Chapter 6
London
United Kingdom
"Dawes, I don't have all fucking day!" Bones yelled from Max and Jack's foyer, his impatience increasing by the minute.
"I look bloody ridiculous," I sighed once Max had finished securing my black, tear shaped cocktail hat.
"That's a load of cobblers and you know it," Max objected.
"I should have worn my Number 2 instead," I referred to my Service Dress uniform, which I would have been required to wear if I had been attending the event in an official capacity.
"And waste a gorgeous frock like this?" Max tutted.
"I hardly even recognize myself," I murmured, staring at my reflection in the full-length mirror in front of me. The last time I had taken this much care with my appearance had been the morning of what was supposed to have been my wedding day. Since then, I hadn't really bothered. With my confidence at rock bottom, how I looked had no longer seemed to matter. What was the point of trying when I could never compete with someone who was as drop dead gorgeous as her? Why would any man want someone plain, short, and lacking in curves when they could have someone like her?
"You're beautiful, Molly. I don't want to hear a single word otherwise. Bones is going to be gobsmacked when he sees you," Max assured, as I took in my appearance. We had opted for a modern take on a 1940s silk tea dress in vibrant green with pretty pearl buttons down the front and a tie detail at the neckline. Both Max and Gemma had agreed that it brought out my eyes. Max had decided to leave my hair partially down rather than sweep it back in a full up-do. He had curled the ends that he had not drawn back to secure my hat, leaving me with soft curls falling down my shoulders. We accessorised with delicate pearl earrings, classic black, two-strap sandals with 9cm heels, and a matching black clutch. We
had agreed to go with a more natural look with my make-up, but added special touches to bring out my eyes, which Max claimed were my best feature.
"Thank you, Max. I suppose it's time for me to face Captain Cranky."
"I think Captain Cranky will find that you were well worth his wait," Max gave me a confident smile before shooing me out of the bedroom.
-X-
"Bloody hell, Dawes!" I descended the stairs to see Bones looking more aggravated than ever in his Number 2 uniform. Naturally, he looked immaculate, even with the pronounced scowl on his face. So much for his mood improving from earlier.
I had awoken this morning to an empty bed and no sign of Bones. It was as if the previous night had never occurred. When I finally caught up with him at breakfast, he had been cold and remote, barely acknowledging my presence, focusing instead on his newspaper. There had been no mention of the night before.
Later, Bones had virtually dragged me into Jack's study where he proceeded to interrogate me in preparation for the party. He was adamant that I answer every conceivable question about our 'fake' relationship without the slightest bit of hesitancy. The few times I had faltered, he had bellowed at me like I was one of his privates.
"Now what?" I huffed at Bones, less than thrilled at the prospect of yet another grievance from him.
"Why the fuck are you wearing those infernal heels?" He demanded harshly, a far cry from being gobsmacked like Max had predicted.
"I dunno. Perhaps they might have something to do with the fact that you are a bleeding giant," I observed with heavy sarcasm, as I continued down the stairs.
"Don't move!" he ordered sternly. "The last thing I need is for you to fall down the bloody staircase," he muttered, climbing up the stairs two at a time to intercept me.
"I don't need your damn help managing the stairs. I thought I told you last night that I can look after myself," I reminded Bones in a petulant tone, annoyed that he seemed to think I was some damsel in distress.
"And I thought I told you to let me be the judge of that," Bones didn't give me a chance to respond before he suddenly swung me up off my feet, placed me over his shoulder, and proceeded to march down the stairs.
-X-
"Was it really necessary go all bleeding Neanderthal on me?" I demanded once Bones set me down in the foyer. Max immediately rushed over to fix my hair and to help me smooth any creases from my dress.
"Do you always have to be so damn obstinate?"
"While I'm sure you two could keep us entertained for hours with your witty repartee, I believe you have some curtain twitchers to snooker," Jack not so subtly reminded us. The poor man was likely exhausted from our constant bickering.
"Also, Bones, if you want to appear as a legitimate boyfriend, I suggest you take your head out of your arse and compliment your 'girlfriend' on her appearance," Max reminded.
"Aside from her totally inappropriate footwear, I suppose Dawesey looks presentable," Bones offered in an aggravated tone, as once again he barley seemed to notice me.
"I believe what this dickhead, here, meant to say, is that you looking stunning, Molly," Jack corrected, appalled with his friend's lack of grace. "I also think he needs his bloody eyes examined."
"I can see just fine, wanker," Bones scowled. "Now if you two muppets are finished messing about, Dawesey and I have a party to attend."
-X-
Nearly an hour later, we had arrived at the Wentworth Club. According to Bones, the Wentworth Club was home to three eighteen-hole golf courses, and was host to the annual PGA European Championship. It was widely viewed as one of the most prestigious golf and country clubs in the country, cost six figures to join, and had recently undergone a costly renovation. I took him at his word as golf was definitely not my bag.
