December 2017
British High Commission
Freetown
Sierra Leone
"Captain McClyde?"
"Yes," I tried not to scowl at the dogsbody who had been summoned to attend me.
"I'm Brian Clark and am the MoD's representative to the High Commission in Sierra Leone."
"Right," I gave the chinless wonder a curt handshake. It was obvious that he was nothing more than a pencil pusher for the MoD who would rather play at being an action man behind the gated confines of a High Commission than serving on the ground in Her Majesty's Armed Forces.
"I apologise for summoning you in the midst of a covert operation, but unfortunately a situation has developed. We've assembled a team in the King George III conference room to brief you," Clark indicated.
-X-
Entering the room, I masked any hint of reaction as I took in the team that had been assembled before me. From the British Army there was a Major from The Queen's Dragoon Guards who was in the country as part of a training exercise with the Sierra Leone Army. He was joined by a Captain from Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps. The RAMC had recently sent in a small contingent to support a yellow fever outbreak in the country's Southern Provence. I did not expect to find the High Commissioner himself, along with Sierra Leone's Chief of Defence, also seated in the room along with various minions.
While it came as no surprise to find us connected via video conference to the MoD in Whitehall, I was not expecting to see a who's who of the MoD and British Army's top brass assembled together in one room. It seemed the 'situation" Clark had referenced was likely the result of something have gone all Pete Tong. It also seemed that I was about to be up to my eyeballs with whatever was afoot.
It wasn't unheard of for the Director of the Special Forces or for the Colonel in charge of the Special Projects Team to be summoned to Whitehall to brief the MoD on critical operations. However, it was highly unusual for the MoD's Vice-Chief of Defence Staff and his Deputy Chief to be involved in matters pertaining to Sierra Leone. Further, it was unclear to me as to why the Army's Chief of the General Staff, its Director of Medical Services, and Chief Nursing Officer had also been gathered.
I was even more intrigued as I watched Lieutenant General James enter the room and seat himself next to the Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff. He did not look his usual robust self. Rather, his complexion appeared almost grey and it was obvious he had not slept. This immediately aroused my suspicions that the 'situation' somehow pertained to his fucktard son.
-X-
"Yesterday at approximately 16:30, Lance Corporal Dawes from QARANC went missing. Dawes is part of the contingent supporting the ongoing yellow fever epidemic in the Southern Provence," Clark disclosed. The name sounded vaguely familiar to me, but I couldn't place it. I was also intrigued as to why the top brass was so heavily engaged when it had been less than twenty-four hours since Dawes had been reported missing. While it was certainly cause for immediate concern, there were protocols for these types of situations, and this was definitely outside of the norm.
"Lance Corporal Dawes was last seen providing medical assistance to a village in the Pujehun District," Clark continued. "At 10:00 this morning, the High Commission received a ransom demand from a drug cartel that operates within the Pujehun District and is also engaged in the blood diamond trade. This is the same cartel that the Sierra Leone Army, along with Captain McClyde's support from the SAS, has been actively been surveilling for the past two weeks."
"Fuck," I immediately sighed under my breath.
"Both the British and Sierra Leone governments believe that this cartel has been engaged in funding ISIS activities in the region, which is why we have had them under surveillance. The cartel is demanding that the President of Sierra Leone immediately order the release of five imprisoned cartel members or else they intend to execute Lance Corporal Dawes in 48 hours."
"Have they provided proof of life?" someone in the room questioned.
"Yes," Clark grimaced. I could only imagine what it entailed.
-X-
"Unfucking believable," I shook my head after completing the briefing. My initial instincts that this somehow involved Lieutenant General James's maggot son had been correct. Yet again the prick had found a way to fuck with me without so much as even having to try. It was bad enough that I'd been ordered to save his life in Belize, now I'd been dropped right into his soap opera of a love life.
It turned out that the primary was Molly Dawes, the fucktard's former fiancé. I hadn't fit the pieces together until it was mentioned that Dawes was a Military Cross recipient.
As a general rule, I steered clear of anything Charles James related. However, it had been impossible to remain impervious to the rumours that had circulated when they had first gone public with their relationship.
At first, I hadn't been able to fathom what had possessed the esteemed Captain James, arselicker and 'daddy's boy' extraordinaire, to get off with a nineteen-year-old Private under his command. I could only imagine how Lieutenant General James must have reacted to the fact that his son had besmirched the James Family name by acting in such a disgraceful manner. While it was claimed nothing improper happened while Dawes was under his son's command, I knew that Lieutenant General James had to be enraged at his son. As much as I valued Lieutenant General James as a mentor and a professional role model, I was not blind to his faults.
At times, Lieutenant General James possessed an unhealthy degree of hubris, but he was masterfully skilled and had earned his place among the Army's top brass. He was also a staunch proponent in the value of maintaining a pristine reputation. While I tended to value a person based upon his or her actions and core values, Lieutenant General James was more of a traditionalist who gave considerable weight to rank and education.
I could only imagine what Lieutenant General James must have thought when his posh, Benenden School educated, daughter-in-law, had divorced his son. It would seem, that for all intents and purposes, his son was just as rubbish at being a husband and father as he was at being an Officer. That in itself, was an immense feat. To compound that by getting off with an uneducated Cockney was beyond belief.
I never quite understood why a why a selfish prick like James would leave his wife at home to cope with their young son and not expect there to be consequences. What kind of man went on four tours to Afghan when he clearly had no burning desire to serve?
I remember asking Uncle Robbie shortly before he died why he had never married. He had explained to me that he felt it would be incredibly selfish to commit himself to a woman when he knew that his unbending need to serve Crown and Country would always come first. He had also witnessed the heartbreak and suffering the widows and children of his fallen men had experienced and never wanted to subject the woman he loved or potential children to such trauma.
It was only after Uncle Robbie was killed in the Balkans, that I truly understood the sacrifice he had made on a personal level. Uncle Robbie was everything to me back then, and I still mourned his death. However, it had taught me an important lesson. If I truly wanted to commit myself to serving both Crown and Country, it meant that I needed to harden my heart and forego having, a serious girlfriend, a wife, or even children. For just like my uncle, I knew that joining The Regiment would ultimately lead to my death. Perhaps not today, or even tomorrow, but ultimately, my time would come. It was a reality I fully accepted, and I had never regretted the choices I had made since.
