Usurpers Rising

Warning: references sexual abuse, ritual abuse and homosexuality.

Ding dong, the lady of the great house is dead!
Finally, it is over!
But wait, before you celebrate...
There are others, lurking...
There are plans in play...

Paid contracts linger...
Did Nathan just order a stallion?
Why is Derek so desperate to please his beloved?
And was Owen just in the wrong place... at the wrong time...?
Mrs. Brighton, she just loves her job, her unofficial one!

Sample. New Year's 1963

Sudden thought chilling, what if...
What if...
It’s not over...?
Flash of the slave hunter standing over him, leering, manacles in hand, Michael woke with a start.
Sweat pouring off him drying in the shadow of the sun umbrella, he scanned the beach.
Nothing untoward, those on the beach relaxed, the language being spoken around him was Spanish, not English...
Sipping the drink he had ordered before dozing off Michael paused to see if it was...
Drugged...
Nothing happening, he shook himself, reminded himself it was over. For him, his son Derek and his nephews Sebastian, Louis and Howard it was over.
It was really...
Over...
Reminding himself the key to setting the boys was to settle himself, Michael spared Derek a smile.
Nephews out surfing he raised a glass tried “here’s to a new year .”
Raising his glass Derek agreed “a new year.”
Orange juice in his glass, Derek checked again “they... won’t come...?”
Deep sigh, Michael gave his son a needed hug, reassured “no son.”
“Son” still feeling...
Different...
On his tongue…
Michael released the hug.
Unsure if he wasn’t lying, he explained “they would never follow us here.”
Finishing his orange juice Derek ordered another from a passing attendant in near perfect Spanish, liked his father’s smile, ordered him a virgin pina colada.
Admitting that he had enough alcohol, Michael paid Francisca, called in the boys with the agreed green flag.
All of them more settled since their last move, Michael smiled that even Sebastian was starting to relax, the ocean was bleaching their hair and his, the sun bronzing skin.
All of them indulging in the festivities around them under his watchful eye, Michael liked this new start.
New Year’s celebrations going into the night, he finally sent his charges to bed, caught the look Francisca favored him with, followed tired boys to bed.
Sinking into his own bed, he smiled that here, he could believe it was all finally...
Over…
Deep frown as the surfacing worry nudged unless Ellie had not…
Gone through with…
Deep sigh, Michael reassured himself there was no way the slave hunter was going to venture out of the country in pursuit.
Calming his mind, starting to drift off, the great house and…
All that…
Seemingly a lifetime away…
Michael smiled, considering if he liked Francisca’s smile enough to ask her on a date, fell asleep concluding why not, this was after all, his, and the boys’ happy ending…

Sparing a thought for his brother Michael, Martin hoped wherever he was, Michael had the same new start as Martin had. Still not sure it was completely…
Real…?
The great house was not easy to…
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