You Belong To Me

Chapter No One

'heaven forbid you take the reins of your own destiny!'
no one you know

When Trey returned home days later the state of his current home situation hadn't improved. He was sorely tempted to seek out the opinion of his favorite therapist, his mistress. He hadn't traveled to see her in weeks now. Now that he was back in the regular swing of his schedule there was no reason for him to not be en route to her right then. Theodore could have the car packed for a long weekend in minutes.

Mr. Struthers was three times Tremaine's age. He was tall, thin, white, and very quiet. In fact his work as a butler had been so impeccable that he had earned the position from that of a mere stablehand. Trey could not remember his first name or a time where the older man had not been at his beck and call as long as he lay his head at the St. Laurent estate. That particular day was no different. It was not very late in the evening and Tremaine had just come from a meeting with a neighboring county land holder. However with the warm weather the days were much shorter and he knew that by the time he stepped out again that night the sun would be gone. Struthers opened the door and welcomed him home while taking his coat. He asked him after his travels casually, as he did every other time. He never actually expected a response. Or maybe he did. It mattered very little. Trey liked for the old chap to do the honors of greeting him though he might not ever receive any tangible reply.

He stepped into the elevator and watched Theodore disappear about a corner to take the servants stairs and meet him at his bedroom. In shape, that one. Trey pulled his gloves off and did not even offer a glance at the back of the head of the elevator operator beside him.

When he reached his floor Theodore was standing beside the doors without even seeming winded. Trey wondered how he did that only once. It was long ago. "There is a notice for upcoming nuptials-."

"Are there?" He walked to his bedroom door. It swung open from the inside and a maid stepped out of his way. He handed her his gloves. Theodore took them from her absently and shut the door behind her.

"From a Miss Courtney Fontana. She is to wed a Sir William-."

"Excuse me?"

His mistress was getting married? What? He checked his watch as though that might tell him how long it had actually been since he saw her last. No more than a month. Perhaps two? He cursed and put his hands on his hips, wondering what he might have to buy her to maintain their correspondence and the like. No doubt it will be costly but she was worth it, always had been.

He supposed the news was all about town in the right circles was if he had really been attentive he might not have missed it. He ripped his tie from his fastenings around his neck. "Shit."

"Your cousin Reginald sends his love."

He snorted, "I bet."

"He wonders if you are up for a bit of holiday."

"Really?"

"Says he's just purchased a new yacht-."

"Showoff."

"And he wonders if you might like to attend a party he's throwing."

"Remind me closer to date to decline."

"Certainly. The reverend sends his regards. He reminds you to attend church soon."

"Increase my tides a half a percent. That should buy me another six months."

He crossed to his screen to change into a robe for a bath. "Send word to Miss Fontana that I would like to see her at our usual spot the night after next, our night." He called, wanting to be done with business for the day. Correspondents were the worst."Who the hell is Sir William whoever?"