"Captain McClyde?" My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Clark. "I have Lieutenant General James for you on a secure line in my office. He has requested that he speak to you."
-X-
"Huh," I found myself a tad bit mystified as I concluded my telephone conversation with Lieutenant General James.
I had expected the stern-faced Lieutenant General to show the same composure he had demonstrated when his Rupert son's training exercise had gone tits up in Belize. Instead, he'd running around like a blue-arsed fly ever since Dawes had been taken. Naturally he had to be embarrassed by the situation, given that it would likely draw additional unwanted attention to his muppet son's latest cock-up. However, it seemed that perhaps there was more to his behavior than merely wanting to spare his family from further embarrassment.
While I had anticipated that Lieutenant General James would offer his support and request that I ensure Dawes's safe return to the U.K., I did not anticipate a personal appeal to do everything in my power to save her and protect her from further harm. I was also astonished to learn that Lieutenant General James had personally appealed to the Director of the Special Forces and to the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff that I lead the rescue operation.
If I didn't know better, I would almost think that Lieutenant General James felt some type of emotional attachment to Dawes. Yet, the mere thought of such a thing seemed preposterous. There was no possible way a poorly educated Cockney like Dawes could have possibly endeared herself to the rigid Lieutenant General.
I'd heard from the Army rumour mill that shortly after returning from her first tour in Afghan, Dawes had been awarded the Military Cross. I had automatically assumed that this had been an attempt by Lieutenant General James to provide Dawes with an aura of respectability. It made sense given that Lieutenant General James was exactly the type of man who would want to remove any potential stain his son had left on the family name by dipping his wick in someone who was beneath him. While I was less than impressed by this potential abuse of power, I knew that Lieutenant General James valued his family's reputation and would do what was necessary to protect it.
Given that I had absolutely no interest in the arsemonger's love life, I'd given little thought to James's relationship with Dawes until Belize. After the rescue, I had joined a couple of the squaddies from 2 Section for drinks. It was there, that Wiggerty had mentioned in passing that James and Dawes were engaged to be married. I recall thinking at the time that Dawes was either extremely dim, or a gold-digging slag for wanting to leg shackle herself to the bellend.
Therefore, it came as no surprise, when I recently learned that the arsemonger had pulled a proper 'Elvis' and had legged it on the morning their wedding day. While I suspected that Lieutenant General James was disappointed and embarrassed from the dishonourable manner in which his son had chosen to end his relationship with Dawes, I assumed, like many others in the Army, that he was relieved that the James family had rid itself of her.
Needless to say, I was less than thrilled to be embroiled in this mess and to be leading the recuse operation. I suspected that this was not going to be a cakewalk and that Dawes was either going to be the daftest cow I had ever met or the worst version of Lady Muck I had ever encountered. Neither boded well for me. However, failure was not an option. Failure meant career suicide and there was no way in hell, I was sacrificing my career over the arsemonger's ex-fiancé.
-X-
Mid-August 2019
Birmingham
United Kingdom
"Molly!" Victoria McClyde gave me an enthusiastic welcome before kissing me on both cheeks. She was smartly turned out in a black, short-sleeved dress made from woven jersey and featuring a waist-cinching belt. She had paired it with black leather wedge sandals along with a black Burberry tote bag.
I had opted to wear the yellow dress and sandals I had purchased earlier in the summer when I had surprised Bones at Brize Norton.
"I'm so happy you were able to meet me on your day off," she smiled warmly as we followed the maître d' to the table she had reserved.
I had been absolutely terrified when she had rung me out of the blue two days ago. I immediately assumed that something terrible had happened to Bones as I had not heard from him in nearly two weeks and was becoming increasingly worried about him. After ensuring me that nothing had happened to her son, Victoria then proceeded to invite me to lunch. She apparently had business to attend to in Birmingham and thought it would provide her with the perfect opportunity to see me. This is how I came to find myself at the Harvey Nichols Brasserie with Bones's mother.
"Thank you for inviting me," I smiled back nervously. While Bones's mum had been nothing but kind to me during our previous interactions, I could not help but feel slightly awkward in her company. I had also never set foot in the famous luxury department store until today and felt a bit out of depth in my surroundings.
-X-
It was obvious that Victoria was going out of her way to make me feel at ease. She had quizzed me about our recent holiday to the Amalfi Coast and had encouraged me to share my favourite moments from the trip. She also shared funny anecdotes about her granddaughters, Ella and Mia, and told me about how they had been spending their August holiday at Mulberry Estate.
"Molly, I want you to know that I find you an absolute delight and that under any normal circumstance, I would like nothing more than to invite you to lunch. Unfortunately, my errant son, has decided to drop me right into his latest convoluted scheme," Victoria announced shortly after our main courses had been served.
"What did he do now?" I could only imagine what Bones was plotting.
"Two weeks ago, he called me to inform me that he would be away for an unknown period of time. I'm experienced enough to know not to question what that means. He then proceeded to leave me gobsmacked when he revealed that he would be escorting you to this year's annual DMRC charity ball."
"Oh." Was she upset that he was bringing me as his date?
"Don't get me wrong, I am actually thrilled that he is attending and even happier that you will be accompanying him," Victoria clarified. "The reason I was shocked is because Bones never attends these types of events and I think it is absolutely wonderful you'll both be attending, Molly. You are clearly a very good influence on my son," she remarked.
"I don't know about that," I protested.
"That's rubbish and you know it," Victoria objected with a knowing smile. "Now back to my errant son. After shocking me with this announcement, he proceeded to give me very specific orders that if he had not made contact within two weeks, I was to accompany you in purchasing a gown of your choice. He also warned me that you would vehemently protest at such an outing and that as his Mum, he expected me to comply with his orders. I am also to purchase said gown, no matter how strongly you object, and to send the bill to him."
"I take it, this is the business you needed to attend to in Birmingham?" I surmised with a smirk at Bones's antics.
"Yes, and I do apologize for the ruse, but I have my orders from my son, and it was clear that if I failed, he promised to do much worse than lose his rag at me," Victoria chuckled.
"I suppose this means we are going shopping after lunch?" I gave a resigned smile. Between Victoria and Bones, there was no way I was getting myself out of this.
-X-
"Do you mind if I ask you a personal question, Victoria," I asked as we reached the end of our meal.