Lieutenant General White was an avid golfer and had been a club member for a number of years. Each year he hosted a garden party at the club for his military cronies and invited only the crème de la crème of the British Armed Forces. I hoped this did not mean we would encounter too many familiar faces from my past as I was not looking forward to having any awkward encounters.
"Ready?" Bones asked, pushing the valet attendant aside to help me out of his Range Rover.
"Are you going to stop being the bloody arsehole you've been for most of the day?"
"Have I?"
"Brilliant. Not only are you blind, you are also oblivious to the fact that you've been having kittens all day," I shook my head in disbelief.
"Last time I checked, I did not own any kittens, Dawesey," Bones smirked causing me to glare at him in response. "All right," he conceded. "Perhaps I have been slightly annoyed."
"Slightly?" I rolled my eyes at him.
"Fine. More than slightly," he sighed. "I fucking hate these events. They are full of vapid Officers and their Stepford wives who bore me to death with their insipid conversations and endless curtain twitching."
"Oh. I-I thought you were angry about last night," I confessed, relieved that the nagging suspicion I had held since earlier that morning appeared to be unfounded.
"Why would I be angry?"
"I thought you might be annoyed that I asked you to stay with me. I know I'm not your favourite person…"
"Why the hell would you think I dislike you?" Bones looked at me in exasperation.
"I-I dunno. Y-you always seem irritated with me, you don't like the way I look, don't like the way I dress, you think I am…" I was abruptly taken aback when his mouth collided with mine, gentle, yet seeking, leaving me in a warm and dizzy state of confusion.
-X-
"W-why did you do that?" I whispered with breathless bewilderment once he pulled away from me.
"I seem to recall it's the most effective way to shut your damn gob, Dawesey. I also thought it wouldn't hurt to ensure our arrival draws an appropriate level of fanfare," he smirked.
"O-oh." Did he have to be such a good kisser?
"Also, for the record, I had my eyes checked last month, and my eyesight is just fine, poppet."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means I'm not blind. Also, I would never have selected you to play the role of my girlfriend if I thought you were some swamp hopper. You should know me better than that by now, Dawesey," Bones winked before taking my hand and leading me into the party.
-X-
"Bones, why did that Brigadier just salute you?" I questioned from where we stood on the outdoor patio of the Orangery, which overlooked the eighteenth hole of the West Course.
"What are you on about, Dawesey?"
"The Brigadier standing next to the buffet. Why would he randomly salute you when you did not salute him first?" I wondered.
"You're imagining things, Dawesey," Bones laughed. "Perhaps the Pimm's you've been drinking has gone to your head."
"Half a glass of Pimm's is not going to make me take leave of my senses," I protested, puzzled as to why he had deflected my question.
"Look, Dawesey, it's really…." Bones was suddenly interrupted by a familiar voice.
"Molly! I had no idea you were going to be here," I found myself enveloped in the warm embrace of Jaqueline James.
"Jacqueline," I weakly returned her embrace, gobsmacked by her presence.
"It's so wonderful to see you, sweetheart. Edward and I have missed you so much. It's been much too long," she chided.
"Sir," I greeted and saluted Lieutenant General Edward James.
"Enough of that, Molly. You know it's always Edward to you, dear," he corrected with a warm smile before kissing me on both cheeks.
"Edward, isn't this the loveliest surprise?" Jacqueline beamed at me.
"It certainly is, darling," Edward confirmed before turning his attention to Bones.
"Sir," Bones saluted.
"Jacqueline, this is Captain McClyde," he introduced. "Captain McClyde, my wife Jacqueline."
"Mrs James," Bones politely offered his hand.
"McClyde. Why does that name sound so familiar?" Jacqueline mused. "Are you one of Charles's friends?"
"McClyde is an OG. He's been my protégé since he was a pupil at the Senior School." Edward explained to his wife.
"OG?" I looked at Bones with a raised eyebrow.
"Old Gordonstounian," Bones clarified. "It's how former Gordonstoun pupils refer to themselves. Lieutenant General James was my mentor. We currently work on various initiatives in support of the Gordonstoun Association."
"You're Bones!" Jacqueline suddenly realized. "Why didn't you say so Edward?" she chastised her husband. "Captain McClyde, I cannot thank you enough for everything you have done for my family. If it wasn't for you, I don't know…"
"I was just doing my job, Ma'am. No need to thank me," Bones interrupted curtly.
"You sound just like Molly," Jacqueline smiled. "Edward thinks the world of you, as do I. I know you believe you were just doing your job, but I want you to know that I appreciate your actions from the bottom of my heart. I would hug you, but from the looks on Molly and Edward's faces, I don't think you would like for me to embarrass you any further."
"Again, there is no need to thank me, Mrs. James. I take my job very seriously and have a deep respect and admiration for Lieutenant General James."
"Well, Edward thinks you are a brilliant solider and I can clearly understand why."
"Thank you, Ma'am," Bones replied, his true feelings buried beneath a mask of formal politeness.
