The Good Sister: Part Two by London Saint James

to know about this,” I said with a quivering voice.
    Ashton looked confused. He glanced down.
    “Where did you find this letter?”
    “I was walking up on the third floor, and I heard a noise. The windowpane in the end room is broken. It was causing the armoire door to bang into something so I went to close the armoire door and found a box with letters inside, this letter,” I explained, pushing it toward him with my fingertips.
    Ashton sat down as if he had no strength. He closed his eyes. Rubbed his thumb up the middle of his chin. Opened his eyes. Picked up the envelope, and removed the letter. He read it, then placed the letter back into the envelope quite calmly.
    “Are you sure you wish to speak of this letter?”
    “Without any doubt, Ashton.”
    Ashton’s eyes met me. He stood up, his hands resting on his desktop. He stood there quietly for a moment before walking around his desk and taking my ice-cold hand. He led me into the small parlor where we could sit more comfortably. Once we were seated he grabbed a quilt from the back of the lounger and wrapped it around my shoulders.
    “You are freezing, my dove.”
    “I am upset, Ashton. Do not baby me.” I sniffed.
    He reached for my cheek. I pulled away.
    “Please do not pull away from me, my dove. You are breaking my heart.”
    “Maybe you are breaking mine,” I replied, rolling myself up into a ball, my defense, my old habit of hiding away in plain sight.
    I pulled my legs up to my chest, securing my arms around my knees, tucking my head, hiding.
    “Trinity,” he said, finding no response. “I promised I would never lie to you. You must know I shall keep my promises. You have asked about the letter so I will give you the truth.”
    From beneath the blanket I stirred. “She was going to have your baby, wasn’t she?”
     
     

Chapter Six
     
    “Trinity, my love, please look at me,” Ashton requested. I did not move. “Trinity…” Nothing but silence rang out with no response from his wife. Ashton sighed deeply.  “ No, it was not my child which Jacqueline carried.”
    My head popped up, searching Ashton’s face for the truth of his words. I flung back the blanket and lunged at him.
    “No,” I said, needing to hear the word. “You said ‘no,’” I cried, sobbing. I started kissing his neck, his jaw, his chin, his lips. “I’m sorry, Ashton. I’m sorry I thought the worst. I’m sorry—”
    He cut me off with a long, lingering, passion-filled kiss.
    “You need not be sorry, my dove,” Ashton assured. He brushed back some of the damp curls from my tear stained cheeks. “Calm yourself, and breathe.” I shook. “Shh…” I nuzzled my face into the crook of his neck. “I will give you the answers you seek, Trinity. Do not worry, my dove.”
    “My Lord,” Remington called, “I must apologize for the interruption, but your father has rung. He is on the line, and insistent.”
    “Tell my father I shall ring him back. I am unable to come to the phone presently.”
    “Yes, my lord.”
    “Trinity, my love, you are cutting off my air with the grip you have around my neck,” Ashton said with a chuckle, however strangled it sounded.
    “Sorry,” I said, rolling my body onto his lap so he could hold me. I rested my ear against his chest, completely lost in the sound of his heartbeat, and wrapped my fingers into the material of his shirt. “I’m sorry I moved from you when you tried to touch my cheek. Will you forgive me?”
    “Yes,” he said. “I understand the hurt, my dove. You read the letter which stated Jacqueline was with child so you assumed—”
    “I should not have assumed. I should have let you tell me the story instead of jumping to conclusions. Besides, even if you had slept with Jacqueline it was a long time ago. You and Jacqueline both lived a life that I was never part of, so I shouldn’t be so jealous. I know you have loved women before me.”
    “You are wrong,” Ashton assured. “I only love you, as I shall