Betrayal, Part 3
Betrayal, Part 3
Dorian, the Earl of Red Gloria had had three relatively peaceful months - - if you could call Jamesie’s constant hints that they were near to going to the poor house . . . peaceful. Mr. James was a very good accountant, but every time that the Earl spent a pound the little man was sure that the Earl was headed for bankruptcy - - especially since the blond man was no longer gaining any income from his alternative lifestyle.
Dorian knew that bankruptcy was far away and that the House of Red Gloria was in no danger of being sold to raise money, but he couldn’t bring himself to discipline the little accountant. He seemed to be loyal to money and Dorian so the Earl was content.
What he was not content with was the knowledge that he had once been a thief. He couldn’t remember everything that had gone on during those years, but his memory was gradually returning. He would not admit that he remembered that Major, but flashbacks and dreams were becoming more and more frequent and each one featured the handsome German. Dorian stopped himself in his thoughts and admonished himself for thinking that the German was handsome . . . he was good looking, but the man had no integrity; he had betrayed Dorian’s trust and didn’t deserve any further consideration.
In truth, Dorian was slightly bored with his sedate lifestyle. He travelled as much as he wanted, visiting London and other places as the world of art drew him to them, but he felt some excitement had gone out of his life. He had even begun wearing his blond tresses in a longer style and his clothes had certainly taken on more colour. But he was not Eroica anymore and would never sink back into that abyss because that path could too easily lead to further acquaintance with that German scoundrel who had taken advantage of him. How Dorian, the Earl of Red Gloria could have ever loved that man was a total mystery.
Of course, Dorian did not actually remember loving the man, but Bonham assured him that for almost twenty years the Englishman had professed his love to the German on a fairly regular basis. Sighing, Dorian called down to Bonham to request some tea but hearing a strange voice on the other end of the line, Dorian inquired what was going on.
Suddenly, Bonham came on the line, “Sorry, m’lord, but I was busy making tea for us when you called.”
“Us?”
“Uh, yes, m’lord, me friend Mr. Z is visitin’ and I was just puttin’ out a spread. Would you be wantin’ your tea?”
“Who is Mr. Z, Bonham? That’s a very strange name.”
Bonham was quiet for a long time so Dorian inquired again, “Bonham, who is Mr. Z?”
Finally, Bonham came on the line and replied, “He works . . . uh, worked for the Major at NATO, sir.”
“Worked? Has he lost his job or something? I wouldn’t be surprised if that horrid Major hadn’t fired him. How can anyone think . . . “
Here Bonham interrupted him by saying, “I just meant, m’lord, that Major Eberbach is planning to resign from NATO so Mr. Z won’t be working for ‘im anymore.”
For some reason that statement bothered the Earl a great deal. Not really understanding why, Dorian felt compelled to inquire further, “Is the Major sick or something?”
“Why don’t I let Mr. Z talk to you, sir? He can explain it better than me.”
“No, I have a better idea. Why don’t you send Mr. Z up with the tea and then the three of us can discuss this.”
Another moment’s silence was broken with the words, “Very well, m’lord.”
Within moments the three men were seated comfortably in Dorian’s sitting room. They thirstily drank their tea and devoured the small cakes that were especially made for the Earl. Finishing rapidly, Dorian turned to Mr. Z, who he now vaguely recognized from the mission against the terrorists, and asked, “Why is the Major resigning, Mr. Z?”
Z pulled at his shirt collar as if he was being strangled then hesitantly replied, “’M not sure, but he hasn’t been the same since he returned from the op against the terrorists. He has been so intent on getting the group that he has worked night and day on laying the trap to get them all on the planned day of terrorism. Then yesterday he called all the alphabets together and told us that as soon as the terrorists were all rounded up, he would be resigning and that we’d be re-assigned to other units. I don’t really understand.”
The room grew quiet as the three men each contemplated their own thoughts. Certainly Bonham and Z had many memories of the Major, and not all of them were pleasant, but the Earl’s thoughts were on Klaus’ betrayal and its ramifications for himself and possibly the Major himself.
Finally, however, the Earl asked the question which had disturbed him since tea began. “Why are you here, Mr. Z?”
“We are starting to round up of the terrorists in each of their planned bombing areas. Mine is in Scotland and I decided to stop by and see Bonham before I had to be in place. The Major, of course, has taken the primary site and since Castle Gloria is on my way going north, I stopped by, but I have to leave very soon.”
Suddenly, Mr. Z’s radio beeped, so he rushed to answer it. Excusing himself, he went out into the corridor, but returned within a minute, his face all flushed and his body quivering with excitement. “Lord Red Gloria, the Major has already begun the round-up. It seems someone tipped them off. Everything seemed to be going well, but somehow, the Major was captured and even now is in captivity. I must go.”
Without really knowing or understanding why, Dorian Red Gloria immediately said with a firmness that would have done the German Major proud, “We’ll go with you.”