-X-
"I had always assumed you had attended Eton, Edward," I commented, still somewhat taken aback that Bones appeared not only to possess a long history, but what also appeared to be a close relationship with the man I had grown to consider more of a father figure than my own.
"No. Edward is extremely proud of the fact that he is an OG. Only Charles attended Eton, sweetheart," Jacqueline clarified.
"I had hoped Charles would follow in my footsteps and attend Gordonstoun, but he preferred Eton," Edward added, disappoint written across his face.
"I thought it was a better fit for his personality," Jacqueline justified.
"Fortunately, my wish was fulfilled with Andrew. He attended Gordonstoun and enjoyed every minute of it," Edward said, referring to his younger brother. "Bones was an outstanding pupil at both Gordonstoun and Sandhurst. We first met when he was working to achieve the Duke of Edinburgh Award. He shared his dream of joining The Regiment and there was never any doubt in my mind that he would become an exceptional Officer. In fact, one of the proudest moments of my career was when he was awarded the…"
"Let's not put me on a pedestal, Sir," Bones interrupted. "I don't want Molly to think I am some type of saint, when we both know I am not. In fact, only moments ago she was reprimanding me for not telling her how beautiful she looks today," he smoothly changed the subject, leaving me to wonder what he was hiding.
-X-
"Bones is right, you look wonderful today, sweetheart," Jacqueline squeezed my hand as we sat together in the club's conservatory. We had decided to excuse ourselves from the men to have a proper chinwag. Something we used to do frequently when I had called Royal Crescent home.
"Thank you," I smiled. While seeing Jacqueline again was a touch awkward, I realized just how much I had missed her. From the very first she had welcomed me into her home and family and had always made me feel like I was a daughter to her. The two of us had formed a close bond and had often confided in one another like mother and daughter. Losing both her and Edward was another reason that I had been left utterly gutted when he had cast me aside like yesterday's rubbish. Not only had I lost the man who I had loved and cherished above all others, I had also lost his parents and siblings who I had grown to love as if they were my own family.
"I know this must be awkward," Jacqueline acknowledged. "There's still not a day that goes by where I don't regret the disgraceful manner in which my son behaved. There's so much I have wanted to say to you, sweetheart, but Edward thought it best I give you some space. He thought if I smothered you with my mother hen tendencies, like I had wanted to, it would have caused you additional distress, and that's the last thing I wanted."
"I understand, Jacqueline, truly I do. You also mustn't blame yourself for what he did. It's not your fault. It's no one's fault, except his own."
"I was going to give you until the end of this summer to contact you. Both and Emily and I were going to insist on seeing you after our annual holiday in Lake Garda."
"I appreciate the space. I'm not going to lie; I was not in a good place after I returned from Sierra Leone. For the longest time I was not even sure if I would ever get past what he did, and there are still many days where I have my doubts, but I have only recently started feel like I can move forward."
"I'm happy to hear that, sweetheart. It's hurt Edward and I tremendously to know how much pain Charles has caused you. While I will always love my son, I do not think I will ever be able to excuse what he did. You should also know that what Charles did will never change the fact that Edward and I will always love you like one of our own."
"Thank you," my eyes welled up with tears.
"Please don't cry, Molly," Jacqueline looked upset at my tears. "Edward and I just want you to be happy. If only we had done more when Charles returned from Belize. I still do not fully comprehend why he did what he did, but the man who did that to you is not the son I raised."
"Nor the man I feel in love with."
"Edward seems to be the only one with a full understanding as to what drove Charles to do what he did, and I think he only learned the fully extent of it recently. As much as I have tried to press Edward to tell me everything, he insists that it is not his story to tell."
"Nor one I ever want to hear," I confessed. As far as I was concerned, I never wanted to see or hear from him again. Nothing could excuse what he had done to me. Nothing.
"I'm sorry dear, I'm being insensitive prattling on like this. It's just all so bewildering at times."
"You're his mother, you have a right to prattle on, Jacqueline. Now why don't we change the subject and catch up on other things like how you have been doing now that Edward is mucking about Royal Crescent after finally retiring," I suggested, eager to discuss anything but him.
"I thought he was going to drive me mad the first month," Jacqueline laughed. "Fortunately, with some not so subtle encouragement from my side, he has been occupying himself with the Gordonstoun Association and Sandhurst Trust. He also enjoys being a guest lecturer at Sandhurst and at various conferences. Then there's his never-ending gossiping with his military friends and what I strongly suspect as meddling in various Army matters."
"There's certainly no keeping Edward away from the Army," I chuckled. "How are Andrew and Emily?" I asked, referring to his younger brother and sister.
"Andrew is currently at Sandhurst and graduates next month. Emily is at the University of Bath working on her teaching degree. She visited Andrew a few weeks ago and is smitten with one of his fellow cadets. I've been sworn to secrecy as both Emily and Andrew are convinced Edward would meddle if he knew. They both miss you dearly and would love to see you. You really must come to dinner one Sunday when Andrew is back from Sandhurst. We would all love to have you visit, especially Sam. He misses you terribly."
