Page 21 of Mayfair Madame (Mayfair Heights #1)

Chapter Nineteen

Ellie

I ’d never travelled first class before, but Naomi had insisted.We’d both agreed I wasn’t fit to drive, that the train would be the better option, but I’d have been happy to travel in any class. Getting home to Mum was my priority.

We rattled through each station until we reached my hometown just north of Birmingham. Not much had changed. The same rundown shops, but with a few fast food additions. Kids hung around outside, vaping, with loud music blasting from mobile phones.

Normally, I’d not be intimidated, but today, still weak from my infection, I put my hood up and scurried past, intent on grabbing the next available taxi.

Mum had mentioned how she hated coming into town. Now I knew why.

“Where to, love?” The driver eyed me through the rearview mirror and waited for my reply.

Should I go to my sister’s first or to the hospital? Unsure if I could face Mum alone, I chose the safer option and gave him my sister’s address.

We rode in silence, the twenty-minute journey giving me time to steel myself against my sister’s wrath. The call had been fraught with tension, and I couldn’t blame her. Having to deal with Mum was no simple task, especially when also looking after her kids and a husband who was barely there.

She’d definitely drawn the short straw where that was concerned,but she’d chosen her path, as had I.

I thought back to our childhood. Lucy was the good one. She never bunked off school, got great grades, whereas I’d done the bare minimum, and skipped school when I could. It was a wonder I’d been accepted into the police force.

“Excuse me. We’re here. That’ll be fifteen pounds.”

“Oh yes, sorry.” I dug around in my backpack for my wallet and threw a twenty at him. “Keep the change.”

I stood on the pavement and took in her house. It’d been a while since I’d visited. The garden was immaculate, with colour-filled flower beds and impressive hanging baskets. She’d embraced the home life. I wasn’t sure I ever would.

But this thing with Naomi….

Before I could finish the thought, the front door flew open and two bundles of energy barrelled towards me.

“Mum, she’s here. Aunt Ellie’s here.”

In my weakened state, I was almost knocked flat but, by some stroke of luck, I stayed on my feet and gathered my nieces to me.

Sophie was eight, with long blonde hair and blue eyes, the image of her dad. Roxie was six and looked so much like me, she could have been my daughter. But then, Lucy and I had been mistaken for twins despite her being older than me.

“Girls, give her some space.” My sister walked towards me, her willowy figure so different from mine. Whereas I’d carried the weight, she’d always been svelte. Was I jealous of her height? Of course I was, but we couldn’t have everything, I guessed.

“Hi, Lucy.” I shoved my hands into the pockets of my hoodie and kicked the ground like a petulant teenager. She had a way of making me feel like a kid again.

“You look like shit. Come inside and tell your big sister what happened.” I took her offered hand and followed her into the house, the smell of freshly brewed coffee hitting me. My stomach growled in response, reminding me I’d eaten barely anything.

I’d expected a tirade and instead was greeted with affection, a sentiment that warmed my heart.

I sat at the small table in her kitchen and felt at home. A bundle of black fur jumped into my lap, the cat’s purr loud in the silent room. She kneaded my lap before finally settling down.

“Biscuits has missed you.” Lucy placed a huge mug of black coffee on the table in front of me.

“She barely remembers me.” I fondled her soft ears and relaxed into the chair, feeling calm for the first time since I’d left Naomi’sapartment.

“Have you eaten?” She took bacon from the fridge.

I shook my head, unwilling to look her in the eye. She knew the struggles I’d faced as both a child and a teen.

“I’m cooking for Henry, I might as well put some on for you too.”

“I’m not hungry.” My stomach growled again, betraying me.

“That says otherwise.” She pointed at my belly.

“It was the cat.”

“Fuck was it.”

“I see your potty mouth hasn’t improved. What if the girls hear you?” I looked around for them.

“They’re outside on the trampoline.” Squeals came from the garden,and I watched as they bounced and did somersaults.

“How’s Mum?” I’d better ask and get it out of the way.

