-foot-tall brick walls.
“You didn’t want to.” Ginger moved from watching him to marveling at the beauty of the place.
“Maybe this is a mistake.”
She laid a hand on his arm, her head swiveling to take it all in. “This is long overdue, and you know it.”
He gave her a side glance. “Maybe I should never have told you about her.”
She barked out a laugh. “And how long would that have lasted?” She sighed. “Neither of us are very good about talking about our past. But I feel better after sharing mine with you. I guess what they say is true.”
“What’s that?”
“Talking helps.”
He grunted. That sentiment wasn’t always true, but she was right this time. He had felt better talking to her about Rosalynn. And as much as his gut wrenched at seeing his sister after all this time, he had to fix this chapter of his life. But as he pulled in front of the steps to the manor, he was second-guessing himself.
They’d left Bella and Jacques in downtown Chicago while they made the drive to Lake Forest for this surprise visit. The wait at the front gate had been surprisingly short considering he hadn’t called ahead. At this point, he was on a fifty-fifty split on whether he wanted his sister to be available.
He would have remained a statue in the driveway if Ginger hadn’t grabbed his hand to drag him up the steps where the doors immediately opened. A butler greeted them and directed them to a nearby room to wait.
He sat in one of the antique armchairs and watched Ginger flit about the room, investigating the artwork and the single bookcase.
They were there for five minutes before a tall vampire with broad shoulders, dark hair cut in a modern style, and a goatee strode in. He’d seen a picture of Mason Bertrand but wasn’t expecting the broad smile of welcome.
“Lucas Maynard. Welcome to our home. It’s been long overdue.” He held out his hand, and if his statement had anything to do with the distance that had built between Lucas and his sister, it wasn’t apparent.
The vampire had a powerful magnetism that made Lucas want to like him, but he continued to remain stubborn. He’d observe and hold his opinions until after he saw his sister.
“I’m sorry for the unexpected arrival.” He shook Mason’s hand and felt the power behind this House leader.
“Not at all. It’s not unusual for us to get visitors living so close to the city. You were lucky to catch us between trips, though we’ve reduced those lately. It’s nice to have the time to enjoy our home.”
He turned when Ginger stepped up to them. “And who is your beautiful companion?”
Ginger held out her hand. “Ginger Morrison of House Trelane.”
Mason kissed her hand, and his brow rose. “You’re human?”
“Yes.”
“Is that a problem?” Lucas wouldn’t tolerate any disrespect.
“No. Of course, not.” Mason didn’t seem startled by his question. “My security mentioned you were returning from an assignment. I don’t remember ever seeing a human deployed with cadre before.”
Lucas’s smile was tolerant. “She’s resourceful.”
“I see.” He turned to Ginger. “I didn’t mean to offend.”
“That’s alright. It still surprises me sometimes. Until I have to pull out my dagger.”
Mason laughed in delight and winked at Lucas. “I see what you mean.”
He waved for them to follow him as he led them through the light and airy manor. Flowers filled vases throughout the hallways and in some of the rooms Lucas glanced in. A definite feminine touch he attributed to Rosalynn.
“I thought this might be the best place to wait for Rosa. She spends a great deal of time in the solarium, and she sits by the window and stares at the garden.” The English-styled garden was impressive, with a multitude of flower beds, shade trees, benches, and a fountain centered in a small lake. “It always makes me nervous thinking she might be planning yet another redesign of the gardens. Not that there’s anything I can do about it.
“I believe our butler mentioned your sister was in a meeting. It’s a conference call with Zurich and Okinawa for some charitable foundations she operates. Rosa’s involved with so many it’s difficult to keep up with them all. But she should be done soon. I’ve asked for a tea service to be brought.” He snapped his fingers. “I’m afraid you caught me off my game. Will you be staying overnight? Perhaps a few days?”
“We didn’t want to intrude.” Lucas brushed imaginary lint from his pants. “We have urgent business and need to get back to House Trelane, but Chicago was on the way, and—” He didn’t know how to finish the statement. Maybe something along the lines of he’d been an ass to not speak with Rosalynn after all this time. That his neglect was his unresolved anger with his father and brothers, and he’d been taking it out on her.
