DESIRE
& DUTY
by MEL
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
TBC
DESIRE & DUTY
CHAPTER FIVE
Dinner began with
a delicate soup followed by a number of roasted meat dishes, including
venison, a roast saddle of mutton and stewed beef. These dished were accompanied
by a great variety of vegetables with sauces and condiments aplenty. Everybody
toasted the host and hostess for their abundant and generous table and
tucked in.
"So Dr. Lecter," Clarice felt her confidence return amid the
murmur of conversation that ensued. "Do you live close by?"
"Yes I live but five miles away at the neighbouring estate."
He replied.
"I was informed that the house was unoccupied," she said in
surprise. "What is the name of your home?"
"The estate is named Griffinsburne, but I do not own the property.
I am a tenant on the land."
"Oh, I see."
"You mean you have been told that I am a gentleman of means, of course."
He responded, teasing. Clarice felt herself redden a touch. His proximity
was unsettling, his elbow brushed hers and she tried not to jump. She
took a deep breath and tried to put his delicious neglect of polite conversation
to the back of her mind.
"That's not what I-"
A gentleman does not always find himself in need of a grand home, but
he does often find himself in need of privacy and solitude."
"Oh, I I mean to say thatyes, I understand completely."
A lady could have no answer for such an ambiguous statement, but for all
her efforts, Clarice found herself not entirely successful in quashing
the unladylike feelings that he engendered in her. This dinner party was
looking up with every passing minute. Perhaps she wasn't to be subjected
to the social mill after all.
"It is a tenancy of generous proportions, I must confess." He
continued, letting her off the hook. "I do also enjoy the creature
comforts. I am not inclined to deny myself the things that I want."
Again, even if Clarice had an answer for these veiled suggestions, their
situation bade her stay quiet. She was very adept at such gatherings,
a well-practiced socialite, well-versed in speaking many words but not
saying much. She knew all the responses, all the polite, leading questions
to make people feel at ease and open up, knew the responses that were
expected of her to each and every one of the polite conversational questions
she would be asked. However after just five minutes conversation with
Dr. Lecter she felt a little out of her depth at this dinner party. It
was not an unwelcome feeling, she had to admit.
"Mrs. - er, Mrs. Starling!?" Dr. Frederick Chilton caught her
attention from across the table. "Mrs. Starling, how are you finding
England so far? How do you enjoy Derbyshire?"
"I find England delightful, the land in this part of the country
is quite beautiful. You are all exceedingly lucky to live here."
The chorus of murmurs and agreements was cut through by Chilton's voice
as he asked another question.
"Mr. Krendler here tells me that your business is thriving."
His smile did not reach his eyes. Krendler's lip curled in a smirk, and
she thought he winked at her. She heard Lecter emit something like a quiet
hum. She glanced at him and he was looking intently at Krendler.
"Oh! What business is your family in Miss?" Alice piped up from
next to Mason, and earned herself a disapproving glance from her husband.
"Well, it's just me now Mrs. Verger, but my business is ships. I
own lots of ships." Clarice said pleasantly.
"Ships!" said Alice brightly. "That's super!"
"We started as importers - pepper, silk, spices," she said.
"Furs and leathers, and other similar items."
Bella spoke up from her position opposite Jack at the head of the table.
"This very dress I wear tonight is made from silk that Jack and Charles
brought back from a trip." Clarice's brow furrowed only minutely
at the mention of her husband's name before she put a smile on her face
and joined the table in admiring Bella's frock.
"How do you find you manage the business without your husband, Mrs.
Starling?" Chilton continued to speak overly loudly.
"I manage tolerably, Doctor." It was her turn to smile with
her teeth only.
"I find your situation fascinating, I'm sure you understand,"
he said greasily. "Surely there are certain things.?"
He trailed off.
"I'm sure Mrs. Starling manages perfectly well, Fred." Paul
Krendler slapped Chilton on the back, overly familiar given the brevity
of their acquaintance. "I work for her, remember? The business runs
smooth as silk." Something in Krendler's grin told her that he wasn't
as comfortable with the situation as he was suggesting. This whole conversation
was getting a little threatening under the surface. Chilton just did not
know when to close his mouth, and Krendlerwell, he was someone to
watch closely, at the very least. She had not come into this situation
blinkered. She knew that her position and her determination to hold onto
it would make her unpopular in some circles; what she was not prepared
for was the intense and none too friendly scrutiny she was being subjected
to.