"Not at all, and please, call me Vickie," Victoria invited. "That's what Arthur and my closest family members and friends call me in private. I may play at being the 'grand lady' when necessity requires, but I think you'll find I'm still very much Vickie from Essex at heart."
"I know we don't know one another that well, but I admire the fact that you have haven't forgotten where you came from nor are you embarrassed by it."
"Nor should you be embarrassed about your background, Molly."
"It's just that I find myself struggling to cope with the fact that Bones comes from a family with very different financial circumstances than my own. The way he splashes out money on trivial things makes me uncomfortable."
"Of course, it would. It's only natural that you would feel this way," Victoria assured. "Believe me, I was extremely leery at first regarding Arthur's wealth. We had quite a few argy-bargies about it."
"How did you reconcile yourself to it?"
"First, I realised that if it was going to work between us, I needed to put any preconceived notions I had about those of his social class to rest, and focus on the man, rather than his money. While Arthur can be reserved, he is incredibly noble, generous, steadfast, kind, intelligent, passionate, and fair. The more I got to know him, the more I realised that even though his family came from vast wealth, he was happiest working in his law chambers and managing Mulberry Estate. He prided himself in the fact that Mulberry Estate was completely self-sufficient and provided employment and business opportunities to many. I also noticed how he treated all of his employees as equals and never acted like he was superior to them. I then started to learn about the positive ways he used his fortune to benefit those less fortunate and all of the charitable endeavours he supported. It became clear to me that he felt a moral obligation to use his fortune for good," she explained.
"No wonder you fell in love with Arthur," I smiled.
"What impressed me the most about Arthur was that he never, ever, judged me based upon my background. He embraced everything about me, and treated Robbie like the brother he never had. His mother was the epitome of a 'grand dame', but underneath her dragon like exterior she was a gracious woman who gave me her full support and guidance. It took some adjustment on my part, but I soon came to the realisation that being minted did not define Arthur as a person. Just as being an 'Essex girl' did not define me."
"And the money?"
"Having money certainly makes life seem easier at times, but it also carries its own complications. However, I think there is no harm in splashing out as long as one realises, they also have an obligation to use their wealth for good. Arthur and I tried to instil this philosophy into our boys since they were young."
"I realise this might be impudent of me, but is the reason that you and Arthur have chosen to fund Bones's extravagant lifestyle because he has dedicated his life to serving Queen and Country?"
"Gordon Bennett!" Victoria exclaimed in disbelief. "Do you mean to tell me that my son hasn't bothered to tell you about how he has earned his money and has been acting like a bloody spanner again?"
"I…"
"There's no need to answer. It's clear from the look on your face that you have no idea what I am talking about," Victoria frowned. "To answer your question, Arthur and I would gladly offer financial support to Bones if he were actually in need of it. However, he has not been in need of our support since he turned eighteen."
"He hasn't?" I stared back at her in surprise. I had assumed all of this time that in addition to his salary from the Army he relied upon a trust fund provided to him by his parents.
"No. Arthur and I were firm believers that our boys needed to learn the value of hard work and earning their own incomes. When Bones turned eighteen, he came into a modest inheritance from Arthur's parents. He used the money to purchase a flat in London and to support himself while he attended the LSE. Unbeknownst to Arthur and I, Bones invested the remainder of his inheritance. It turns out that Bones has a shrewd talent for knowing how to make wise investments. Since then, he has amassed his own personal fortune through smartly investing in financial instruments, real estate, and business ventures. He has also helped us with a series of lucrative investments related to Mulberry Estate. Bones is by no means reckless with his money and is very selective about what he invests his money into. His investment portfolio was barely impacted during the global financial crisis and has easily withstood the financial challenges related to Brexit. While I would never ask Bones about his net worth, Arthur has hinted that it matches or exceeds that of the family's," Victoria confessed as I attempted to keep my mouth from dropping open in shock.
"I had no idea," I stared back in astonishment. "What is he doing in the bleeding Regiment then?"
"You know why he is in The Regiment," Victoria countered.
"His love for Queen and Country takes precedence," I whispered.
"Exactly. My son could never be happy sitting at a desk all day managing hedge funds. He would be the first person to tell you he would find no honour in that. Nor, would my son be content sitting back and being a useless toff. Yes, he is a skilled investor, and enjoys splashing out on the finer things in life, but I know my son, and he is most content when he is roughing it with his troopers to protect Queen and Country."
"You're right," I conceded.
"It's why Arthur and I have always supported his career in the Army and have never pressured him to do anything else," Victoria revealed. "It's also why we are so very proud of him."
"I just wish he had told me this."
"Knowing my son, he likely thought that you would do a runner if you knew the full extent of his wealth. I suspect in his own way; he has been trying to ease you into his life. I also suspect that he wanted you to love and appreciate him for his true self and not for his money."
"I would never love him for his money. Does he think I'm some cheap, gold digging slag?" I objected in dismay.
"Of course, not, Molly. He just tends to be guarded around people with respect to his finances. He does not want to be defined by his bank balance."
"What do you think I should do?"
"Well, I suspect my son will give me the ear bashing of the century before boxing my ears in for sharing all of this with you. That being said, I think deep down you know the true depth of my son's character and you know that money has very little to do with it. I would advise you to think about whether or not the money truly matters, and if perhaps you can learn to do what I did and put your preconceived notions about the money aside for now so that you appreciate my son for what he truly has to offer you. I can tell you from experience, that he is much more like Arthur than he is ever willing to admit, and that men like Arthur and Bones are worth the risk."
"You're right," I decided then and there. "They are worth the risk."
"Brilliant!" Victoria smiled. "Shall we look for your frock now?"
"Yes," I smiled warmly at her. "Vickie?"
"Yes, Molly?"
"I hope Bones doesn't completely lose his rag with you," I knew Bones would be furious at his mother's revelation.
"Don't worry, about me. I've had years of practice when it comes to my son and his infamous ear bashings," she chuckled. "Besides, he deserves a little grief for being such a spanner and keeping things from you. Now, let's go and find you a spectacular gown!"
-X-
Three hours later, I was back at my flat after a productive shopping trip with Vickie. Bones's mum had loved taking charge of our expedition and had arranged for a personal shopper at Harvey Nichols to have a selection of gowns waiting for our perusal. Thanks to Max, Vickie had been able to provide the shopper with my measurements in advance, as well as a description of my appearance.
