Actually getting the leave to visit Gilbert on a conjugal basis was tougher than I thought - the higher ups believed he was a wee bit too dangerous to be allowed that kind of contact.
I assured them I would have it in control, and that I would be the sole visitor in that regard. I also told them I believed a bit of fun between the sheets would be just what he needed to settle his raging emotions.
The higher ups were a bit dubious, but finally acceded, on the condition I call things off should Gilbert grow too unstable.
I promised them I'd do all in my power to ensure things remained fully under control, and with that promise binding me, the higher ups allowed me to visit the condemned.
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To say Gilbert was shocked to see me was an understatement. "Miss Rhees!" he exclaimed, staring at me as if I were all his dreams made true. My own suppressed feelings bid for escape, but I held them in check. The two guards assigned to watch Gilbert whenever he was out in the common area stymied any attempts at closer contact in any case, for which I was relieved. "The devil are you doing here?"
"I heard you were in sore straits, darling," I said, fluttering my fan. "I had to come and see you."
Gilbert's face hardened. "Then you heard the unsavoury rumours," he said angrily.
"Yes, but don't for a minute think they have any bearing on my regard for you," I said. I smiled slightly. "I was always more interested in the man under the suit, and to be honest, I believe you have a good heart despite the scurrilous untruths being bandied about."
This made Gilbert relax slightly, and he managed a wan smile. "You're far too kind," he said. "Truth be told, I haven't a friend in this world to support me, and any family has long since disowned me for being a murderer." His face hardened again. "I call it justice, and the day I get out of this hell-hole will be the day those rumormongers pay for the lies they've spread about me. And Eva Destruction will be first on my list of those to get their just desserts." He shook his head. "I can't believe I ever thought myself in love with her. She's a callous, cold-hearted bitch who betrayed my daughter to her death, and she'll learn the meaning of defeat the day I get my hands around her neck and wring her dry."
The two guards tensed at this, but I held up my hand. "Darling, that's enough," I said firmly. "The past is in the past, and the future is as yet unwritten. You may find yourself disappointed with the allure of revenge when you get out."
Gilbert sighed. "Maybe," he said, "but right now, that's the only thing keeping me going."
"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow. "What if there was something else keeping you going? Something more alluring and enticing than the thought of revenge? Something you've only ever dreamed about, never believing the day would come when those dreams finally came true."
"Miss Rhees..." Gilbert stopped, swore, and blushed. "Well, to be fair, I've always admired and envied you. You know the right people, and you hold the most astounding functions." His smile came back, a little stronger than before. "The charity event I attended last year was perhaps the most enjoyable function I've been to in a while. I honestly thought I was dreaming the day I got your invitation, and I practically fell over myself accepting it. But... really?"
I shrugged. "Well of course, darling," I said. "You can't fail to notice I specifically attached myself to your side for the whole evening, except when bothersome social obligations got in my way. But I counted the moments until we could be together again."
Gilbert flushed an even deeper red than before. "Miss Rhees, I won't lie to you," he said. "I truly have dreamed of the day you might come to me and admit to feeling something similar to what I feel. But I'm a broken man, disgraced, my name anathema. No one wants anything to do with me, and I admit to disbelief you truly mean what you say."
"Darling, I never made it a secret," I said loftily. "Surely you know your name always passed my lips with an extra fondness. And my heart is always on my sleeve when you're concerned."
"Miss Rhees, if you truly are sincere, then I'd count myself the luckiest man alive," Gilbert said, the open sincerity in his eyes threatening to storm my carefully built-up defences. "But, as you know, I'm sentenced to life without parole, and my avenues of appeal are closed. They don't want to risk me being out in the community, not when my so-called crimes are plain for all to see."
I tapped him lightly on the wrist with my fan. "Let me see if I can't sway someone to maybe give you a chance to prove yourself," I said.
Gilbert hesitated, before nodding. "I leave myself in your hands, Miss Rhees," he said. "And... thank you."
I smiled. "Leave it in my hands, darling," I said.
Gilbert's face showed such gratitude in that moment that it took all I had to leave, my head whirling as I returned to the foyer and thanked the attending guards for their assistance.
Gilbert was going to be even more of a problem than I'd realised, but at the same time, there didn't seem to be any harm in letting a little of my carefully-guarded feelings show. And it would weave the trap even tighter around him, making the betrayal even more stinging when I exposed his fool's paradise for what it was.
With that thought in mind, I hurried back to the waiting limousine, new plans bustling in my brain. In the company of Llian Rhees, Gilbert Daniell would find his way back into society. It would be a guarded response, and he'd have to swear never to take up the mantle of hero again, or our parternship would be ended. I debated getting him to sign that clause, and decided to go with it. Such a clause would effectively hamstring him, and he wouldn't be tempted to take his revenge on Eva Destruction.
And the day I revealed myself, he'd be even more hamstrung, forced to stand by his word.
My lips curved into a slow smile.
Suddenly, my new plan was looking a lot more promising. And the revenge at the end would be even more delicious.
Now I could hardly wait to get the ball rolling to get Gilbert out of jail.
It was going to be one hell of an interesting ride.
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