"How is Sammy?" I felt a pang in my heart at the thought of the young boy I had also missed terribly.
"I can tell you that Sam was most disappointed when we returned from holiday yesterday," Jacqueline laughed. "Edward was speaking at a conference in Brussels, so we decided to turn it into a holiday for Sam. We spent a long weekend in Brussels where Sam gorged himself on chocolates and waffles before taking him to Disneyland Paris."
"He must have been proper chuffed," I smiled.
"Believe me, he was," Jacqueline smiled brightly. "Let me show you some photos," she reached into her handbag for her mobile. "Now, don't tell Edward I showed you this one," Jacqueline giggled as she showed me a picture of Sam and Edward standing in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, both wearing mouse ears.
"What a brilliant picture!" I chuckled. It would be hard for many in the British Army to even imagine the stern Lieutenant General being silly with his grandson. "I cannot believe how much Sammy has grown in eighteen months," I commented as Jacqueline showed me additional pictures from their holiday, none of which had included him.
"You know, Molly, Sam would love to see you," Jacqueline remarked.
"As much as I would adore seeing him, your son probably wouldn't approve," I pointed out. "I also wouldn't want to confuse Sam."
"Charles no longer has a say in who Sam can and cannot see," Jacqueline surprised me with her response. "Rebecca has full custody and parental rights now. Edward and I agreed that it was best…" her voice trailed off as if she realized that perhaps she had revealed too much.
"Oh," I wasn't quite sure how to respond. While Rebecca had always maintained primary custody, she had always allowed him to have a say in any important decisions involving Sam, and had always ensured he had access to his son. I hoped for Sam's sake this didn't mean he had abandoned him for her. The thought was abhorrent to me.
"I'm sure Rebecca would have no problem with you visiting Sam. She always liked you, Molly, and she knows that you and Sam were good mates," Jacqueline shared.
"Speaking of Rebecca, she re-married a few months ago. Ben's an architect based in Bath. They met when she was doing the interior design work on one of his projects. He seems like a good fit for her and he loves Sam. Edward and I often babysit after school and during the summer. Rebecca has been wonderful about letting us have access to him, all things considered."
"I'm glad to hear that. She is a lovely woman." While I had been nervous about meeting her and worried about navigating a relationship with his ex-wife, Rebecca had been extremely kind to me and we had actually got on quite well. It had turned out that Rebecca's parents had been extremely close friends with Edward and Jacqueline and that Rebecca's father had been a Colonel in the Army. He and Rebecca had known each other since they were children and their parents had always expected that they would marry. Rebecca had later confessed to me that they never should have married, as they loved one another more like brother and sister, than husband and wife. However, they had felt pressured by their parents and hadn't wanted to disappoint them, even going so far as to producing a grandson for them.
"I am sure she would be thrilled to hear from you," Jacqueline encouraged. "As for Andrew and Emily, I suspect you will hear from them once I tell them about our meeting. They have wanted nothing more than to contact you. Andrew was so terribly angry with his brother after what he did. I do not think Andrew will ever forgive Charles for forcing him to deliver the news to you that dreadful morning at the registry office. While he only just started speaking to Charles again, things continue to be strained between the two. Oh dear, there I go again," Jacqueline realized she had veered into unwelcome territory once more.
"It would be good to see Andrew and Emily," I decided. Why should I continue to let the memory of him keep me away from the people I loved?
"They will be so happy to hear that. Ironically enough, I was extremely irritated when Edward decided at the spur of the moment that we should attend today's party. We had originally declined our invitation, knowing that we would be exhausted after a week of traveling with Sam. I am not sure what prompted Edward to change his mind, but we are so very fortunate that he did," Jacqueline beamed at me again, her pleasure at our reunion extremely evident.
"It's so good to see you, Jacqueline. I'm glad you and Edward are well, and I'm glad we have been able to have a proper catch-up."
"Now you can tell me if I am stepping out of bounds, but I would love to hear more about Captain McClyde," Jacqueline invited.
"Did you first meet when he rescued you from Sierra Leone?"
"How do you know it was Bones who rescued me?"
"I was so beside myself when Edward learned that you had been taken, that the only way Edward could help me calm myself was to tell me that he had personally intervened with the Director of the Special Forces to ensure that Bones was placed in charge of your rescue. Edward assured me that Bones was the only person he could trust to ensure your safe return."
"I didn't know," I was amazed that Edward would go to such lengths for me.
"He loves you like his own daughter," Jacqueline easily read my thoughts.
"I know he's fond of me, I guess I never realized…"
"You still cannot seem to grasp that you are infinitely lovable?" Jacqueline gave me a chastising smile.
"Not to everyone," I sighed, thinking of him.
"Bones seems smitten with you." Jacqueline attempted to move our conversation forward.
"Hardly," I laughed. "I have a tendency to drive him a bit mad."
"Is it serious?"