The gowns the shopper had chosen were lovely, and were conveniently missing their price tags. I had selected five different gowns to try on and model for Vickie. Amazingly enough, we had both agreed that the third gown I tried, was 'the one'. It was a monochrome gown by Alexander McQueen. It was made from stretch-jersey and was carefully ruched for a form fitting finish. The dress was detailed with keyhole cut-outs at the clasp-fastening collar and finished with a dramatically draped tie at the back that tumbled to join the floor-skimming hem. The gown perfectly complimented my figure, and made me feel confident and feminine. I could not wait for Bones to see me in it.
Upon selecting the gown, our shopper had arranged for a seamstress to make the necessary alterations to accommodate my height and to ensure the gown fit perfectly. From there, Vickie had insisted I accompany the shopper to look for shoes, undergarments, and a clutch purse to go with the gown. I suspected this was because she wanted to purchase the dress in private in order to hide the cost from me.
I had opted on a pair of black suede, 105mm Aquazzura sandals. While I knew Bones would likely have kittens over the height of the heels, but the sandals made me feel bold and sexy. I knew the shoes were absurdly expensive and decided to balk at the expense of a new clutch and undergarments. Vickie offered to loan me a monochrome clutch of hers that she thought would go perfectly with my gown.
She then went on to tell me a story about how when she had first married Arthur, she'd been appalled by the number of evening gowns required for entertaining and had cringed at the expense. This had prompted her to work with some of the other wives in their social circle to open up a re-sale shop in Cheltenham that they could donate their dresses` for re-sale. All of the profits from the shop were then donated to a women's' shelter in Gloucestershire. The idea had been such a success that they now had a total of fifteen shops across the U.K.
Vickie was truly an impressive woman, and I was starting to realise that like Jacqueline, she could serve as a positive role model to me.
Smiling at the thought, I reached for my phone and decided to text Bones.
"I suspect you have already received a 'Mission Accomplished' message from your mum. I cannot wait for you to see me in the gown I chose. I hope you are keeping safe and that you are well. I am trying not to worry, but it's hard. I miss you. ~ X Molly"
One Week Later
Moseley, Birmingham
United Kingdom
"Are you certain this is a good idea?" Jackie questioned me as I was getting ready to attend Sam's football match in West Heath.
"Both Rebecca and Sam assured me that he will not be there."
"I believe you've been fed that line before," Jackie pointed out not too gently.
"Rebecca has no reason to lie to me. Besides, I promised Sammy I would attend his game."
"I don't like this, Molls," Jackie warned. "Did you tell Bones about this?"
"It's a bit hard to tell him when I haven't heard from him in nearly three weeks," I sighed. "It's not like I need his bleeding approval. I made a promise and I intend to keep it."
"Stubborn as always," Jackie chuckled, knowing full well my mind was made up.
"Do you think Bones is all right?" I suddenly asked Jackie. "I know I'm not supposed to worry, but it's going on three weeks, and we know what can happen… I keep telling myself not to worry, but I can't stop thinking he's in danger, is hurt, or worse," I mused, staring down at my fingernails, which had borne the brunt of my worry over the past week.
"Molly, he's safe," Jackie rested her hands gently on my shoulders and forced me to look up at her. "I know this is hard, and you have every right to feel worried, but you need to have faith in Bones. The man is a bloody professional and I promise that he will find his way back to you. Now in the meantime, I suggest you go and enjoy Sammy's game. Hopefully Rebecca is right and there will be no unwelcome surprises waiting for you."
-X-
"That's a lovely necklace," Rebecca complimented from where she was seated next to me at Sam's match. I was wearing the necklace that Sam had given to me for my birthday.
"Sam and his mum have good taste when it comes to picking out birthday presents," I grinned at Rebecca.
"While I would like to take credit for my son's good taste, I'm afraid I had nothing to do with this purchase," Rebecca revealed.
"Jacqueline must have helped Sam pick it out," I surmised.
"Or perhaps it was Charles. He and Sam have grown close over the past few months."
"Oh," while I would never question Rebecca's parenting decisions, I hoped that Charles was serious this time about being a good father to Sam. The poor scamp had been through enough ups and downs with his father that he didn't need Charles disappointing him again.
"Believe me, I had serious reservations about letting Charles back into Sam's life. I made it clear to him upon returning from Scotland that I would give him one last chance to make things right with Sam. He knows that if he stuffs up again, there won't be another chance."
"I hope for both their sakes that Charles recognises what he stands to lose and makes Sam his main priority now."
"I hope so too," Rebecca nodded in agreement. "However, I'm reluctant to even consider giving him his parental rights back. While he has made a real effort to repair his relationship with Sam, it will still take time for me to trust him again. He virtually abandoned Sam after Belize and I cannot allow him to do something like that again."
"I think you've been very magnanimous under the circumstances," I observed. I didn't think many ex-wives would be willing to put up with what Charles had put Rebecca through.
"Charles may have been an abysmal husband, but I know that the Charles who came back from Belize and then ran off to Bangladesh without giving a moment's thought for his son, is not the Charles I have known since childhood. I also know that Sam's welfare comes first, and that even though Charles has been a thoughtless and an inconsistent father at best, Sam loves him and wants him in his life. If Charles can demonstrate that he is serious about being a father this time and wants to put Sam's needs first, then I am willing to give him one final chance for Sam's sake."
"Sam is lucky to have a mum like you," I smiled at Rebecca. She truly was one of a kind.
-X-
"So, Bones?" Rebecca gave me a questioning look later during the match.
"Look, if this is…" I immediately felt defensive.
"Unlike Andrew and Emily, I'm not advocating for you to reconcile with Charles. What he did to Sam was bad enough, what he did to you was unforgivable. Rather, I was pleased to hear that you're dating again. I'm just a little surprised to hear that you're with Bones."
"Why is it such a surprise?"
"I only met the man a handful of times. Granted, it was years ago. He had quite the brass neck then."
"He still does," I chuckled.
"I remember being at an Officer event shortly after Charles and I first married. Bones was shameless in his attempts to flirt with me. When I asked Charles why he would do such a thing, he said it was because Bones loved to get on his wick. Charles later revealed that they had a falling out when they were at Sandhurst together."
"They were at Sandhurst together?"
"You didn't know that?" Rebecca looked at me with surprise.
