“Let us hope that she has only woken now. This room tends to produce echoes,” Nathan said with a grin.
He felt that he could almost feel the heat in her cheeks as she thought about what sounds would have been echoing from the walls of the room in the last while. How much time had passed exactly, he could not tell. None of his usual techniques were applicable here. The water was stone cold, so it had been at least half an hour. The stiffness in his muscles told him that it was probably twice that.
“I am well, Charlotte. Just finished soaking in the bath. I am getting out now. Don’t worry. You needed the rest,” Gemma called.
She levered herself out of the bath and then began to peel off her sodden clothes, stripping herself naked. Nathan knew it because he knew the sounds. He sat quietly as he heard her cross the room to the shelves which held linen for drying. Then the door was opened and he heard Gemma leave the room.
“Do not worry, please, Charlotte. You have had quite the shock tonight,” Gemma said.
“Thank you, Miss. For understanding. I must get to my own rooms though. It is quite late.”
“Yes, is there still a guard on my door?” Gemma asked.
Nathan didn’t hear the next words, but at present, the door to the bathing room opened and he heard Gemma’s voice once more.
“She is gone. Escorted back to her rooms by…the boy who stood watch over my door. I cannot remember his name.”
“Rawlings,” Nathan supplied.
“Yes, I think he may have a sweet spot for Charlotte. He was most attentive when we first returned here.”
“Well, marriage between staff is encouraged. As are families. I have paid for the education of two children of my staff so far.”
He stood, groaning from the protests of stiff muscles, and felt dry linen pressed into his hand. He set about drying his body, knowing that Gemma still stood in the doorway. There was nothing to hide from her any longer, no use pretending at modesty. They had both crossed a line this night. Gemma knew it and so did he.
But, I do not regret it. I do not feel that we have done anything wrong. I feel as though God has brought us together. It was meant to be and having done so, how could he give us so much pleasure to share and then have us deny it?
“Your clothes are ruined,” Gemma pointed out.
“I had forgotten that,” Nathan replied, letting the shirt he had just picked up fall from his hands.
“Will I send for…”
“And have a servant come to your rooms, Emily’s rooms, with clean clothes. Acknowledging that we were alone together, naked?” Nathan asked.
“Perhaps not,” Gemma admitted.
“What time is it?” Nathan asked.
“A little after eleven,” Gemma told him.
“The house will be like a kicked anthill until late, when Marshall sends everyone back to their beds. A Justice of the Peace and a physician will be sent in the morning to proclaim Pennington dead, both medically and legally speaking. And to begin the process of investigating the crime. I shall be demanding the Stamfords are interviewed.”
“And tonight?” Gemma asked.
“With your permission, I will remain here until the house is asleep. And then return to my own chambers.”
“I am as naked as you. I am hardly likely to refuse,” Gemma said boldly.
“I had imagined you so,” Nathan said. “I wish you to know that I am not the sort of gentleman who whores or even seeks to seduce on a serial basis. This behavior is quite out of character.”
Gemma took his hand, surprising him for a moment. He felt her drawing him from the bathing room into the bedchamber. Then he felt the bed against his legs and the sheets being pulled back. He realized that Gemma was laying in it, the sheets around her and he got in beside her. The sheets separated their bodies as they lay on their sides, facing each other.
“As it is for me. I had never imagined doing anything that I have done with you, except with my eventual husband. But, I have realized that I may never be permitted that pleasure,” Gemma whispered.
“So you take what you can, now?” Nathan suggested.
“Yes, actually,” Gemma replied, half-jokingly.