"God no!" I looked back at her in shock, before mentally kicking myself for blowing my cover as the adoring girlfriend. "We lost touch after Sierra Leone and only recently started seeing each other after bumping into one another at Queen Elizabeth," I explained. "Please don't share this with Edward, though. Bones does not like it when people gossip about his personal life."
"I won't," Jacqueline assured.
"I hope you don't mind my seeing someone."
"Molly, we want you to be happy. As long as Bones loves and respects you that is all that matters to me. While I would have loved nothing more than for you and Charles to have married, I realise that is impossible now."
"Thank you, Jacqueline," I said before embracing her. Grateful to still have this incredible woman's love and support after everything that had happened.
-X-
"That was bloody unexpected," Bones sighed with irritation once we had exchanged farewells with Edward and Jacqueline.
"To think we actually agree on something," I giggled.
"While I had been informed that they had declined their invitation, it would appear I was given dodgy intel."
"As Jacqueline tells it, they had initially declined their invitation as they only arrived back in the UK yesterday after a holiday with Sam. Apparently, Edward decided at the very last minute that they should attend."
"Who's Sam?"
"Their grandson."
"I had forgotten that plonker had produced a spawn."
"Oi!" I objected. "That is no way to talk about Sam. He is a lovely little boy and has nothing to do with his father's behaviour."
"Noted," Bones acknowledged, perhaps sensing he had gone too far with me.
"You somehow failed to mention that you are one of Edward's protégés," I observed.
"I didn't think it was relevant."
"You also failed to mention that Edward personally requested that you lead my rescue operation. Did you not think that was relevant too?"
"Perhaps I was unaware of the close bond you seem to share with him," Bones responded.
"Did it not occur to you that perhaps he cares about me?"
"Honestly, Dawes, it did not. I assumed that he felt guilty over his son's behaviour towards you and wanted to avoid any additional embarrassment."
"Am I really that unlovable to you?" I challenged.
"Bloody hell, Dawesey, will you stop getting your knickers in such a twist? If you were truly so unlovable why did I just spend the past thirty minutes being threatened with all sorts of loathsome things if I so much hurt a single hair on your precious little head."
"Edward actually threatened you?"
"Among other things," Bones muttered. "I don't know how you did it Dawesey, but that man fucking adores you."
"Military dioramas," I revealed with a smirk.
"What?"
"You wanted to know how Edward came to adore a gobby little cockney like me. His favourite hobby is creating dioramas of all the famous battles in British military history. I used to ask him all about his vast collection of miniatures and the battles he would recreate. I thought at the time that I aggravated him with my endless questions, but it turns out that I was the only one in the family who ever took an interest in his hobby," I smiled, thinking fondly of the afternoons we would spend in his study with him teaching me about military history.
"I swear, Dawesey, only you would accidently stumble upon the General's weakness," Bones laughed moments before the infamous Lieutenant General White sauntered over to us.
"Captain McClyde," White saluted Bones, causing me to again to question why Bones had been saluted several times throughout the afternoon by those of a superior rank.
"Sir," Bones saluted back.
"I'm delighted that you could attend my annual garden party this year, McClyde. For once you were not called away at the last minute for a covert operation," Lieutenant General observed, causing me to suspect that Bones had used this as his primary excuse for failing to attend White's event in previous years.
"Very fortunate indeed, Sir."
"I also see that you brought a companion today. I would be honoured if you would be so kind as to introduce us."
"Certainly, Sir," Bones acquiesced. "Lieutenant General White, may I present, my girlfriend, Molly Dawes. Molly is a Corporal with QARANC and is based at the RCDM in Birmingham. Molly, this is Lieutenant General White."
"Sir," I saluted.
"Dawes? That name sounds familiar," White commented as my stomach filled with collywobbles.
"It's likely familiar as Molly is one of only four female soldiers to have been awarded the Military Cross," Bones smoothly diffused the situation.
"Ah, right. That's where I have heard your name before," White nodded. "You two are quite the distinguished pair," he observed, making me even more suspicious of the salutes Bones had received earlier. "Have you been together long?"
"We met over a year ago, Sir, but I was in the midst of a covert op and Molly had only recently started at the RCDM. We thought it best to wait out until we both freed up from our work responsibilities to pursue a relationship," Bones conveyed our Legend in a very convincing fashion.
"It's good to see you sorted, McClyde. I am a firm believer that the best Senior Officers are those who are settled in their personal lives," White observed, having clearly bought into Bones's web of lies.
"Indeed," Bones nodded in agreement.
"McClyde, before I forget…"
"Sir?"
"You should anticipate hearing from Major General Holmes within the next week. Lieutenant General James and I have recommended you to be one of the keynote speakers at next month's passing out ceremony at Sandhurst."
"I would be honoured, Sir."
"Very good," White acknowledged before exchanging salutes with us and heading off in the direction of his other guests.
-X-
"Are we able to declare today a success?" I asked Bones as he pulled his Range Rover in front of my flat.
"There will be no declarations of victory until I am personally awarded my Major's insignia, Dawesey," Bones replied. "However, I think today went well, and that we are on the right track. The important thing is for us to build upon our momentum."