"N-no," I stammered as my head started spinning. "Do you know what the falling out was about?"
"Yes," Rebecca confirmed. "It involved the Sword of Honour. According to Charles, Bones had been so desperate in his attempts to win the Sword, that he deliberately sabotaged Charles so that Charles would be deemed ineligible. Apparently, Elvis foiled Bones's scheme." Rebecca revealed.
"Are you sure that is what actually happened?" Rebecca's version of events was very different from what Bones had told me previously.
"Yes. In all honestly, Bones was a bit of a snake back then, but I'm sure he has since changed. Besides, you wouldn't give him the time of day if he hadn't changed," she gave me a reassuring smile as a feeling of complete despair crashed over me…
-X-
After Sam's match, I knew I needed time to gather my thoughts in private. Rather than head back to my flat, I found myself in Cannon Hill Park where I often went running before work.
Walking along the River Rea Trail, I found myself contemplating Bones and everything that had occurred with him since April. There was still so much I didn't know about him and it scared me. After Charles, I swore I would never trust a man again, yet somehow Bones had penetrated my defences. As much as I wanted to trust Bones, I couldn't help but have doubts, especially after learning that he had been at Sandhurst with Charles.
Why hadn't Bones told me that they had been at Sandhurst together? I knew that Bones disliked Charles and had a poor opinion of him, but I had no idea that it stemmed back to their days as Cadets.
Then there was the Sword. Had Charles resorted to nefarious means to acquire it, or had Bones fed me a cock and bull story to ensure my cooperation with Operation Bellend? Prior to Belize, I would not have taken Charles for a liar, nor did it seem he would have any reason to lie to Rebecca about the Sword. Yet, why had Bones dismissed me when I asked him who had set him up? What did Bones have to lose by telling me that it was Charles who'd grassed him out?
I also wondered what role Elvis had played in all of this. Bones had been reluctant to tell me why he had disliked Elvis, yet his dislike for Elvis had been intense enough for him to pursue Lane out of revenge. Had Elvis foiled his scheme to usurp Charles or had Elvis been Charles's accomplice?
I honestly didn't know which version of the story to believe. While I wanted to give Bones the benefit of the doubt, I found myself questioning my judgment. I had gotten it so terribly wrong with Artan and Charles. Was it possible that I had so desperately wanted Bones to be everything they weren't and had deliberately overlooked certain flaws in his character?
I knew that Bones could be ruthless and cunning, but what could he possibly have to gain from withholding the truth about his history with Charles from me? Unless there was merit to Charles's warnings to Jackie. As far-fetched as it seemed, suppose Bones did want revenge? Would he have really waited fourteen years to obtain it? Or had Bones's torn ACL only renewed his thirst for revenge?
If Bones truly hated Charles and wanted revenge, he could have easily reported him for his conduct in Bangladesh, which very likely would have ended Charles's career. Yet, it seemed he hadn't. Was it out of loyalty to Edward or was it something else? I honestly didn't know.
No matter how hard I tried to work through the various angles in search of answers, nothing seemed to fit. Even if Charles felt guilty, I knew that he didn't love me. PTSD or not, no man who truly loved me was capable of doing what he had done to me. Bones had to know full well that I meant nothing to Charles, which made Charles's theory that Bones was using me seem absurd. Yet, what if Charles was right? What if Bones had somehow miscalculated the extent of Charles's feelings for me? Would he really go to such elaborate lengths to trick me into a relationship? I couldn't help but feel a tiny seed of doubt start to form the pit of my stomach.
Could it be that Bones had been pretending with me the entire time? It would certainly explain why he felt the need to keep so many secrets. However, why go to all of the effort and expense? Why lie to his family? Did the depth of his hatred for Charles truly run that deep? I honestly didn't know.
The only thing I knew, was that Bones owed me answers, and I intended to get them from him.
-X-
Later that evening, I found myself tossing and turning as I continued to contemplate the various puzzle pieces I had uncovered. As much as I wanted answers at this very moment, I knew that they would have to wait until Bones resurfaced. I was also dreading the prospect that perhaps I had made yet another colossal cock-up on my part by falling for the wrong man again. I honestly didn't know if I had it in me to survive another heartbreak and prayed that Bones was on the up and up.
I was about to give up attempting to sleep when my mobile suddenly vibrated on the bedside table to indicate that I had an incoming text. I wondered who could be texting me at 02:30 only to find that Bones had finally resurfaced.
"En route to RAF Northolt. Will be in London on business the next few days. Will telephone once I am sorted."
"So, much for missing me," I sighed, not bothering to reply. Instead, I turned off my mobile and headed to the kitchen for a cuppa. Bones could wait until the morning….
-X-
The Following Afternoon
Euston Station
London
United Kingdom
"There was really no need to meet me at the station," I smiled at Jack from the back of the black cab he had hired after meeting me at Euston Station. After working the morning shift at the hospital, I had decided to take the train to London to confront Bones in person. Fortunately, I had the following three days off, which would provide me with plenty of time to get to the bottom of things.
"And pass up an excuse to play truant?" Jack laughed. "I don't think so, Dawesey." While Bones had attempted to text and to telephone me earlier in the day, I had chosen to ignore him. Instead, I had texted Jack and asked if he would mind if I joined Bones as a houseguest for the next few days. I explained to Jack that I wanted to surprise Bones.
"I actually had no idea that Bones was in London until you texted me earlier," Jack confessed.
"I thought he always stayed with you and Max when he was in London?" I gave Jack a questioning look.
"Normally, yes, but not this time. Fortunately, I didn't have to do too much digging to ferret out his whereabouts. He texted me shortly after you boarded your train to let me know he is here in London. It turns out he's staying at his family's home in Kensington. Apparently, his family is in Winchcombe which means he has the house to himself."
"Oh." I knew that his parents had a home in London, but he had never mentioned where it was.
"I decided it would be best if I escorted you there."
"I appreciate it." Jack was always such a gentleman.
-X-
"It's amazing to think I spent the first eighteen years of my life in London, but rarely felt the need to explore outside of Newham," I remarked as we drove past Notting Hill Gate. There was still so much of London that was unfamiliar to me.
"You'll have plenty of time to explore this week while Bones is busy," Jack offered. "His parents live on Upper Phillimore Gardens which is conveniently located between Holland Park and Kensington Palace and Gardens."
"Their address sounds a bit upmarket," I observed.
