The Thorn of the Rose

Beast of Memories

October's POV...

True to her word, Damaris stay away from the areas we were shooting in the estate for the next few days. That did not stop me from seeking her out afterwards. She was mostly in her office, either on the phone or working on the computer. A small smile would greet me and question how everything was going. I joked about showing her the products of the shoot. Her cheeks would immediately flush. Honestly, I found it adorable that a woman her age could still get flustered over me.

I thought she was just a lady of the estate, but she is also the CEO of one of the largest transportation companies spanning back to the early-1800s that started in England. She took over for her father when she was only 25 years old when he decided to retire at 67.

It was Martha who volunteered the most information about Damaris and their lives here. Sitting down for an English tea one afternoon, she spoke about how Damaris was a late in life child for Lenore and Dennis, her father. How her mother died from an aneurysm in the brain when Damaris was only four years old.

"After that, she was her father's shadow. Playing in his office as he conducted work. She knew the ins and out of the company before she was twelve. Lord Dennis made it known that she would be his heir, in his business and fortune. Lady Damaris was far from a typical air head heiress. She put in the work, graduated top of all her classes both in high school and college. She made sure no one would ever doubt her." Marth shared as we drank our tea in the lady's parlor.

I nodded, while looking up at a painted portrait of Lenore that hung in the parlor. Damaris favored her mother greatly, except for the eyes. According to Martha, she had her father's green eyes where her mother's eyes were more hazel.

"Martha, I need to pry. Why isn't Damaris married or with anyone? She is divorce?" I asked setting down my cup. It was something that I kept going back to. There were no pictures of anyone in her office and she wore no rings on her hands.

"My boy, that is a story for another time. Now." Martha left it at that as she picked up an old photo album, held closed with a small lock. "I did not get a proper wedding band until we had been married for five years. Instead, Stuart saved up his money and purchase me a good quality camera and all the equipment to develop the film. I was self-taught through books, trial and error." She opened the album, showing a spectacular black and white photo of the house when she was a young woman.

"These are amazing." I carefully turned the page, seeing that she was a fan of taking pictures of the gardens. I turned another page, seeing a handsome young man with a square jaw, wide shoulders and chest with light curly hair to his collarbone. He was dressed in a flannel shirt, slightly open. His eyes and mouth were smiling for the camera.

"That is my Stuart after a year of being here. Until our children came, he was the subject of many photos." A sly smile creep along her lips. She gestured for me to continued. The next picture of at the lake where our first shoot was. It was Stuart, waist deep in the water, teasing showing his hips. The next picture was him fully out of the water, nude. Hair wet, looking quite sinful.

"Martha. I knew you were naughty." I looked at her with a smirk. Turning again, he was leaning back against a thick tree, hands behind his head. Martha was right, we were about the same size if you know what I mean.

"Oh, there are more. Stuart loved to show off his body to me and I loved to capture it. He was quite a piece of work." She mused, pointing out her favorite poses that he did. I did study them, thinking about incorporating a few into my next shoots.

"Martha, have you seen October? Madison has everything set up for a quick shoot in the rose garden." Damaris came in while looking down at her phone. Today, she was in black slacks with a pleated front and a black blouse. She was wearing a higher heel than usual. Again, her hair was up, and she wore the barest of makeup.