"Right," I nodded. "Would you like to come in?" I offered, not exactly sure why I was reluctant for him to leave. "I could make you a cuppa."
"Not tonight, Dawesey."
"All right," I responded as I awkwardly fumbled with my seatbelt, embarrassed that yet again he had turned down an offer from me, even if legitimately it was only for a cuppa and nothing more.
"Allow me, Dawesey," Bones reached across and undid my seatbelt.
"Thanks."
"Let me help you out. You've made it this far in those infernal heals. The last thing I need is for you to fall on your bloody doorstep," Bones rolled his eyes at me before exiting his side of the vehicle.
"Thanks," I took his hand and let him help me out of my seat and onto the street.
"I'm also carrying your kit," Bones announced.
"Do I have a choice?"
"No," he responded as he followed me to the door.
"Well, I uh, guess that is it for today," I awkwardly fumbled with my keys in an attempt to unlock my door.
"I got this Dawesey," Bones took my keys from me and unlocked the door, then placed my kit in the foyer.
"T-thanks," I stuttered, feeling unsettled by his presence.
"Think you can manage locking up behind me?" Bones smirked at my discomfort, his hand reaching out to cup my chin, before stroking my throat with a feather-like caress.
"Y-yes," I whispered, his touch felt electric, awakening a longing inside of me that I long since buried.
"Goodnight," he murmured, before kissing me on the cheek and turning back toward his vehicle, leaving me bereft and longing for more.
-X-
Four Days Later
Royal Crescent
Bath
United Kingdom
"While I wish your father hadn't left for Geneva this afternoon, I'm grateful you're here for Sunday dinner, Andrew," Jacqueline commented as she finished setting the outdoor dining table in the James's back garden. "It seems like Sandhurst has kept you so busy that I've hardly been able to see you lately," she chided before sitting down with Andrew and Emily for dinner.
"Just think, in a few weeks I'll be back and driving you mad once again, Mummy," Andrew retorted.
"Very true," Jacqueline conceded. "Have you thought more about your father's request?"
"About inviting Charles to my passing out?"
"Yes, sweetheart. I know things are still tense between the two of you, but I don't want you to later regret not including him."
"I thought things had improved?" Emily questioned. "You seemed to be getting on better at Christmas."
"We might be back on speaking terms, Emily, but things are still far from sorted between us."
"Why can't you see past what he did? You seem to have forgotten that he was seriously ill," Emily defended her older brother.
"I know he was ill, but that does not mean I can excuse everything he did," Andrew objected.
"Sweetheart, let's give your brother more time to consider whether or not he would like Charles to attend his passing out. Andrew, dear, while I would love for you to invite Charles, it is your day, and I will respect your decision."
"Thank you, Mum."
"Now, I have been dying to tell you both that your father and I saw Molly this past Wednesday," Jacqueline announced, much to the surprise of her children.
"You did?" Emily gasped.
"Yes," Jacqueline nodded. "She was at Lieutenant General White's garden party."
"How is she?" Andrew asked.
"She's doing well all things considered. She's enjoying her job as a Staff Nurse with the RCDM and was promoted to Corporal last year."
"That is wonderful news, Mum."
"I suggested that she come for dinner one Sunday once you are back from Sandhurst."
"Do you think she will come?" Emily questioned.
"Hopefully we can convince her. It helps that our arsehole of a brother is out of the country."
"Andrew, your language, please," Jacqueline balked.
"Sorry, Mum."
"Molly's also dating Captain McClyde," Jacqueline revealed.
"Is that the same McClyde father idolises much to Charles's never-ending chagrin?" Emily queried, having heard her brother complain about him on more than one occasion.
"To answer your question, Emily, yes, it is the same Captain McClyde. Although, I must admit I've never heard Charles say anything negative about him before."
"Perhaps he knew you would tell Father," Andrew pointed out. "God forbid anyone malign father's favourite protégé in front of him."
"Captain McClyde was extremely polite when I met him on Wednesday. I should also add that if it wasn't for Captain McClyde's actions in Belize and Bangladesh, your brother would very well be dead."
"I thought Charles told me that some SAS nutter named Bones rescued him from Belize?" Emily questioned.
"Captain McClyde is Bones," Jacqueline confirmed, causing Andrew's face to turn alarmingly pale. "You know those Special Forces lads have the strangest nicknames. Take Elvis for example"
"Did you just say Bones?" he choked.
"Yes. Darling, are you all right?"
"Bloody hell!" Andrew groaned in disbelief.
"Andrew, what is it?" Emily demanded.
"It's Molly. McClyde is fucking using her!"
"Andrew, why you would say such a thing?" Jacqueline demanded, appalled by her youngest son's outburst.
"I can say such a thing because Bones absolutely loathes Charles and would like nothing more than to destroy him. He knows Molly is the one thing Charles covets more than anything in this world."