Within hours, Dorian and his people were in Germany, nearing the site of the planned bomb plot. Agents T and A stopped their vehicle and briefed Agent Z and the others on what had occurred. In the time it had taken to arrive in Germany, an in-depth search had begun for the NATO Major. Fortunately, the terrorists had been spotted and even now, other alphabets were moving in on the area. Z had gained permission to stay with this part of the mission so Dorian and his people followed him to the site of the Major’s possible location.
Arriving there just before dusk, the team on site related what they knew. It was growing dark so they decided to wait and see what occurred. The genuine concern in the deep blue eyes spoke volumes about the Earl’s worries. He had told the Major that he had never wanted to see him again, but no matter the man’s betrayal, the Earl did not want the man to die.
The team waited anxiously; the perimeter was entirely secured, but Dorian was not content with this. He had to see what was going on. Just getting ready to move in for a look-see, a large, obviously heavily armoured car moved away from the site. Using infrared, the Earl could tell that several individuals were in the car. Betting the Major’s life that he was in the car and not lying dead back at the abandoned site, Dorian gave a one word command on his cell phone to his hidden men who immediately threw a heavy road block across the exit from the area.
The terrorist vehicle came roaring to a stop. Dragging a sluggish, obviously distressed individual from the car, it was obvious that the Major had been injured or beaten as he was propped against the heavy vehicle. Perhaps, the terrorists were planning to use the Major as a bargaining tool, but they hadn’t counted upon the blond thief who seemed to react without thought. Within seconds of identifying the tall German, Dorian was on the move, with the NATO agents right behind him as they realized what he was going to do.
It was all over within minutes. Klaus von dem Eberbach had been beaten and hit over the head, but as soon as he saw his men come rushing down the small hill, he reacted instinctively. Striking out against his captors, he quickly disarmed the one holding the gun and permitted the rest to be taken by his men. Hoarsely, he commanded, “Agents see to them,” before collapsing into the arms of Dorian Red Gloria.
The next time that the Major woke up he was comfortably supine in a large, luxurious bed. Opening his eyes carefully, he registered that the lights had been turned low so that his exploding head did not have to deal with overly bright lights as well. Irrelevantly, he silently thanked the person who had been so thoughtful. Continuing to look around, he spotted the slender blond sitting near by, looking confused and worried. Trying to sit up, the Major reached for his pounding head and then realized he was in a magnificent bedroom that must belong to the pervert sitting nearby.
In a husky but pleasant voice, Dorian voiced his concerns, “Are you all right, Major?
You’ve been checked out by a NATO doctor and released in my custody, pending further dispensation. This is my home in Germany so it was rather nearby. We didn’t think that you wanted to arrive at Schloss Eberbach in such an unmilitary-like manner.”
Out of all the information just processed, the Major only asked, “We?”
“Yes, I talked it over with your Chief and Z and they both agreed my plan was for the best so here you are . . . darling.”
For a moment, the endearment didn’t register but suddenly it did. Drawing the expensive duvet up around his pyjama-clad body, Klaus looked at the blond man nearby and asked in a confused whisper, “Eroica?”
A sad smile appeared on the beautiful face, nodding slightly, Dorian confirmed the Major’s suspicions, “Yes, Major, I have returned. I remember a great deal now . . . not everything, but enough.”
“When did this happen?” Klaus asked, not sure if he was happy or ready to chew nails.
“When I saw you being so badly treated by the terrorists, it was like going back to the Gröhner op. The threat to you made me remember, I suppose. You must be the tiniest bit upset with me for all those months, but I do apologize.”
“Don’t talk such dither, Eroica. I care nothing about your return just keep out of my way, and we will be all right. I must go so that I can be debriefed about my failure in my part of the operation. I . . . I have to return to headquarters.”
“So that you can complete your resignation?”
“Who told you about that?”
“Why are you resigning, Major?”
“I have thrown away my integrity; I am totally incapable of successfully completing a mission, and I can no longer continue to maintain my moral status in this organization so I must resign.”
“Nonsense, you are the most moral man I have ever met . . . much to my chagrin.”
“Don’t start being a fop, Eroica. You shouldn’t talk such gibberish. I actually missed your nonsense while you were . . . uh, gone, but I will not tolerate it now.”
A beautiful, mouth-watering smile crossed the Earl’s face and for some reason, the Major found himself wanting to wipe the smile off or, at least, kiss it off. Halting such thoughts, the Major moved towards the edge of the bed, preparing to get up, but a slender hand stopped him.
“Major, I regret deeply that I am not a person that you like . . . or want, but you are valuable to NATO; you do an important and necessary job, and if I am, in any way, the cause of your resignation, I want you to know that I am sorry.”
“You have nothing to do with it. I have failed to live up to my own standards, and I will not continue to remain in a position of responsibility knowing what I know about myself. You above all should understand since I was quite willing to betray your trust to gain your help.”