“She’s better than she was. She doesn’t need an op, thank God. She hates being in there, but it’s the best place for her right now.”

“How long will she be in there?”

“A few days, maybe? As soon as they have care in place, they’ll discharge her. I’m not sure she’s well enough to be on her own. It might betime to think about putting her in a home. She won’t admit it, but she’s struggling to cope on her own, Ellie.”

“I’m sorry.” All the way here, I’d done nothing but think about the situation, wondering if I should move home to be closer, relieving some of the pressure from Lucy.

“For what?” She flipped the bacon in the pan and hissed as droplets of fat splashed her skin.

“Not being here. Leaving you to it. Everything.”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but you were never going to stick around. You’ve never been a homebody. I didn’t want to say anything at the time, but you and Kate wouldn’t have worked. She wanted that life and you didn’t. But don’t apologise for that. You followed your dream.”

I sipped the coffee, my hands wrapped around the mug. Biscuits slept peacefully, her body gently rising and falling. If only life were that easy.

“I left you to look after everything, and when Dad died….”

“When Dad died, you were here for us both. You may live miles away, but we could feel your strength.” She smiled ruefully, no doubt remembering Dad.

“What’s going on with you, though? There’s something different, and I don’t mean the gaunt look, which you will explain to me at some point, by the way. ”

Lucy and I always told each other everything. We’d always been close, so it was easy enough to tell her about Naomi.

“I’ve met someone.”

“This from the woman who said she’d never date again after Kate. Who is she? She must be something special to put that look on your face.”

I smiled. “You could say that. I’ve known her for a few weeks. It feels so fucking right, Lucy. I can’t even explain it.”

“If she makes you smile, then I say go for it. Or are we in the honeymoon phase? Lots of sex can do that. I remember when Henry and I first met.”

“You don’t have to tell me. I walked in on you going at it more than once. Didn’t you ever learn to lock the door?”

“I’ll never forget your face the first time.” She put a bacon sandwich in front of me and sat down. “I swear that put you off men for good.”

I laughed, remembering it clearly. The sight of Henry’s hairy arse had plagued my dreams for weeks after. He had been as mortified as I.

“I was never into men, Lucy. We both know that.”

“Well, come on. Tell me about her. What does she do? Where does she live? What does she look like?”

I pictured her in my mind. Her elegance and beauty, her body that enticed me even in my fragile state. Her kisses, her touch, the scent of her. Lucy’s touch startled me out of my thoughts.

“If that’s not an answer, I don’t know what is,” she said fondly.

“She’s exquisite. Taller than me. A body to die for.”

“I don’t need all the details. Jeez, Ellie.” But her smile told a different story. “Where did you meet?”

“Now that’s a long story, but the short of it is I met her while Iwas investigating a sexual assault. Some bastard thought he could get away with hurting her.”

“Isn’t that frowned upon? Dating a victim?”

“Normally, yes, but charges were dropped by both sides.” It still rankled, and I was determined to understand that.

“What does she do? I want to know everything about the woman who has my sister so besotted.”

I took a bite of my sandwich and chewed slowly. Few would understand what she did and why.

“She’s a madame,” I whispered.

“What, like a prostitute thing?” she said loudly.

“Shhh, keep your voice down, and yes, she runs a high-class escort agency.” It sounded terrible, but I didn’t care. Naomi knew this.

Lucy furrowed her brow. “And you’re okay with her having sex with other people. Fuck, Ellie. What have you got yourself mixed up in?”

Of all the people I knew, I’d hoped Lucy would understand, but now I thought about it, I could understand her concern.

“She doesn’t do that anymore.” Biscuits stood, turned around, and plonked herself back down on my lap. “She gave it up a long time ago.”

“Even so, Ellie. A prostitute?”

“She’s not a prostitute. She’s a business owner and lives in Mayfair in a penthouse.” Why was this such an issue?

“So monied, then. I guess being on the game pays.”

“For fuck’s sake, Lucy. Didn’t you hear what I said?” My pulse raced, and if the cat hadn’t been sitting on my lap, I’d have got up and left.