"That's one way of putting it," Jack chuckled. Little did I know that the McClyde Family home boasted one of London's finest residential addresses.
-X-
Soon our driver had pulled up in front of a stately detached home that was set back from the street behind a landscaped garden and wrought iron black gate.
"Is this it?" I looked at Jack with some trepidation.
"Yes. It's just a home, Molly. Albeit a large one. However, knowing Arthur and Victoria as I do, they would want you to feel at home here. Now, should we track down my wayward mate and give him his surprise?" Jack offered me a reassuring smile as I wondered what I had gotten myself into.
-X-
After landing at RAF Northolt, I was driven to my parents' home in Kensington. Luckily, most of the staff had been given the month of August off while my family was in residence at Mulberry Estate. This had left only a small skeleton staff which I hadn't interacted with much previously.
The housekeeper in residence had greeted me upon arrival and had insisted on making me breakfast. Fortunately, she had been briefed by our head housekeeper as to my likes and dislikes.
After breakfast, I had carried my own kit up to my bedroom on the second floor and had promptly taken a shower. It felt refreshing to take my first proper shower in weeks and to get all of the grime from the Syrian desert off of me.
I then examined my bruised ribs to make sure no additional damage had been done before taking ibuprofen and heading over to my bed. Reaching for my mobile, I attempted to telephone Molly only to have my call go straight to voicemail. I would have expected her to be up by now and was surprised that she had still yet to acknowledge the text I had sent from the plane. I requested that she call me, and then decided I could do with some kip.
Six hours, later, I awoke feeling refreshed. I reached for my mobile and was dismayed to find that Molly had not responded to my message. I was beginning to worry. Was she busy at work or was she brassed off? I honestly had no idea.
Knowing there wasn't much I could do about it at the moment, I decided to pull on a pair of black Adidas track bottoms and a black cotton ribbed tank, before heading barefoot down to the kitchen in need of sustenance.
-X-
Ten minutes later I was seated in the breakfast room off of the kitchen drinking one of my protein shakes and reading the Financial Times while the housekeeper hovered in the kitchen.
I really need to have a chat my mum about this housekeeper. After attempting to call me Lord Hardwicke, I had requested that she call me Bones. She had looked horrified at the suggestion which led us to finally settle on Captain McClyde. The housekeeper had been equally horrified when I had strolled into the kitchen and proceeded to make my own shake. You would have thought I had committed a high crime. Then there was my attire. Apparently, she was put off by my leisure wear. She should consider herself lucky that I had even bothered to put a shirt on.
Turning my attention back to my newspaper, I found myself annoyed at the sound of the doorbell.
"Would you like me to get that, Sir?" the housekeeper immediately came into the breakfast room to inquire.
"Yes," I gave an annoyed sigh, before remembering my manners. "Please."
-X-
"Captain McClyde?" the housekeeper returned to the breakfast room a few minutes later.
"Yes?" I looked up from my paper with a questioning look.
"You have visitors, Sir."
"Visitors?" I raised an eyebrow. The only person who knew of my whereabouts outside of my parents was Jack.
"Yes. A Major Sinclair and a Ms. Dawes."
"Ms. Dawes?" I repeated in disbelief.
"Yes. I escorted them to the drawing room."
"Thank you," I abruptly stood up from the table. I couldn't quite believe that Molly was actually here.
"Would you like me to bring in refreshments, Sir?"
"No. Thank you," I responded before racing out of the room in the direction of the drawing room.
-X-
My stomach had been full of collywobbles as Jack had escorted me up the steps leading to the front entrance where we had been met by one of the staff. After Jack had introduced us, we had been led to a large drawing room at the back of the ground floor. The room was exquisitely appointed with luxurious wood floors, beautiful rugs, plentiful seating, and a stunning bay window overlooking the back garden with French doors leading out to it. It wouldn't surprise me if my parents' entire maisonette fit into this one room alone.
As much as I wanted answers, I worried that perhaps this was the wrong approach, as I couldn't help but feel out of my depth in such surroundings. It may have been better to have waited to confront Bones in more neutral territory.
"This is quite the turn-up for the books," I felt my heart start to pound at Bones's familiar drawl. My eyes immediately found him leaning casually against the door frame with a smirk on his face.
"I see you made it back from your busman's holiday in one piece," Jack observed as Bones sauntered into the room.
"Very funny, wanker."
"I must say, with the exception of your sun tan, you look a bit peaky, mate."
"Never been better," Bones rolled his eyes.
"I think I'll let your girlfriend be the judge of that."
"Speaking of my girlfriend," Bones gave me a heated look. "It's been donkey's years since I last saw her. So, if you don't mind, I think I'll say cheery-bye and send you on your way."
"You owe me a lager for this," Jack warned.
"I'll buy you three. Now, chop-chop!" he ordered.
-X-
"Hiya," I glanced up at Bones shyly once Jack had left. I wasn't sure where to begin with him.
"Hiya," he smirked back before drawing me to him and capturing my lips in a desperate kiss.
"This is new," I fingered his beard once we had broken apart. "I like it," I knew that I was letting myself become distracted, but it felt so good to be near him that I welcomed the distraction.
"Perhaps I'll keep it for another day," Bones offered, before clasping my hand and leading me to an ornate staircase.
-X-
Once on the second floor, Bones pulled me into a large, masculine bedroom where he once again devoured my lips with hungry kisses. Soon he was grasping for the hem of my t-shirt and pulling it over my head. He made easy work of discarding my bra before tumbling onto the bed with me.
Reaching for his shirt, I nearly missed seeing him wince with pain.
"Bones?" I pushed myself up into a sitting position.
"Why did you stop?" he demanded.
"What's wrong?"
"What's wrong is that it's been over three weeks since I was last inside of you and all I want to do is feel you again."
"While I appreciate the sentiment, you should know by now you cannot fool me when it comes to your health."
"It's nothing," Bones brushed aside my concern for him.
"Then take off your shirt and prove it," I challenged.
"All right," he gave an irritated sigh before yanking his shirt off. "Are you satisfied, Nurse Dawes?"
"Bloody hell, Bones!" I yelled in exasperation upon seeing the bruising on his chest. "Are these broken?" I asked as I gently examined his ribs.
"No, just badly bruised," Bones grunted.
