I am quite sure this qualifies as keeping her entertained. If only I could find a reason to entertain her beyond this week. If only she’d be comfortable with just me for entertainment.
****
Beth woke, slitting her eyes against the daylight from the window she faced. She was still in Robert’s bed, and the angle of the sun told her Althea would be looking for her.
She’d only gotten tantalizing flickers of his body in the dark room last night.
But now it’s daylight.She rolled over, ready to see more of the incredible strength she knew leatherwork—and lifting her—took.
Cold sheets and a flattened pillow were all that remained on the other half of the bed.Drat.
Throwing on her clothes, she stumbled back to the room she shared with Althea to freshen up. She found Althea’s trunk by the door and Althea packing Beth’s things.
Althea spared her only a quick glance. “I need to leave here.”
What? No! There are more cuff configurations to explore. And I want to see Robert’s cock, mayhap taste it.
“But I’ve heard the entertainment becomes more interesting each night.” Voicing the quickest excuse she could think of, her voice rose to a whine even she recognized, before she stopped to wonder why Althea was suddenly so adamant about leaving early. “Wait, where did you go last night? Did you not play any games?”
“Oh, I played a game. And lost. Evan—Lord Cheltenham and I could not agree on terms. So I shall need to explore other options.”
Hmm. ’Tis Evan now, is it?“Right, then. We shall go home and regroup.” She could see her cousin was in a state, and Robert was only ever planned as an interlude for this week, anyway. Her cousin’s need for support was more important, even without considering all Althea had done for her. However, she’d certainly be asking more questions about Althea’s activities the previous evening.
“Thank you.”
A thought occurred. “Can we please visit the dower house, though? I met Lady Cheltenham—Cheltie’s mother—and she’s lovely. I promised her I’d come back.”And promised Cheltie I’d find a new nurse for him. Although she hoped she would not need to tell Althea that she’d bribed their host to listen to the business proposal.
“I suppose, if ’tis quick.”
“Thank you, cuz. Come on, then.”
“You don’t want to change clothes?” Her cousin cocked her head and gestured at Beth’s rumpled dress from the prior evening.
“To sit in a carriage much of the day? I’ll have a bath at the inn we stay at on the way home.”
On the road, Beth stared out the carriage window. Despondent at the prospect she might not see Robert for weeks or months, she in turn berated herself for the melancholy. She’d known him a mere two nights. Godsakes, she’d missed all but one night of Cheltie’s imaginative games and a chance to further her acquaintance with Franklin the footman.
However, her thoughts continued to return to the quiet blond man. She only hoped Althea allowed Cheltie to aid in her business expansion and provide her opportunities to see Robert again.
****
Beth threw herself into interviewing nurses. She remembered one alumna of the charity school who had taken an unofficial apprenticeship with a physician forward-minded enough to allow a woman access to medical knowledge. Another graduate’s sister had trained with their mother as a midwife and caregiver. Not satisfied with having only two choices, she put feelers out through her network of servants, others like herself who flirted with the edges of the aristocracy without their own titles, and the teachers at both schools.
Day after day, as she went about her tasks, Robert lingered in her thoughts. Her enthusiasm for finding a nurse might have been tinged with a hint of desperation that it would lead to more time with him.
Inevitably, Althea noticed her distraction.
As Beth lounged in Althea’s office one afternoon while her cousin reviewed the store’s ledgers, she fidgeted, ignoring the book in her lap.
Althea looked up from her desk. “Are you not enjoying your book?”
“’Tis fine, thank you.”
“Then what has you distracted?”
Beth cast about for a reason. “I want to ensure I find the very best candidates for Lady Cheltenham. She is such a lovely woman, I wish her to have the best care possible.”
“Hmm.” Althea shook her head. “No, I don’t think ’tis that. You never doubt yourself in that.” She cocked her head, and Beth squirmed under her scrutiny. “I know this twitching. This twitching comes from interest in a sexual partner. You’re not harassing the servants again, are you?”