“I heard you. Loud and clear. You’re dating a rich hooker.”

“Oh, my God. I shouldn’t have said anything. I shouldn’t have come.” As if she sensed my anger, Biscuits jumped off my lap and ran out the back door. If only I could do the same. “I’ll go see Mum, then head back to London.”

“Ellie.” The frustration in her voice was clear, but Lucy took hold of my wrist. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“No, you shouldn’t. Why can’t you be happy for me? For once in your fucking life.”

“I am, I am. I…”

“You don’t know her. She’s kind, thoughtful, caring.” She’d put me up in her apartment since coming out of the hospital. Paid for my ticket to get here.

I owed her a lot in a short space of time. Would Kate have done that for me? Would she fuck? Naomi was ten times the person Kate had ever been.

“Do you want to know why I look so ‘gaunt’, as you put it? I was in the hospital myself. An infection caught from the lake I jumped into to save a drowning man.”

“Why didn’t you say anything? Jesus, Ellie.”

“I would have done, but I was unconscious for two days and only got out of the hospital yesterday. I was staying with Naomi to recover. In her fancy penthouse, but you know what she did? She sat with me, all the time I was out of it. She slept in the fucking chair.”

All the pent-up emotion from the last couple of days spilt out. Tears streamed down my face. My chest heaved from the effort, pain radiating through my body as I sobbed.

I sat back down with a thud, covering my eyes with my hands. Gentle arms surrounded me, and her chin rested on my shoulder.

“My poor baby sister. I’m so sorry we weren’t there for you.”

There was a reason I hadn’t told them. I hated feeling a burden. They had enough on their plates as it was without my problems being piled on top.

“It’s fine. I’m fine.” I wasn’t fine. The journey had tired me to the point of exhaustion. I needed more than coffee and bacon to revive my flagging spirit.

“It really isn’t, but you’ve always been independent. You’ve never seemed to want our help with anything. You moved away. Made a new life for yourself, and at times, it was as if you didn’t need us. I know that’s no excuse, Ellie, and God knows I could have called more.”

“Yes, you could have.”

“But it never meant we didn’t love you.” She kissed my cheek and sat down opposite me. “Please stay and tell me more about your friend. What’s her name?”

“Naomi. Naomi Reeves.” Just the thought of her and my body flooded with emotion. The hair rose on my arms, and my fingers tingled with a need to touch her.

“What does she look like?”

“Are you really interested, or are you being nice?”

“I’m interested. I know I didn’t exactly show it, but if she’s making you happy, then I’d like to meet her.”

“You’re not just saying that? You’d really like to meet her?”

“I would love to. Now, let’s get you fed, and you can tell me more.” She stood and resumed her cooking, the bacon sizzling in the pan.

“I should call her. Let her know I’m here.”

I walked into the garden and watched my nieces as they played. Was this really what Kate had wanted?

Naomi answered on the first ring.

“Hey, I’m here at my sister’s,” I said, feeling weary.

“How was the journey? Okay? How are you feeling?" The moment I heard her voice, a feeling of calm washed over me.

“I’m tired. I wish I were still in your bed.”

“I wish you were too.”

Silence hung between us. My breath hitched, and I took a calming breath, trying not to break down.

“How’s your mum?” she asked. Had she sensed how close I was to tears? Since when had I become so emotional?

“Lucy says she’s okay, and we’ll probably go to see her later today. I’m not sure when I’ll be home.”

“Take your time. I’ll be waiting. But call me, and I’ll come and meet you at the station.”

“Ellie. I cooked more bacon,” Lucy called.

“Is that your sister? You’d best go get your food. Make sure you look after yourself. You should still be here, not halfway across the country.”

“I’m a couple of hours away, if that, but I promise to take care. Can I call you later?”

“You’d better. I should let you go.” Was she as reluctant as me to end the call?

We said our goodbyes, and I walked back into the kitchen.

“Everything okay?” Lucy placed another sandwich in front of me.

“Yeah, I think it’s going to be.”