"Please tell me you had these checked out?" I wouldn't put it past the man to dismiss the true nature of his injury.
"Yes, I did."
"By an Army doctor I hope?"
"Yes," Bones nodded.
"And?" I prompted.
"And what?" he grumbled.
"What did the doctor prescribe?"
"The usual. Rest, ice, and pain medication. It's not a big deal and it's certainly not like this hasn't happened before."
"How long have they been like this?" I questioned.
"Five days give or take."
"Any difficulties breathing or shortness of breath?"
"No. Are you finished yet?" Bones was clearly becoming impatient with my ministrations.
"For now. However, any thoughts of having your way with me are now on hold, mate."
"For fuck's sake, Molly, I think you should let me be the judge of that."
"You're injured," I objected.
"Believe me, I've had far worse injuries."
"I suppose there is one way we could accommodate your needs."
"And what might that be?" Bones gave me a curious look.
"How would you feel about giving me riding lessons, Captain McClyde?" I proposed with a wicked smile.
"I would be more than happy to accommodate you, Poppet," his eyes filled with lust as I gently pushed him back against the pillows and mounted him.
-X-
After what could only be described as one of our most heated couplings to date, I mentally chastised myself for being swept away with desire for Bones. I had come in search of answers, not to act like some brainless slag who melted in his arms. This had definitely been a mistake.
"What?" Bones asked from beside me as he played with my hair.
"This was a mistake," I whispered.
"I hardly think it was a mistake," Bones argued. "If you're worried about my ribs, I'm fine," he assured.
"I should go," I got up from the bed and started searching for my clothes.
"Go?" Bones looked at me aghast. "You only just got here."
"I told you. It was a mistake. I never should have travelled here in the first place."
"Come back to bed. You're being ridiculous."
"No. I need to leave," I stood my ground as I started to put my clothes back on.
"What has gotten into you, Molly?" Bones climbed out of bed, and attempted to reach for me.
"Don't touch me!" I ordered.
"Molly, what is wrong? Why are you behaving this way?" he looked at me with confusion before grabbing his track bottoms.
"I can't do this anymore," I declared, as my eyes started to fill with tears.
"Do what?" It was clear that he was starting to lose patience with me.
"Us. You."
"What the hell has gotten into you, Molly?" Bones demanded in an incredulous tone. "Does this have to do with the fact that I couldn't contact you for three weeks?"
"No. However, that that didn't exactly help matters," I quipped.
"Then what the fuck is your problem?"
"My problem is you and your bloody secrets, Bones," I revealed in anger.
"What secrets?"
"Don't play stupid with me. I am sick and tired of you treating me like a daft cow."
"Then stop acting like one," he retorted. "As for secrets, you're going to have to be more specific."
"Why? Because you have so many of them you cannot keep track of them? Fine, if you want me to be more specific, I will. Let's start with Sandhurst."
"What about Sandhurst?" Bones eyed me carefully.
"I know about the Sword…"
-X-
After I confessed to knowing that Charles and Elvis had been involved in Sword of Honour incident, Bones had insisted that we both finished getting dressed so that we could continue our discussion in the library. I suspected he was using this as an excuse to let our tempers cool.
"Sit," Bones motioned for me to be seated in a comfortable arm chair in the library before choosing to stand in front of the fireplace. "While I know you would like nothing more than to go off on me right now, I would appreciate it if you could please give me the opportunity to explain about the Sword and why I didn't tell you about the roles both James and Harte played in it."
"Fine," I conceded. "Go ahead."
"The three of us were assigned to the same platoon. While I highly suspect that Edward had hoped that I would befriend his arsemonger son, I found he had little to offer in the friendship department. I found James to be arrogant and entitled. He acted as if he deserved to be the best cadet solely based upon his father's reputation. In reality, he was nothing more than a bog-standard cadet."
"Were you jealous of him?"
"Why the hell would I be jealous of James?" Bones scoffed.
"Perhaps because Edward was his father and not yours?"
"I realise that it may appear that in some respects I would be closer to Edward than my own father. While I may not fully live up to my dad's expectations, he has always let me pursue my own path. While we may not share many of the same interests, I can count on my dad to always having my back. So, if you're asking if I would rather have Edward as my father, the answer is unequivocally 'no'," Bones responded. "As for James, I suspect he resented the relationship I had with his father. I never got a sense from Edward that he was particularly impressed with his son, and I think James knew that."
"There might be some truth to that," I begrudgingly admitted.
"I suspect that Edward put tremendous pressure on James to be awarded the Sword of Honour as he was a previous recipient himself."
"I know that Edward took great pride in the fact that both he and Charles had been recipients of it."
"I suppose it was only natural that once James realised, he had no legitimate chance of beating me outright for the Sword, that other means would be necessary. It also helped that Harte was indebted to him."
"What do you mean by that?"
"There's a certain snobbery at Sandhurst that at times makes it feel like one is back at boarding school. Elvis lacked both the education and family connections that many of his peers had, and this put him at a disadvantage. By becoming best friends with James, he was able to gain a certain level of respect from those who might normally dismiss him."
"This is exactly why I have no interest in attending Sandhurst," I rolled my eyes.
"In my opinion, you are exactly what Sandhurst needs. However, we can save that discussion for another time."
"I take it Elvis was Charles's accomplice?"
"Yes."
"And that this is the reason you disliked him?"
"Not entirely," Bones's response surprised me.
"While I obviously had cause to distrust Harte in our early days in The Regiment together, I ultimately found him to be reckless to the point of being detrimental to G Squadron. He often took unacceptable risks that put others in harm's way. His reckless behaviour in Iraq nearly cost Jack his life."
"I had no idea."
"I will be the first to admit that I was an arrogant arse about the Sword. I felt I had earned it and was all too aware of my prowess. What I hadn't counted on was for James to actually be smart enough to use my ego to his advantage. While I was furious at the time over what he did to me, I realised shortly thereafter, that ego has no place in The Regiment. Ego is what gets you and others killed."
"Why didn't you tell me any of this when you originally told me about the Sword?"
"For starters, I was desperate to keep you from quitting Operation Bellend. You are a very generous, and giving person, Molly. I thought that if I made myself seem vulnerable; you might change your mind about giving me the Big E."
"So, you essentially played me by making it seem like losing the Sword was more important than it was."
"I'll always be pissed about the Sword, but it was fourteen years ago. I'd also like to think that a Victoria Cross is a nice consolation prize," he smirked.
