Indulgence & Temperance - (Read the whole story on Amazon)

Chapter 3

William held the exquisite gold and sapphire necklace in his fingers, marvelling at the glint on it as the light hit the metal. Hearing a knock on the door, he quickly placed it in the drawer of his desk.

"What do you want?" he asked, irritated by the interruption.

The door opened and Daniel walked inside the room. "I was told you sent for me," he said firmly.

William nodded. "There's been an error with the orders in the warehouse. I need you to do a stocktake on everything down there."

Daniel shook his head. "I've checked the last few orders from top to bottom. There's been nothing missing."

"Then you must have missed something. Now go down to the warehouse and do as I ordered. Two men are waiting to help you in any way they can."

"Help?" he asked.

The older man smiled. "Or make sure you don't help yourself to my supplies," he explained. "Whichever is necessary."

Waiting until Daniel left his office, obviously not happy about his instructions, William opened the desk drawer and reached for the necklace.

It seemed a waste to give it to Hannah, but he knew he would have to give her something from her fiancé soon, before she lost interest or received a better offer of marriage. Reaching further in the drawer, he pulled out a small bottle of laudanum. He would need this too when he went to visit the young Miss Raeburn this morning.

Leaving his office, William made his way to the townhouse he'd been told Hannah lived at. Stopping on the top step, he knocked loudly.

"Mr. Massey," Hannah greeted him as she opened the door. "When I got your note saying you'd be calling this morning I must admit I was slightly alarmed. I do hope nothing is wrong."

He chuckled at her naïve concern. "No, dear. Everything is well and dandy. My son has just requested that I keep an eye on you to make sure you don't change your mind."

Hannah opened the door further, gesturing for him to come inside. "You must tell your son that he need not worry," she said as she closed the front door. "I am quite content to await his arrival."

Leading William to the tea table already set out in her drawing-room, Hannah poured them both a cup of tea.

William reached into his pocket and pulled forth a small parcel, handing it to Hannah. "A gift from my son," he said.

Watching as Hannah opened the parcel, the necklace falling into her tiny hands, her delicate fingers tracing the intricate features of the piece of jewellery, William felt his heart thud. What he wouldn't give to have this woman's hands caressing him as she was the necklace, stroking him as her small, soft frame moulded against him. The gentle tears from the young woman pulled him from his lustful musings. Of all the reactions he'd expected from her today, tears had not been one of them.

"Whatever is the matter, dear?" he asked. "Is the necklace not of your choosing?"

She shook her head, and reaching for a napkin, dabbed at her eyes. "The necklace is beautiful, the most beautiful I've ever seen in fact."

"Then for heaven's sake what can have upset you so?"

Taking a deep breath, she rested her hands in her lap. "It seems my family isn't as excited about your son's offer of marriage as I am," she explained. "They tried to tell me I was being naïve and that he was nothing more than a gold digger."

Reaching for the teapot, William filled her cup. He pulled the bottle of laudanum from his jacket and went to put several drops in her tea. Only her hand over her cup stopped him.