Beautiful Whispers (Ausmor Plantation Book 1 - Romance/Suspense) by Alice Ayden
Authors: Alice Ayden
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the sight of me without requiring any extra effort on my part. Freed up my irritation hours for others.
“What an icy little bitch.” Alexander immediately bowed his head. “Perdóname Madre.”
I shook my head. “What?”
“My mom didn’t like me to disrespect.”
“It’s Tour Guide Anne. Surely your mother wouldn’t have minded?”
Alexander laughed. “She would have. Always said to treat everyone with respect even if they don’t deserve it.”
I nodded and noticed him staring at my lip. I tried to turn my head, but he stepped in front of me.
“Did Byron?”
“What? Byron would never hurt me.”
Alexander made a face like he didn’t believe me.
“He wouldn’t. He’s never.” I put my hand up to my lip to hide it. “Can you tell that much?”
He touched my wrist. “What the hell?” His eyes sought the ground as his mind turned over the suspect list.
“Please, don’t do anything. I need to talk to Evan.” That’s what I said. What I thought? Grab the popcorn and watch Alexander hurl Johnston around like a rag and hang him from the chandelier.
“I’m not going to sit back and let anyone hurt you. You can’t ask me to do that again.”
I didn’t know what he meant, but the ache in my stomach told me it was the truth. “It’ll be different this time. Byron doesn’t own me.” I didn’t know why I said that, and I didn’t even know what it meant.
Alexander nodded. “Prove it.”
13 Jane
Mrs. Kiness called Alexander away, and I walked through the house searching past lone tourists, rushed tour guides and busy staff. I needed to find a group – a pile up. Look for a wad and there in the middle would be Evan.
He tended to act like sticky tape inadvertently picking up everyone attracted to him. He was one of those naturally hot guys who didn’t have to do a damn thing to announce his hotness.
“My darling Jane Eva,” Grand Maeve said, gliding in from the Rose Parlor. “And how is my favorite niece?”
I instinctively looked around for my sister. It wasn’t a secret as to who Grand Maeve favored, but at least I thought I should politely look in case something needed to be smoothed over. Grand Maeve stared directly at me. She lacked the need to cover.
I kissed my great aunt’s cheek. “Hello, Grand Maeve. I’ve decided to just go by Jane.”
“Oh, how wonderful.” Grand Maeve smiled and clasped her hands together as if I’d said I’d found a million dollars buried in the basement.
“It is a fine name.” She smiled.
I nodded. The fact that I was named after Grand Maeve Jane Austen was another reason she loved it. Although a great aunt to me, and the grandmother to Lillia and Evan, Grand Maeve long ago decided against traditional titles and settled for Grand Maeve.“What are your plans today, Grand Maeve?”
She grinned.
I guess I should have asked, ‘who are your plans today?’ since my great aunt collected men.
“Oh…” Grand Maeve blushed. “I am fortunate enough to be quite active today.”
I winced. “Have you seen Evan?” I leaned past the rope Karenda used to block off the old Morgan dining room and peeked into the renovations. Silence. The workers scattered like crickets on a summer night around my great aunt and her wandering hands.
“What are we discussing?” Margaret Morgan Stonston - Mags - lunged into the conversation followed by her son, Johnston.
Grand Maeve sighed very loudly. “The Damn Other Morgans. Where’s the pest control?” She long ago decided - not her blood; not her problem.
Officially, Grand Maeve and Uncle V produced three children; unofficially, they had a son - the father of Evan and Lillia. According to Grand Maeve, two daughters resulted from Uncle V’s diddling of maids. Since Mags wasn’t her child, Grand Maeve didn’t have to cloak her disgust.
“Excuse me,” I said slipping away. I couldn’t risk another run in with Johnston.
I leapt up the Grand Staircase for my escape. On the second floor - the
“What an icy little bitch.” Alexander immediately bowed his head. “Perdóname Madre.”
I shook my head. “What?”
“My mom didn’t like me to disrespect.”
“It’s Tour Guide Anne. Surely your mother wouldn’t have minded?”
Alexander laughed. “She would have. Always said to treat everyone with respect even if they don’t deserve it.”
I nodded and noticed him staring at my lip. I tried to turn my head, but he stepped in front of me.
“Did Byron?”
“What? Byron would never hurt me.”
Alexander made a face like he didn’t believe me.
“He wouldn’t. He’s never.” I put my hand up to my lip to hide it. “Can you tell that much?”
He touched my wrist. “What the hell?” His eyes sought the ground as his mind turned over the suspect list.
“Please, don’t do anything. I need to talk to Evan.” That’s what I said. What I thought? Grab the popcorn and watch Alexander hurl Johnston around like a rag and hang him from the chandelier.
“I’m not going to sit back and let anyone hurt you. You can’t ask me to do that again.”
I didn’t know what he meant, but the ache in my stomach told me it was the truth. “It’ll be different this time. Byron doesn’t own me.” I didn’t know why I said that, and I didn’t even know what it meant.
Alexander nodded. “Prove it.”
13 Jane
Mrs. Kiness called Alexander away, and I walked through the house searching past lone tourists, rushed tour guides and busy staff. I needed to find a group – a pile up. Look for a wad and there in the middle would be Evan.
He tended to act like sticky tape inadvertently picking up everyone attracted to him. He was one of those naturally hot guys who didn’t have to do a damn thing to announce his hotness.
“My darling Jane Eva,” Grand Maeve said, gliding in from the Rose Parlor. “And how is my favorite niece?”
I instinctively looked around for my sister. It wasn’t a secret as to who Grand Maeve favored, but at least I thought I should politely look in case something needed to be smoothed over. Grand Maeve stared directly at me. She lacked the need to cover.
I kissed my great aunt’s cheek. “Hello, Grand Maeve. I’ve decided to just go by Jane.”
“Oh, how wonderful.” Grand Maeve smiled and clasped her hands together as if I’d said I’d found a million dollars buried in the basement.
“It is a fine name.” She smiled.
I nodded. The fact that I was named after Grand Maeve Jane Austen was another reason she loved it. Although a great aunt to me, and the grandmother to Lillia and Evan, Grand Maeve long ago decided against traditional titles and settled for Grand Maeve.“What are your plans today, Grand Maeve?”
She grinned.
I guess I should have asked, ‘who are your plans today?’ since my great aunt collected men.
“Oh…” Grand Maeve blushed. “I am fortunate enough to be quite active today.”
I winced. “Have you seen Evan?” I leaned past the rope Karenda used to block off the old Morgan dining room and peeked into the renovations. Silence. The workers scattered like crickets on a summer night around my great aunt and her wandering hands.
“What are we discussing?” Margaret Morgan Stonston - Mags - lunged into the conversation followed by her son, Johnston.
Grand Maeve sighed very loudly. “The Damn Other Morgans. Where’s the pest control?” She long ago decided - not her blood; not her problem.
Officially, Grand Maeve and Uncle V produced three children; unofficially, they had a son - the father of Evan and Lillia. According to Grand Maeve, two daughters resulted from Uncle V’s diddling of maids. Since Mags wasn’t her child, Grand Maeve didn’t have to cloak her disgust.
“Excuse me,” I said slipping away. I couldn’t risk another run in with Johnston.
I leapt up the Grand Staircase for my escape. On the second floor - the
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