"How could you think such a thing?" Jacqueline accused. "After all Bones has done to save Charles's life, not once, but twice, why would he want revenge? The thought is absurd. Not only that, but Charles has not so much as uttered Molly's name to me since he returned from treatment in Scotland."
"Bones rescued Charles because Father asked him to and he respected Father too much to object. What Father did not know, until only recently, is that Bones has despised Charles since Sandhurst and would utilise any opportunity at his disposal to destroy him."
"What?" Jacqueline looked flabbergasted at the thought that Bones could carry such a grudge against her eldest son. "Are you absolutely certain?"
"Yes, Mum," Andrew confirmed.
"How can you be so certain?" Emily questioned.
"Do you remember the last weekend Elvis spent here? It was just after Charles had left for Nepal."
"Yes, but what does Elvis have to do with this?" Jacqueline asked with confusion.
"One night, after everyone had gone up to bed, Elvis and I had decided to have a few more rounds before calling it a night. It was while we were drinking that Elvis started to complain about Bones. They had recently been assigned to the same squadron and Bones had been making Elvis's life utter hell. Elvis, was a bit rat arsed by this point and confessed that it was all Charles's fault that he was being subjected to Bones's harassment," Andrew revealed.
"How was this Charles's fault?" Emily wondered.
"Apparently during their last month at Sandhurst, Charles discovered that Bones was to be awarded the Sword of Honour."
"But Charles won the sword," Jacqueline protested.
"Only because he set Bones up and then proceeded to grass him out so that he would lose the sword," Andrew explained.
"Good grief. Why would Charles do such a thing?"
"Think about it, Mum. Charles's entire life has been spent in the shadow of Father. I can tell you from experience that being the son of a great war hero and brilliant general is no easy feat. Especially when said Father, has little to no time for you, and expects you to do everything just as he did. As a fellow recipient of the bloody sword, Father expected no less from Charles than to earn the sword for himself. How do you think Charles felt knowing he would have to settle for the Queen's Metal, knowing full well it would be viewed as yet another failure in Father's eyes? Even worse, knowing that he would be losing the sword to the one man whom father constantly lavished his time, praise, and approval upon."
"I had no idea Charles felt this way. He never said," Jacqueline looked stricken from her son's revelation.
"He likely didn't want to cause friction between you and Father," Andrew surmised.
"I know Edward has not always been the best father, more so with Charles than you two," Jacqueline sighed. "He was so focused early on in our marriage in establishing his career and moving up the ranks, that I'm afraid he often took Charles for granted. By the time we had both of you, he was much more settled. However, I'm afraid that by the time he started focusing on Charles it was much too late for him to repair the damage to their relationship. It didn't help that I encouraged Charles to attend Eton. I didn't want him to feel that he was being forced to follow in Edward's footsteps. I think I only made things worse. With Edward being unable to relate to Charles, and Charles's attendance at Eton, it would seem that this only served to create a further void in their relationship, one that Edward clearly looked for Bones to fill. I knew things were strained between Charles and Edward, but I never realised how much it would impact Charles into adulthood," Jaqueline mused, feeling like she had failed her son.
"Mum, you need to show some compassion for yourself. Father essentially left you to manage three kids and this old pile by yourself," Andrew motioned at the exterior of Royal Crescent. "With Charles appearing to be happy at Eton then Oxford, how were you supposed to know exactly what was in his head?"
"I appreciate the sentiment, but I should have known, should have done more," Jacqueline chastised herself. "While Bones had every right to be angry with Charles, do you really think he would carry such a grudge for all of these years? Doesn't it seem rather extreme justification for Bones using Molly as the means for his revenge?"
"Mum's right. It does seem rather far-fetched," Emily agreed. "Plus, Molly is not stupid, Bones has to know she would suss him out."
"As smart as Molly is, I'm afraid I'm only just scratching the surface with Bones," Andrew indicated.
"There's more?" Emily looked astounded.
"A lot more," Andrew confirmed.
-X-
"Do you mean to tell me that Charles slept with Georgie Lane, his subordinate, and medic, not to mention his best friend's former fiancé, while on tour in Bangladesh?" Jacqueline questioned in a horrified voice after hearing Andrew's latest revelation.
"Yes," Andrew confirmed grimly.
"And that your father and Beck, forced Bones help them cover it up?"
"Yes."
"How is this even possible?" Jacqueline protested in disbelief. "Knowing your father as I do, I know he's capable of anything, but this takes the bloody biscuit. Are you absolutely certain? One thing I do know is that there is no conceivable way your father or Beck would share such a thing with you."
"You're right, Mum. It was Charles who told me."
"W-What?" Jacqueline became visibly distressed.
"Charles?" Emily repeated in disbelief. "How could he be so bloody stupid?"
"I found him one night, ratted out of his mind in Father's study frantically searching through his computer. It was during the weekend you and Father went to London to do your annual Christmas shopping. Apparently, Father had invited Bones to the house earlier that morning. He had insisted that Charles apologize to Bones for his conduct and for causing Bones to tear his Achilles tendon during the rescue operation. Charles, hating Bones as he does, was not about to go along willingly with Father's plans. Apparently, he and Bones got into a bit of a row and Bones for whatever reason told Charles about Sierra Leone.
