Bishops Move

1. Bishop

"You're really coming, you took leave?" Maisie asks excitedly down the line and I have to smile.

"I am, believe it or not, I miss you"

"Of course you do, I am epic" she laughs back and I relax back in my seat.  I had cleared my diary and from tomorrow I would be on an extended leave for nearly four weeks and whilst I had things to take care of on my own estate I was worried that I wouldn't have enough to do.  

So I had decided to start with a few days in London, catching up with Maisie and her husbands. "I miss you too Bishop" she adds softly and I smile.

"See you tomorrow" I promise before ringing off. Then grabbing my keys I wave goodbye to my team and head home.

The weather at Inverness was dull and grey when I caught the plane but bright and sunny when I landed at London City airport, moving swiftly to avoid too many people recognising and wanting to stop and talk to me, I headed for baggage claim, scanning the airport, my eyes passing then drawn back to a couple... arguing.

"Not your problem man" I whisper to myself, but my eyes keep returning to the large man looming over the tiny woman... it wasn't right. I stop and turn to face them, looking closer at their body language, she is trying to get out of his hold.  I take a step their way before I see the two security guards just coming through the doors, I aim for them instead.

"Hey, I'd like to report..." I start but he cuts me off.

"Man, you're that Commander chap, from the TV" one gushes and I nod, my eyes going back to the couple, she is struggling against him now, her bag on the floor at her feet.

"Yes, but listen, I think there is something wrong over there, that man is attacking a woman" I point at the couple and can immediately see they don't want to get involved.

"Help her" I growl at them and they swap looks before rushing over, but they are too late to stop the man from striking her, his backhand hit sending her tumbling to the ground with a cry I could hear across the hall.

"Hey stop... Sir!.. Stop!.." one of the guards shouts but the man is off and running, one guard following as the other assists the woman.  A crowd of people now surrounding them.  I look down at my watch, noting my ride would be waiting outside, I grabbed my bags, happy that the woman was now safe, and went outside.

"Good flight?" Shane asked, looking back at me through the mirror as he navigated the London traffic

"Quick and easy" I confirmed, forgetting about the couple in the airport as I asked him about his family.  His daughter having just had a baby he was keen to talk about the next generation and his news kept us going till we reached the house and he parked.  

Shane had worked for my family since his retirement, he had previously served under my father and now he and his wife lived in the basement flat under my Mayfair home.  His wife Sarah kept the house clean and ready for use and between the two of them I knew if I had to come to London I would always have all my home comforts.

"Anything else Lad?" he asked and I grinned at him, to him I was still a boy.

"Thanks Shane but i'm good, I will be off to see Maisie tonight, I don't need the car, so I won't need you any more today and Sarah doesn't need to leave me any dinner"

"Anyone joining you?" he asked and I shook my head, it was a question he asked each time he saw me, usually adding I needed to find a good woman before time ran out for me.

"Not this time" A brief flash of the woman at the airport crosses my mind but then she's gone.

"You..." he starts.

"One day" I laugh at him cutting his words off, and hooking my bag out of the trunk and entering the house and he heads off to his domain.

Later that day I take a taxi across town to meet with Maisie and her husbands Angus and Hector Breitmeyer.  With Maisie being an author she was able to work from anywhere, so she had relocated down to where her husbands were currently most needed, meaning our recent catchups had all been by phone and it had been months since I had seen her and while she was my cousin, she was as close to me as a sister and after her cousin had tried to kill her over land he was illegally selling to her now husbands,  we were all very protective of her.

Angus opened the door welcoming me in and guiding me through to the lounge where Maisie was sat, Hector fussing around her.  "Bishop" she cried and pulled herself up, rushing over to me, my arms automatically circling her as she hugged me hello.

Angus and Hector grinning at me as I realise what has changed...  "Mai... Are you pregnant?" I stutter out, pulling back to look down and her, her rounded belly making my words overly obvious.

"Surprise" she laughs at my expression.

"How?" I ask and this time they all laugh as Maisie blushes bright red.

"Umm, not sure you want the answer to that" Hector replies, handing me a drink, as Maisie tucks herself into Angus's side, his hand coming to rest on the obvious mound.

"Congratulations, I am so happy for you, all of you" I tell them looking at the love they share and I know they will take care of her and she will take care of them and their growing family.

"Do you know what you're having, how long, why didn't you say?" I rush out and they all grin again.  

Maisie grinning as Angus passes her a glass of sparkling water.  "We don't know, not yet, we sort of want it to be a surprise, and we would have told you very soon, I am nearly three months.  This..." she waves her hand over her belly, "This has popped out of nowhere in the last few days, you are the first person we've shared our news with"

The rest of the evening was spent catching up and sharing more news, good food and company and its late when I get back to my house, smiling as I let myself in, noticing Sarah had left a light on and a note telling me she would be in to make breakfast. 

When I finally get to bed, I drop into sleep thinking of the future and again the woman from the airport crosses my mind, I shake my head, I was worried about her that's all, no one likes to see a woman being bullied.