‘Your assistant?’
‘Yes.’
‘I can assume she has been thoroughly vetted?’
‘She has, sir.I did it myself this morning.’
‘I will consider that, thank you, Lachlan.How is my son?’
‘Shaken but holding up.He was very brave.’
‘I understand there was some difficulty with Jessamine.’
It’s only the second time he’s ever heard the little girl referred to in such a way.Everyone else calls her Mimi.‘Yes, sir.She’s very wary of me.’
‘Hm,’ the old man says, walking around a nearby pond.‘I assume it’s Julian encouraging said wariness?’
‘I wouldn’t presume to know, sir.’
‘It’s your business to know.Julian is yours to manage but both my children are yours to protect.If you cannot even pick her up, how can you protect her?’
‘I’ll find a way, sir.’
‘See that you do.Perhaps the woman you hired as your second, Priscilla Carrigan, can form a bond with her.’
‘That was my instinct also, sir.’
‘Women flock to women.’The old man smirks.‘They have their uses.I will be hiring a male replacement as head of household, but your assistant may take over in the interim.Clara left much to be desired, and yet she came so highly recommended from Harker.’Alistair Penhalyx shrugs and faces Lachlan head on, gaze raking over him.‘I read your file extensively.Your background indicates a same-sex inclination.’
It's not a question.
Lachlan only hesitates a beat, wondering where the fuck he pulledthatfrom.‘Both ways, sir.’
Alistair waves away what he perceives of Lachlan’s brief discomfort.‘I have no qualms with it.I do not carry my father’s prejudice.The world is new and full of wonders.’His gaze sharpens somewhat.‘My son is similarly inclined, I suspect.Remember what I instructed about Julian’scuriosities.I would be most disappointed to discover he was exploring himself anywhere outside of your management.’
'Sir, may I seek to clarify something?’Lachlan asks after debating back and forth whether to even try.
But Alistair Penhalyx seems in a much better mood after killing Clara, so he smiles indulgently.‘But of course.’
‘Thank you.I expected that you wouldn’t want your son exploringanythingof that nature, let alone under my… management.’
‘You’re surprised?’
‘I’d prefer explicit clarification, sir.With something so important as your son, I wouldn’t want to overstep,’ he says, tone deferential, taking care to refer to Jules assomething.
‘Which is exactly why I want it to beyou,and you alone.’They resume walking together.‘Two years ago, Julian had an incident with his former bodyguard.’Lachlan’s insides turn ice cold.Two years ago Jules wasfifteen.‘I was informed that it was a close call, but it has left him jaded in the extreme.It is, I suspect, why he is so determined that Jessamine does not form any bond with you.There have been past lapses in hiring judgement.My son is naturally headstrong, and I know of his inclinations.’He glances at Lachlan, measuring.‘You are young, attractive, fit.I’m simply sayingifhis desires manifest in such a way, I leave it to your discretion.’The old man chuckles to himself.‘I have no attachment to his virginity,’ he says, indulgent still and seemingly friendly.Lachlan feels there is something decidedly serpentine about him, somethingunnaturallurking behind a mild façade.‘Clear enough?’
Lachlan gives a smart nod.‘Crystal, sir.Thank you.’
?
The fourth month is slow going.
Lachlan works tirelessly to innovate protective measures, but each new element he adds feels like an additional padlock around the necks of these children to whom he is sworn.Living on the Estate as he does, Lachlan expects at some point to see some carefully managed outing.A dinner.An event.A heavily supervised trip somewhere beyond the grounds, chaperoned within an inch of its life, but outside, nonetheless.
Only they never leave.
They never go off Estate grounds.