"Oh, no," Jacqueline had a bad feeling as to where the conversation was headed.
"Needless to say, Charles did not take it very well."
"You think?" Emily scoffed. "I told Father he should never have kept it a secret from Charles."
"Charles waited until you had left for London before going through Father's computer to see if he could discover anything about Molly's kidnapping. Unfortunately, Charles is more intelligent than Father gives him credit for and was able to locate the pertinent files on his computer. Contained in those files were pictures of Molly taken immediately after her rescue. To say they were horrific would be an understatement. Charles was absolutely devasted. I've never seen him in such a state. Even though I had refused to speak to him since the morning of the wedding, I was terrified for him and couldn't let him fall back into a deep depression, not when he had come so far. I don't really know how I did it, but somehow, I managed to make him talk and that's when the he told me the brutal truth, from feeling responsible for Elvis's death, to becoming obsessed with Lane, and the numerous errors and lapses in judgment that followed. From what I gather, it wasn't until after he had slept with Lane and had been caught out by a disgusted Brains and Fingers that the enormity of the PTSD and everything he had done to Molly, us, Sam, Elvis, his Section, and Lane finally hit him. While he never said, I honestly think that jumping off that cliff in Bangladesh was his way of trying to find a way out.
"My God," Jacqueline cried. "I knew it was bad, but never this bad."
"After Bones was successful in saving Two Section, Brains and Fingers approached him for advice as they held a deep respect for him after Belize. This is how Bones ultimately discovered what Charles had done. It's not clear to me why, when he could have easily destroyed Charles's career right there and then, he chose to go Father with this information instead."
"And Edward being Edward, finally decided to act like a father and help Charles clean up his mess," Jacqueline surmised.
"Do you think this is what caused Father to finally retire?" Emily wondered aloud.
"The timing does correspond with your father's rather sudden decision to retire."
"I imagine that Father, knowing how much Bones respects him, utilized that respect to encourage Bones into dissuading Brains and Fingers from reporting Charles to the Brigadier. He may have also ensured that Brains be given the opportunity to try out for the SAS."
"If this is true, it's possible Father retired because he could no longer abide remaining in the army after what he had done to protect Charles," Emily speculated.
"Knowing Edward, it is entirely possible," Jacqueline concluded.
"Do you think that by persuading Bones to go against his principles Father unknowingly amplified Bones's motivation to seek revenge?" Emily pondered.
"But how would Bones know that Charles still covets Molly? Especially after he knows Charles slept with Georgie," Jacqueline posed.
"Why else bring up Sierra Leone in front of Charles? Bones was testing Charles, Mum. He wanted to see how Charles would react." Andrew offered.
"I suppose it is possible," Jacqueline conceded. "Do you have anything else to support your theory."
"Yes. When I suggested to Charles that he stop being such a bloody coward and contact Molly, he told me that Bones had threatened him."
"He what?" Jacqueline gasped.
"According to Charles, Bones told him that he would hunt him down and destroy him if he so much as thought of contacting Molly."
"Good grief. Don't tell me Charles is afraid of him," Emily derided.
"No, I think if it was just himself Charles had to worry about, he would face Bones head on once and for all. I think he is worried about us. Charles knows that if Bones were to reveal what Father coerced him into to doing it would destroy not only his reputation, but Father's as well as Beck's. Not to mention it would tarnish mine."
"Which sounds exactly like the son I know and love," Jacqueline sighed, pouring herself another glass of wine. "Before the PTSD, Charles had always put the welfare of others before his own. It's what made him such a dedicated soldier. What an absolute mess."
"Now that Charles has escaped a potential court martial and dishonourable discharge, and has resumed his career in the Army, the only means to execute his revenge is through Molly. Just think, Bones had to know that by bringing Molly to White's garden party he was going to create a stir, which is exactly what he wants. The greater the stir, the greater the likelihood that Charles will find out about it."
"Which will once again subject my poor, darling girl to heartbreak,"Jacqueline worried about what would happen to Molly.
"Mum, we need to warn Molly!" Emily exclaimed.
"I agree. The last thing she needs to be is hurt again by the mess Charles's actions have created," Andrew concurred.
"As much as I would love to interfere, you two will do nothing of the sort for now," Jacqueline instructed. "While I am astounded by everything you have shared, Andrew, there still remains a remote possibility that Bones does in fact, have genuine feelings for Molly. While there is a distinct possibility Bones is using Molly in some twisted form of revenge, there was something in the way he looked at her that makes me want to pause. Until we know more, we should proceed with extreme caution. In the meantime, your father has quite a bit of explaining to do to me."
"What about Charles?" Emily probed.
"I will deal with your older brother later. First, I need answers from your father," Jacqueline declared, determined to get to the bottom of everything that had occurred over the past year and a half.