“You don’t have to say anymore. In fact—” Mason turned to Ginger. “Would you mind if I stole Lucas away for a few minutes? You’re free to walk around the gardens if you prefer or just relax with a glass of Pinot Gris. Or perhaps a merlot?”
“It’s not a problem. But a Pinot Gris would be lovely. It would go better with the tea.”
“Of course.” Mason smiled at Lucas. “I’ve learned never to argue with a woman.”
Lucas returned the smile and glanced over his shoulder as he followed Mason out of the room. Ginger smiled with crossed fingers on both hands. He would definitely blame her if this didn’t go well. They walked down two short hallways before they stepped into a masculine office complete with dark burgundy walls, cherrywood bookcases, and a massive desk that took up one corner of the room. The wood floor was covered with dozens of Persian carpets. Tasteful art filled what spare wall space there was, and sculptures poked out from nooks and crannies in the bookshelves. Bertrand wasn’t hurting for money.
Mason walked to a bar service station and held up a decanter of dark amber that Lucas assumed was scotch. He nodded—in need of the fortification.
“I know this room seems rather brutish after the lightness of the manor. I suggested Rosa change it. This was my father’s study, and she knew how much I loved coming in here, mostly to catch a whiff of pipe smoke whenever Father was in deep concentration. She refused, of course, and said my study wasn’t something for her to mess with. Except for the dark carpet, which she had pulled out in favor of the rugs. It was an excellent change.”
He passed Lucas the glass of scotch and led him to the two chairs facing the unlit fireplace. They sat and sipped scotch, neither saying a word. Lucas thought he should start the conversation, but it was Mason who asked for the meeting, so he waited the vampire out.
“We should have done this decades ago.” Mason tapped a finger against the arm of the chair. “I suppose it’s my Family’s fault as much as anyone’s. I knew Rosa was in love with someone else, but try as I might, I couldn’t get Father to change his mind about the marriage.”
“I wasn’t aware.”
“Neither was Rosa until afterward. It was a precarious time for the House, and though, sorry to say, your father’s House had nothing to offer other than name, that was what Father thought our House needed. Who’s to say whether he was right?”
“I was always curious why the need to marry into a smaller House. But now that I’m older and not as headstrong, I can see it from Bertrand’s standpoint. The Maynard name still holds a great deal of weight in many circles, and though my father is an ass, he’s comfortable enough if he doesn’t do anything stupid with his assets. Marcus would be upset if he was left with just a skeleton of a House.”
“I don’t know what Rosa will tell you. That’s between brother and sister. I wanted you to know that I’ve come to love your sister. Very much. The only thing missing are children. I think that’s why she spends so much time with her charities.”
“It’s the same everywhere. And from what I hear, the Council is no further along in determining why the fall in our fertility rates. I know there aren’t many orphaned vampires, but have you considered adoption?”
“Yes, you’re right. What children do come available are quickly adopted, though we’re on a waitlist. One we no longer hold out much hope on.”
“I’m truly sorry for that. And I’m sorry for not reaching out sooner. It’s my own arrogance and obstinance that stopped me, and all I did was hurt Rosalynn in the process.”
“If you know your sister, then you know she has a forgiving heart.” He finished his scotch and set the glass down before standing. “Now, let’s see if she’s off the phone yet. I don’t want to leave your companion waiting alone.”
When they returned to the solarium, Rosalynn was laughing at something Ginger said. She hadn’t aged a day since he’d last seen her. Not to him. Except for the smile. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen her laugh. When she noticed them walk in, she turned, and her gaze immediately caught his eye. Her smile grew wider, and her eyes sparkled.
His sweet, beautiful sister had become a stunning mistress of a major House. And instead of suffering under the brutish hand of someone like her father, she’d married a gentle vampire. No doubt a keen businessman, but an obvious pushover where his wife was concerned.
Rosalynn jumped up and almost ran to him. He simply held his arms open and caught her, hugging her tightly. He could barely see Ginger through his blurred vision, but she was grinning from ear to ear, and he couldn’t love her more than he did at that moment.
“I’m so sorry, Rosalynn.” He couldn’t remember the last time he’d hugged her. Time he would never get back.
“Hush. None of that. Those horrible times with Father are long over.” She pulled back and ran a hand under her nose. “I can’t imagine what I’m doing to my makeup.” She laughed and pulled out an embroidered handkerchief to dab her eyes.
