Because We Belong

They all were in the sitting room when she arrived—Lucien, Elise, Anne, James, Gerard . . .

Ian.

The mood in the cozy sitting room was very casual and easygoing, everyone looking pleasantly lazy after the late-night festivities. She’d interrupted Elise in the process of animatedly describing a funny scene from a comedy that was currently popular. Her friend was curled up in the corner of the couch, her knees resting casually on Lucien’s thighs. She envied Elise’s ease in such splendid surroundings, a natural consequence of her upbringing, an innate confidence Francesca herself could never hope to achieve.

“Good morning,” Francesca said to everyone. “I apologize for being down so late.”

“Nonsense, we all slept in,” Anne assured. “But you look rosy this morning. You must have slept well. I’m glad to see it.”

She was determined not to meet Ian’s stare at Anne’s incendiary words, even though she felt his gaze on her heated cheeks. She couldn’t help but notice from her peripheral vision that he was dressed much like her. Her heart used to do a leap on the rare occasions when she saw him in jeans, knowing it probably meant he wanted them to go motorcycle riding together. He really did become a different man on the open road. She loved seeing his wind-whipped hair, his relaxation palpable in comparison to his typical rigid control, his full-out smile . . . the vision of him laughing without restraint. Even though she lectured herself not to look, she couldn’t seem to stop herself from glancing furtively at his long, muscular jean-clad thighs and narrow hips as James pulled up a chair for her and Anne went to pour her a cup of coffee from the service arranged on the sideboard.

“You weren’t planning on starting work on the painting today, were you?” Anne asked as she approached, noticing the sketchbook and coat she’d placed on the floor next to her chair. “But I was hoping you’d relax before beginning on that, take a little vacation. Why don’t you get started after the New Year? I’m having the canvas and your supplies delivered on the thirtieth. We’re all determined to be lazy today, after last night. We’re thinking about taking in a movie in town,” Anne said, handing her a china cup filled with coffee and cream. Francesca took a sip of the hot brew.

For some reason, irritation was rising in her at the idea of them all being so casual and accepting of Ian’s unexpected return . . .

. . . of his prolonged, unexplained absence.

He could do murder and his friends and family would rush to see to his every comfort.

You certainly were eager enough to see to his every comfort last night, you hypocrite.

“Vacation?” she asked, her light tone disguising not only her chaotic thoughts, but her anger. “Does that mean we’re all off the hook then?”

“Off the hook?” Anne asked uncertainly as she returned to her seat next to James.

“Has Ian let us all off the hook?” she clarified, her anger making it possible to stare directly at Ian as she took another sip of coffee. “Are you planning on returning to run Noble Enterprises, now that you’re back?”

She could tell by the stunned silence that no one else had yet dared to ask him the question. Ian returned her stare calmly before replying.

“I haven’t decided yet. Lin has kept me generally apprised of what’s been going on, and Lucien and Gerard filled me in on the details of the Tyake acquisition last night.”

“I do hope you’re pleased with our efforts,” Francesca said.

He didn’t blink at her quiet sarcasm. “I am. You’ve all arranged things almost as precisely as I would have. Everything is in place for the plan to move forward in the New Year. I was waiting until a moment when I could thank you all more formally, but Francesca’s right. You all deserve my gratitude now . . . as well as my apologies for leaving you in such a fix. I can’t thank you all enough, for all you’ve done on the Tyake acquisition,” he said, glancing at each of them in turn. His quiet sincerity left her feeling even more agitated.

“That’s what family is for,” James replied for everyone.

She stood, taking her cup to the sideboard. She hadn’t meant to say those things; she really needed to get ahold of herself. No one deserved her bitterness, save Ian.

Save herself.

“I hope you all have a good time at the movies,” she said with a smile, picking up her coat, hat, and the fingerless gloves she wore for outdoor sketching in the winter. “I think I’ll get started on some rough sketches before the canvas arrives. I could use a little work.”

“She’s right,” Gerard said. He stood to retrieve her sketchpad and pencils while she put on her gloves. “Work always sets things on track, I always say. And I’m not going to the movies, so I’ll take Francesca to the gardener’s cottage. That’s where you two were saying you wanted her to set up base while she draws, isn’t that right?” he asked James and Anne.

“Gardener’s cottage?” Francesca asked, hearing of this for the first time.

“Well, it’s not really a gardener’s cottage anymore,” James explained. “It hasn’t been anyone’s cottage but an occasional guest’s for the past twenty years. But it’d be a good post for you. It’s right at the edge of the woods, and it’s got an excellent straight-on view of Belford through a picture window. It won’t do for the details, of course, but we figured that since it’s so chilly out, it might save you a few days from the cold while you get the panoramic sketches. I had Mr. Sayers turn on the cottage furnace just yesterday, so it should be warm enough by now. If you think that’d be useful?”

“Very useful,” Francesca assured. “Thank you for thinking of it. It’ll save me having to go in and out to thaw out my fingers, for a few days, at least.

“I’ll take her to it,” Ian said, standing. Gerard shared Francesca’s nonplussed expression.

“I said I’d show her to it. You should go and relax with the others,” Gerard said.

“We’ll both show her then,” Ian said quietly, but his eyes flashed dangerously at Gerard before he picked up his coffee cup.

“It’s not really necessary for you to come,” Gerard prevaricated as Ian set his cup and saucer on the tray on the sideboard.

“It is, actually,” Ian said. James shifted uncomfortably in his chair at the hard edge to Ian’s tone. Ian’s stare at Gerard was one that Francesca could only describe as a silent, simmering challenge. Concern mingled with her annoyance. His calm exterior was far more brittle than she’d ever seen it before. “Because the gardener is off today, and I have the only other set of keys to the cottage.”

Gerard flushed. Clearly, Ian had preempted Gerard’s actions and asked his grandfather for the keys in advance. There was something subtly, but distinctly proprietary underlying Ian’s statement, as if he was reminding Gerard who the future master of Belford was. Or who the master of Francesca was. Resentment bubbled up into her chest. She noticed Elise giving Lucien an uncomfortable glance in the prickly silence that followed, and Anne and James did the same. Ian was acting like a caveman. It was all extremely awkward. She shot a fulminating look at Ian, which he didn’t notice as he studied his cousin.

“Come on, Gerard,” she said with false brightness. “I’ll enjoy your company.”

Gerard seemed a little angry, not to mention embarrassed, which made her even more irritated at Ian. At first, she thought he was going to stand down, but then he gave her a smile and nodded toward the door as if to say, Let’s proceed then. With everyone watching them in the uncomfortable silence that followed, she felt she had no choice but to follow Ian out of the room, Gerard falling in step behind her.

Chapter Five

She, Ian, and Gerard walked to the cottage at the edge of the woods, their boots crunching on the frosty path leading through the gardens, the cold winter air seemingly doing nothing to cool either her irritation at Ian or the charged atmosphere swirling among the three of them.

The cottage itself was nice, she decided once Ian had unlocked the door and they’d entered, but chilly despite the furnace being activated. The interior was modest in comparison to the luxury of Belford itself. In fact, the little house looked like it hadn’t been redecorated for several decades. She found the shabby elegance of it cozy.

“Stay here. Both of you,” Ian said after he’d closed the front door. She gave Gerard a questioning glance,