That admission cut deeply into Dorian who was still confused about his own feelings in this whole affair. He had helped the Major because he said they had been lovers. Klaus had lied, but why had it been so important to the thief that he help a man he thought had been his lover? Dorian knew why now. Dorian’s feelings and Eroica’s were one and the same; they both continued to love the Major even though the Major had betrayed those feelings in a very harsh way.
Dorian’s blue eyes stared wistfully at the slightly unsure Major then the blond replied, “If I can forgive you, Major, can you not forgive yourself?”
Klaus was headed towards the bathroom, but turned around at that question. “It makes no difference what you think of me, pervert (although the Major was not really sure he was telling the truth); I have to live with myself.”
Dorian jumped up off the bed, walking up to the Major, “That’s an excellent idea, Major. Live with yourself.”
“What are you talking about you sick pervert?” The insult didn’t have the venom in it that it usually did as Dorian remembered so he felt encouraged.
“Give yourself six months, a year before you resign. You know that I have forgiven you, but I need some time as well. Return to NATO and think about what you want from life. If you leave NATO, what will you do; then, if you would like, come visit with me and we can talk . . . just talk, darling.”
“Do not tell me what to do; if I decide to stay on for awhile, it will be because it is what is best for NATO, but what you say makes sense for once. I will think about your suggestion.”
“Excellent, now why don’t you relax in my hot tub for awhile, it will make you feel much better.”
“I will take a cold shower. Danke.”
In the end, Dorian got what he wanted, the Major took a long soothing bath then dressed in some suitably muted clothes of Dorian’s and left.
KDKDKDKDKDKDKDKD
Three months later Klaus was at Dorian’s door. He had followed the Earl’s advice and had decided what he wanted to do. NATO was still important to him, but he realized that the blond also had a place in his life. When a gunrunner’s bullet hit his shoulder in a vulnerable, Klaus decided to take sick leave for the first time and use it to visit with the man that he was drawn to.
Arriving at the door of Castle Gloria full of apprehension, Klaus stood militarily straight as he waited for Bonham to open the door; then he took command of the situation, rushing in and telling Bonham that the Earl and he were not to be disturbed until they contacted him.
Staring in disbelief, Bonham mumbled a garbled, “Yes sir,” as the German took three steps at a time up the grand staircase and burst into Dorian’s sitting room where the blond was admiring the newly completed portrait of the Earl of Red Gloria. Within a few more seconds, Dorian was in the arms of the man that he had loved for twenty years.
“Klaus, I . . .”
The words were cut off by the Major’s mouth upon Dorian’s own. Only their need for air stopped the kiss which had nearly wreaked a melt down on both men. Pulling back from each other, the two men stared at one another, trying to decide what to do next. Dorian, now slightly dishevelled flung his long hair back over his shoulders and looked lovingly at the man that he had wanted for so long.
Klaus, on the other hand, was staring beyond Dorian’s back. The Earl quickly realized that Klaus was staring at the new portrait, showing a very regal and sedate Lord Gloria.
With a slight tease in his voice, Dorian purred as he asked, “Wouldn’t my portrait look splendid along side The Man in Purple?”
Green eyes stared into blue eyes with a frostiness that cooled the room. Not sure what he had done, Dorian tried to move away but was held by strong hands. “Nein, that is not you. There is no life in that man. You will have another portrait done in your black thief’s outfit, and we will put that up next to that infernal painting.”
“But Major . . .” Dorian was once again stopped as Klaus used one of his most recently discovered techniques to shut the Earl up. It worked beautifully.
Dorian put his arms around the Major’s neck then tried to hug him, but noticed a faint grimace on the handsome German’s face. “Why, Major, what is the matter?”
“Nothing, I have a few days vacation, and I do not intend to waste it discussing my injuries.” Trying to take the slender blond back into his arms, he was stopped by Dorian using the expedient of moving away.
“Major, you have taken a vacation? Are you sure you haven’t resigned?”
“Nein, nothing like that. I was merely wounded in my left shoulder, and I have taken some sick leave.”
Dorian’s concern was evident in his blue eyes, but he didn’t want to overdo his concern and drive Klaus away. “I see; you will let me see the wound, however, won’t you? I am told that I am an excellent nurse, and I am sure that I could help your wound heal much faster.”
Klaus’ face grimaced as his green eyes turned wary, fearful of the Earl’s well-known proclivities, but he replied stoutly enough, “I do not need a nurse, but I am feeling rather tired, could we go to your other room and discuss this more thoroughly?”
Dorian’s smile lit up his face and the whole room since he knew that the other room was his bedroom. He had waited for this moment for a very long time so he wanted to savour it. “Of course, darling, wouldn’t you like to take a soothing bath and let me massage you? You must be hurting, and I promise I will make it all better.”
Hesitating, Klaus finally replied, “Ja,” then followed the blond into the other room.
End of part 3
Part 4