“Dear,” Mason stepped behind her and settled a hand on her shoulder. “Why don’t you take Lucas for a stroll around the garden? It will give me time to get to know Ginger. I’ll hold the food until you return.”
She reached for his hand and squeezed it. “That’s a marvelous idea.” She tilted her face up and gave her husband a stunning smile. “We won’t be long.” Then she grabbed Lucas’s hand and pulled him toward the French doors leading to the garden.
“Don’t worry about Mason. He’ll make Ginger feel at home.”
Lucas chuckled. “Ginger makes friends easily. She’ll be fine.”
“She seems wonderful. A perfect match for you, I think.”
“Together for less than five minutes after decades apart and you’re already playing matchmaker?” he teased.
“I think it’s too late for that. You’re smitten with her, and I can see why. She sings your praises. I have a feeling she has some interesting stories to share, and Mason will get them out of her. The two of us will discuss your visit for days. Ginger says you can’t stay long.”
“We have an important artifact we need to get back to Santiga Bay. I wish we could stay for a few days, but the timing isn’t right.”
“Then we need to make the most of it. Let me take you to the pond, and we can talk.”
They weaved through several garden paths, each area its own garden within a garden. “Do you give tours of the gardens?”
“We do.” She laughed. “I can’t tell you how many magazine shoots we’ve had here, and I host several parties here from spring through fall. Some of them for charities, some for the local garden clubs, and others for vampire gatherings. I know Mason doesn’t look the type, but he loves spending time in the garden with me, planting new varieties or deadheading blooms. It’s a peaceful respite from his business and my charities.”
She led him to a wooden bench overlooking a lake similar to the one at Oasis. The trees were different but just as numerous. Wildflowers rather than a manicured garden grew within the tall grasses. Water lilies skimmed the surface of the lake where two swans and a small group of ducks paddled around.
“The swans were a present from Mason’s father. There are days when Mason and I just sit out here and watch them. I hate to say anything good about our father, but this turned out to be the best thing for me. Oh, somewhere deep down, I still love Eric and probably always will. But it was a young love, a first love, and he’s married now. From what I’m told, he’s very happy.”
“You know I only wanted the best for you. It was a choice you should have been able to make on your own.”
“Father isn’t a kind man. He’s selfish and stuck in the old ways. Marcus isn’t much better, but from what Mason tells me, he’s beginning to have a change of heart now that Father is close to relinquishing leadership.”
“I hadn’t heard that, but to be honest, I don’t keep up with them.”
“And no reason you should. The only reason Mason does is because of our mutual business dealings, which he’s slowly pulling out of. Our brother noticed it and seems to understand that unless House Maynard changes their growing alliance with Venizi, Mason will continue to dissolve their partnership. In the last few years, we’ve followed Trelane’s dealings with the shifters. We now have several business partnerships with a couple of the local packs, and there are more on the horizon.”
“It’s one of the smartest decisions Devon ever made. Of course, he and The Wolf have a mutual score to settle with Venizi, and while it was a rocky road in the beginning, the two seem as tight as ever on the future of the races.”
She nodded and pulled a bag of bird food out of her pocket. She tossed a handful into the lake, and the ducks swarmed to it before the swans noticed. “Mason followed Trelane’s trouble with the Council after Boretsky’s murder. He planned on reaching out but wanted to see how the House did with Devon under his beast’s control.” She tossed out another handful, then turned toward him.
“I can’t tell you how proud the two of us are with your rise through the Houses. From what we hear, Father boasts that your accomplishments are his doing, but Mason and I know the truth. Your success is despite the brutality of our father.” She tossed another handful to the swans, who finally noticed the excited ducks.
“In fact, we took a trip to New Orleans last year to visit the Renaud Library. Of course, we had to meet with Lafitte and Romero. They had such wonderful things to say about you.”
“They never said anything.” He chuckled. “Although they wouldn’t. They’d prefer I worked out the demons on my own.”
She took his hand. “And now I think the last of Father has been put to rest. We no longer need to think of him. I have a wonderful life here with a strong-willed but kind and loyal vampire. I love him with an intensity I didn’t think I’d find again. And I know he loves me.”