"Another secret you kept from me," I couldn't help but point out.
"True, but in my defence, it is classified. I also don't like the notoriety that comes with it, which is why I have not pushed to have it made declassified. The salutes annoy me, but there's not much I can do about it."
"You should at least find a way to tell your parents. I think they would be extremely proud of you."
"Someday I might," Bones offered with a noncommittal shrug.
"I still don't understand why, when I specifically asked you, who set you up and then grassed you out, you dismissed my question and said that they weren't important and that you hardly remembered them."
"As I mentioned before, I know you were close to Harte and I didn't think disparaging your dead mate would get me very far in ensuring your continued cooperation with Operation Bellend. As for James, I knew you were still in love with the arsemonger, and thought it best to steer clear of him."
"Why on earth would you think I was still in love with him?" I looked at Bones in horror.
"I might be a fuckwit when it comes to relationships, but I'm not blind, Molly."
"But that's mental," I protested. I couldn't believe that Bones would even think that I still had feelings for Charles.
"Is it?" Bones questioned. "Somehow I didn't think it was when it was his name that you called out in your sleep."
"What are you talking about?"
"The night we shared my bed at Max and Jack's before the passing out at Sandhurst. You called out his name several times in your sleep."
"Is that why you were such an arsehole the next morning?" Suddenly the pieces were starting to fit together.
"How else would you expect me to react?" Bones challenged. "Contrary to what you may think, I'm not made of stone."
"And now? Do you still think I love him?"
"Honestly? I have no idea what to think anymore, Molly. You have me tied up in so many knots it's impossible for me to see reason. I spent the last three weeks forbidding myself to so much as think about you because I was convinced that if I gave into temptation that I would lose focus."
"You know, if you really want to know the answer, all you need to do is ask," I pointed out gently.
"Do you?"
"Do I what?"
"Still love the arsemonger."
"No. I don't," I rested my hands on Bones's shoulders and looked directly into his eyes so that he knew I was telling him the absolute truth. "That being said, I still have doubts about you."
"Then I suggest you take your own advice and ask me what questions you still have," Bones invited.
"As much as I want to believe you about the Sword, I'm struggling to understand why Rebecca provided me with a completely different version of events."
"Rebecca?"
"Charles's ex-wife," I reminded.
"Right," Bones nodded. "When did you see Rebecca?"
"Last week. Sam invited me to his footy match in West Heath and I promised I would go."
"Was that really wise?" Bones frowned.
"Sammy's just a kid. He can't help who his father is."
"Look, I realise you love the boy and that you are very fond of Edward and Jacqueline, but do you honestly think you can let go of the aresmonger while they are still in your life?"
"I just told you that I don't love him," I reminded in an angry voice.
"Perhaps now you understand why I might be sceptical at times."
"Perhaps you could try trusting me," I muttered.
"Like you trust me?" Bones prodded.
"We'll get to that in a minute," I promised.
"So, are you going to tell me what Rebecca had to say for herself?"
"Aside from the fact that you were a wind-up merchant, and a snake, she said that you and Charles despised one another because you tried to steal the Sword from Charles and that Elvis was the one who foiled you."
"That's an impressive load of cobblers," Bones chortled.
"So, there's no truth to what she told me?"
"None whatsoever."
"It would help explain why Charles thinks you want revenge. He showed up at my flat while we were in Italy and told Jackie this."
"For fuck's sake," Bones raked a frustrated hand through his hair.
"Your version of what happened with the Sword, combined with your ACL would certainly give you the motive in his eyes."
"I would hope that you know your onions about me by now and would realise that if I actually wanted revenge, I would have gotten it long before now."
"And Operation Bellend?"
"What about it?"
"It's not some elaborate ruse you've concocted to trick me into being a pawn for your revenge?"
"I find it highly offensive that you would even suggest such a thing," Bones responded coldly.
"I'm sorry, but I had to ask."
"I thought you were better than this Dawes."
"What do you mean?"
"You're letting that arsehat mess with your nut and you're playing exactly into his hands. James knows you're insecure and he's preying on your vulnerabilities. Whether deliberate or not, he's got his whole bloody family, even his ex-wife and son, doing his bidding for him. It's time you woke up to that fact, Molly."
"You know I have trust issues."
"What have I ever done to make you think that I could even be capable of using you as a pawn in some type of sick revenge scheme?"
"I-I…"
"I've given you more of myself than I've ever given anyone else, but it's clearly not enough for you to trust me. I told you before that if you wanted to know the real me, that you needed to judge me based on my actions. When have I ever done anything to make you think I was a callous, sick fuck who would deliberately play with your emotions?"
"You haven't," I looked down at the carpet in shame.
"What is it going to take for you to realise I'm not James, or any other man who has disappointed you?"
"I know you're not."
"Then when are you going to stop doubting yourself and start trusting me?"
"I want to trust you, Bones. I really do," I looked up at him with tear filled eyes. "It's just every time I trust someone and let them in, they ultimately hurt me."
"I promise," Bones walked over to where I was seated, and crouched down in front of me, "that I will do everything in my power to never deliberately hurt you, Molly," he vowed as he reached with his hand and wiped away one of my tears.
"I'm scared, Bones," I confessed, causing for him to reach for my hands.
"I know you are, but deep down I think you know that you can trust me. Trust your instincts Molly," he encouraged.
"If I agree to this, does this mean you'll stop keeping things from me, even if you don't think they are important."
"Yes," Bones agreed.
"No more secrets?" I prompted.
"No more secrets."
"Your mum told me last week that you're a self-made millionaire. I'm willing to let that one slide for now. That leaves one final secret."
"What's that?" Bones looked at me expectantly.
"Your name," I requested, prompting Bones to roll his eyes in response.
"Is it really that important?"
"Do you want me to trust you or not?" I challenged.
"All right. If it's that important to you I will tell you. My name is Alexander," Bones finally revealed.
"Alexander Robert McClyde," I couldn't help but say his full name out loud for the first time. "Your mum and dad have good taste," I smirked.
"Don't give them ideas," Bones returned my smirk. "Are you happy now?"
"Yes, I think I am, Alex."
"Alex?" he raised a sceptical eyebrow at me.
"Alex," I smiled back at him, finally secure in the knowledge that I had found a man worthy of my trust.