Taming the Tyrant (Book Boyfriends For the Holidays)

Chapter 5

I could see that she was tensed as we entered the driveway that led up to the manor. I gritted my teeth and swore under my breath. No stones would be left when I figured out what happened. I trusted my staff, but this was serious, and I needed answers. The best option was to catch the culprit in the act.

“How would you like to go to the countryside for a few days?” I asked. “Just the both of us.”

“I’d love that.”

“I’ll have the cottage prepared,” I added, as her expression changed into glee. “We’ll hire a new cook and housekeeper, and a few guards.”

“No cook. I will do the cooking, but a housekeeper would be excellent.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

Her enthusiasm put me at ease. “We can leave first thing in the morning. In the meantime, I will take care of the situation here.”

We arrived in front of the portico where the butler opened the double doors and waited for us. I got out and sprinted around to the passenger side, opening the door and offering my hand to my wife. Her warm hand in mine teased my heart and warmed my gut. This woman was bearing my child and there was nothing that I wouldn’t do for her. If she wanted the universe, I’d tear the world apart to give it to her.

When she alighted the car, I pulled her into my arms, burying my face into her hair, smelling her sweetness and feeling her voluptuous body next to mine. In that moment I knew I had everything a man could ever dream of. She completed me.

“I will do everything in my power to make this right, I promise,” I murmured.

“I want to be there when you confront them,” she replied.

I nodded. “Alright.”

I took the food out of the car, and we hooked our arms together as we entered the house. The butler looked curiously at us as he must have smelled the food. He told us that the cook had prepared a special dinner for my return, but I told him that we would be dining privately in our suite, and that no one should disturb us.

We spent an intimate evening talking and cuddling by the fireplace in our suite and drinking Sbiten, a tea made with honey, jam, and various spices. It was the ideal drink for a cold winter’s night while the honey was soothing for her stomach.

Tabitha fell asleep first, wrapped up in my arms. I gently lifted her, taking her to bed and tucking her in. She looked peaceful and gorgeous in her sleep.

“I’ll cut out the intestines of the one who tried to poison you,” I whispered, kissing her cheek. “That’s my solemn vow.”

Tabitha

The view from the porch of the cottage was beautiful. Stretched across the east were the snowcapped mountains, a stark contrast to the city lights from the west. A vast meadow with a blanket of snow stretched across the plains. The sweet sugary scent of pine was noticeable in the air from the many trees in the region. Even with the pending snowstorm on the horizon the place was spectacular.

Zakhar brought in the bags while I unpacked the groceries, we bought on the way. He would have had someone pick up groceries, but I insisted that we do it. It was evident the man had never gone grocery shopping before and had no clue what to do. I told him he needed to learn because he was going to have many craving runs to the store in the coming months.

The doctor who Donicia introduced me to came to see me in the afternoon. Zakhar had invited her to give me a check and to have some blood drawn for screening. She said we would get the results by that evening as she would put a rush on it. Otherwise, I and the baby were healthy.

As promised, she sent the result back that night and we were pleased that only a minute trace of the sodium hypochlorite was found in my blood. I was showing no signs of sickness, but she suggested a thorough exam soon to make certain I had no internal damage.

Over the next few days, I started to feel much better than I did in the past few weeks. I spent one day at the clinic doing the exams and the other days at the cottage. On day three Zakhar left me alone, returning hours later.

I was in the kitchen making chicken alfredo for dinner. The meal was almost done, and I asked him to set the table. He looked at the cutlery I placed in his hand like they were bombs.

“You’ve never set the table, have you?” he stared at me. “Okay, when you sit at the dinner table, what do you see?”

He thought for a moment. “Hmmm, I see.”

He did a pretty good job for his first try at this. The cutlery was in the right place and I was proud of him. We put the food at the table and sat down to eat when he told me his plans.

“I gave the staff a few days off while I install a few cameras.”

“How long will that take?” I asked. “Will they suspect anything?”

“Not at all. Kiev and his wife and kids are visiting relatives for a few days as well. Therefore, the house will be empty.”

“Kiev and his wife? I thought they didn’t get along. They live separately.”

He cleared his throat. “They had no choice. I told them to leave and return in a few days.”

I laughed. “You can’t just order your brother around like that. He’s older than you.”

“He’s the one who keeps forgetting his age,” he grumbled. “I’m just doing my job.”

“Are you sulking?” I asked, laughing at his expression. “You are.”

“You’re scolding me for my brother. Of course I’m sulking.”

“You’re such a big baby.”

“I’m your baby,” he agreed, eyes twinkling.

This was a completely different Zakhar to the one before, the stoic, unyielding tyrant. Tonight, he was soft, smiling, and relaxed, and a little boyish.

“I need you to trust me,” he continued. “I will have the staff prepare a meal for us when they return. It will be a normal thing for them.”

“I understand, that is why you installed the cameras.”

The plan was set, he would catch the guilty party with undeniable evidence. It sounded good to me. I relaxed and enjoyed the rest of my time in the countryside, having my husband dote on me every second.

I told him my concerns about a big wedding and what I wanted instead. Since I was pregnant, I wanted something quiet, with just a few intimate friends. He agreed and told me I could scrap the list he gave me and invite whomever I wanted.

Donicia was okay with my changes. She would still be paid in full for planning something smaller and changing the date to New Year’s Day. No elaborate affair, just an elegant function with twenty-five guests. I was looking forward to it.