“He loves you very much. It’s obvious every time he says your name.”
“We should get back to them before Mason bores Ginger with his tall tales or pulls too many secrets from her.”
“I think he’ll find it rather difficult to get anything out of Ginger she doesn’t want to share. She’s quite practiced at changing a conversation and steering it down so many paths, you can never remember what the original topic was.”
“Now that we’re speaking again, I expect constant communication and a longer visit.”
He laughed as they took a different route back to the manor. “The communication won’t be a problem. A longer visit might be problematic for a while.” He pulled her into an alcove created by a collection of ornamental firs. “This isn’t known information yet, so this is between me, you, and Mason. Devon will be calling on his strongest allies. We’re uncovering startling information that will shake vampire society to its roots. I can’t say more, but this isn’t a ruse.”
“You’re talking about the possibility of a civil war.” Her voice was low but surprisingly not overly alarmed.
“Have either of you heard something?”
She shook her head. “Not yet. But Mason is watching. He suspects something is brewing with the Council and Trelane’s censure, and more specifically, with Trelane’s private battle with Venizi. Word of Magic Poppy has spread among the Houses along with the rumor that a vampire is at the root of it—though it’s only mentioned in tight circles.”
“I’ll keep you apprised when I can. For now, House Trelane is on lockdown. The only reason we’re not at the manor is because our mission was critical to Devon’s plans.”
Her worried frown turned into a smile. “And you took the time to stop and see your sister. I can’t tell you what that means to me.”
“You have Ginger to thank for that.”
“I know. But you’re stubborn enough that you wouldn’t have come unless you knew this was long overdue.”
“And maybe I’m just as much a pushover for my woman as Mason is for his beautiful vampire.”
She turned them toward the patio. “Does Ginger let you get away with such easy praise?”
“Only because she knows it makes me feel better.”
They were still laughing when they entered the solarium where Mason and Ginger were already eating tea sandwiches.
“Sorry,” Ginger said around a bite. “My stomach growled so loudly, Mason felt sorry for me.”
They spent several hours reminiscing about childhoods, Rosalynn’s charity work, and some business before it was time to depart. He didn’t want to go and wished he had more time, but they were communicating, and a heaviness that felt like a boulder rolled off his chest. He never realized how much their distance bothered him.
When the four of them stood outside the front door of the manor, Rosalynn strung an arm through his. “Now, remember, I expect to hear from you the minute you arrive home so I know you both arrived safely.” She kissed his cheek before turning to take Ginger’s arm to say their goodbyes.
Mason walked with Lucas to the waiting car. “While you and Ginger took a last stroll around the garden, Rosa filled me in on your discussion regarding Trelane and the lockdown. News of the raid at Venizi’s island traveled fast. As you can imagine, rumors are already growing about the rising conflict between the two Houses. Many don’t expect anything to come of it, assuming the Council will eventually demand a cease-fire. But I think they’re wrong.”
“Why would you come to that conclusion?”
“Trelane has spent years building his business empire outside vampire society. Since he’s constrained from doing business with the Houses due to his censure, most would argue what choice did he have. But no one believed he’d get cozy with the shifters. Although he wasn’t the first to do business with them, he’s been the most vocal in discussing similar opportunities with his closest allies. With the success he’s been having, why trouble himself with Venizi or the censure? But he knows the Council is divided between the old ways and those who seek to change with the times.
“He wouldn’t be pressuring Venizi unless he had a solid hand to play. I’ve met Trelane at various functions, and House Bertrand, under my father’s leadership, has always held an allegiance to House Trelane. I’d like you to take a message to Devon that House Bertrand stands with House Trelane. If there’s anything I can do to assist in whatever’s coming, all he has to do is call.”
Lucas held out his hand and gripped Mason’s as he spoke. “Your words carry great value, and you can be assured I’ll let Devon know he can count on House Bertrand. He’ll reach out soon.” He gave Mason’s hand a final shake. “Take care of my sister.”
“You have my word, brother.”
Lucas grinned. “I like the sound of that.”
“And take care of that human of yours. Your sister and I have already grown quite fond of her.”
Lucas looked past Mason’s shoulder to see Ginger chatting with Rosalynn a few feet away. “Easy enough to do. She’s my salvation.”