"Well," Bella said cheerfully, as if nothing at all had transpired.
"Mrs. Starling, tomorrow Jack has given me leave to take the coach
and show you some properties in the area."
"You are staying?" Mason Verger spoke his first words of the
whole meal.
"Yes sir," Clarice replied. "Everything is taken care of
at home for the time being, and I need the change of scenery as much as
the company needs me here now."
"Wonderful!" squeaked Alice.
"Yes, that is something," added Krendler, again with the suggestive
tone. "What properties are you looking at?"
"I do not know that, Mr. Krendler, Bella has been kind enough to
take care of that for me."
"Well there are only three vacancies in the area," Bella told
the table. "One is very far away, though."
"You should definitely look at Griffinsburne. I can give you a tour
of the grounds." Dr. Lecter spoke unexpectedly. He had seemed to
opt out of the dinner conversation for the most part. Clarice looked at
him gratefully. It seemed he knew when to steer conversation back into
the polite sphere, as well as work outside it.
"That is very generous," Clarice thanked him "As long as
you assure me we are not trespassing on your time or privacy." She
could not help adding. Lecter looked delighted at being teased so. Clarice
felt a delicious frisson in the depths of her stomach and could not help
but smile back.
"The pleasure will be all mine." Was all he said, and Clarice
could not tell him that that might not be entirely true.
After-dinner drinks
were served once the table had been cleared and the guests began milling
around the spacious room. Bella approached Clarice as she stood near the
fireplace admiring a portrait.
"That is my father," Bella informed her proudly. "A great
man. I miss him very much."
"I'm sure you do." Clarice agreed.
"Anyhow, I just wanted to say goodnight. I must retire, I am simply
exhausted. I have not been in the best of health these past two years.
I want to be well-rested for our outing tomorrow. You are simply going
to love Griffinsburne!"
"The place is so old, Bella," drawled a voice behind them. They
turned to see Krendler regarding them both. "I'm sure Mrs. Starling
would like something a little more." He paused to choose his
word. "A little more luxuriant? She is a woman of means after all,
why should she not have the best?" He smiled broadly. Bella looked
disheartened.
"Well perhaps he is correct, I was really only thinking about having
you close by."
"Don't be silly Bella, I'm sure Griffinsburne is delightful."
She said shortly. The smile melted from Krendler's face.
"I meant no disrespect ma'am, I was merely hoping to suggest a more
appropriate residence for your stay in the area. I have a number of properties
in mind and I would be delighted to escort you to any one of them for
a visit."
"I'm sure I shall be able to decide for myself what is appropriate,
sir." Clarice forced a smile but there was no mistaking her meaning.
Krendler's face dropped from chastened to sour. He clicked his heels and
moved off, without another word. As he drifted away, Dr. Lecter drew near.
Clarice found herself wishing for his eyes to fall upon her, as he spoke
to Bella.
"Your husband informs me you are retiring for the evening, Mrs. Crawford,
and I wanted to extend my thanks for a wonderful evening." Bella
glowed happily. Jack appeared to see her upstairs, and they said their
goodnights. Clarice was disappointed when Dr. Lecter added his farewell.
"Until tomorrow, Mrs. Starling."
She extended her hand and he took it. She hoped there was nobody witnessing
the extraordinary length of time he held her hand to his lips, nor her
swelling intake of breath and delicious frisson his attentions caused
in her. She exercised great restraint in not exhaling audibly. He raised
his eyes as he let go of her hand and she saw he was smiling - not a pleasant,
salutary smile, but a sultry and almost lascivious smile. She would have
slapped the face of any gentleman wearing that expression, but she was
mesmerized by his eyes, pupils dilated to display mirror-like black discs.
She began to entertain thoughts she never believed she would have again
in her lifetime.
"Until tomorrow," she breathed, and he was gone. Knowing not
what else to do with herself, Clarice decided to retire to her rooms also.
Despite the grand comfort of her quarters, it was some time that evening
before she attained restful sleep.
To Be Continued