“Oops… that was too far to the left.”
“What happened?” Charity called behind her.
“I may have directed Bates to walk into a door,” Isobel called her apology and ran to help him as they put the painting on the wall.
Charity smiled and continued threading the paper chain down the staircase. She had spent most of the day with Bates and Isobel, helping pull things out of the attic in order for the house to be dressed fully again. They had returned paintings to walls, draped rugs across floors, and every step of the way had she been followed by Rufus and Shelby, who barked at her heels and wagged their tails. More than once had they pulled on the paper chains, thinking it was a new game.
“What other changes would you like to make, my Lady?” Isobel asked eagerly from the bottom of the stairs. She had taken the news they had broken to the staff that morning of their betrothal with great excitement. Charity could hear her constantly bobbing on her toes, dancing side to side, unable to stay still, even if she couldn’t see it. “You had hinted the other day there may not be enough chairs in the drawing room. We could ask the duke to put some more in.”
“Yes, perhaps,” Charity said as she glided down the stairs. Dutifully, Rufus put his head beside her, allowing her to lay a hand on the back of his neck and use him to direct her down the staircase without incident. Shelby stayed close on her other side, her constant protectors. “I have a question for you, Isobel,” she whispered as she drew closer to the maid.
Poor Bates lumbered across the room, showing he was still struggling with the paintings and was far enough away that he couldn’t overhear them.
“How many horses does Seth have on the estate?”
“Horses?” Isobel repeated in surprise. “Many, I believe. Why do you ask, my Lady?”
“I was just wondering…” Charity trailed off. “Never mind. It does not matter.” She shifted her thoughts and decided it was best not to discuss the matter just now.
When she was very little and could still see, she had longed to learn to ride a horse, but alas, she was too young. Once she had lost her sight, her father had deemed it too dangerous to ever let her try again. She wondered now if Seth had a small horse that perhaps he would allow her to learn to ride on.
He certainly gives me more freedom.
Her cheeks blushed as she thought of how free they had been with one another the night before, indulging in their passions outside in the storm.
“Now, how many candelabras are there in here?” Charity asked, once more allowing herself to be guided by Shelby and Rufus around the room. Shelby barked when she nearly collided with one such candelabra. She reached out and held it in her grasp.“It is a wonder you don’t all get eye strain from working in such dark conditions.”
“It is the way the duke prefers it, my Lady,” Bates said with some degree of nervousness from across the room. “He prefers it dark.”
“But what about you?” Charity asked. “Are your eyes not sore working in such dim light?”
Bates clearly struggled for an answer, umming and ahh-ing as he thought of what to say.
“Would you like more candelabras, my Lady?” Isobel chimed, moving up to her other side.
“We have enough of those.” Another voice sounded in the room.
Rufus barked in greeting and Charity turned her head toward where she had heard Seth’s voice coming from. She smiled at him, not thinking about what he said and only being happy to hear him near again. He was walking toward her, she could hear it in his footsteps, and when he bent down to whisper in her ear, she shuddered with a kind of delight, longing to return to being alone in that bedchamber with him once again tonight.
“Forgive me,” he whispered, “but no more candles. It is the one thing I ask. You can change anything else in this house.”
“Very well.” She beamed, hardly minding his request. He was already giving her free reign to change everything else, she hardly cared to combat him on a single measly compromise.
“I have to attend to some business now. I shall see you later for dinner?”
“Yes, if you would like.”
“I very much would.”
Her hand brushed the side of his and she shivered once more, thinking of the way they had shared a bath that morning, with his arms around her. He hadn’t pleasured her again, but every stolen touch, every brush of his arm under the water, and the way he had lathered soap over her body, had all been breathlessly exhilarating.
A door closed in the distance and with his leaving, Charity blinked and was struck by a sudden thought, as if her good sense had returned to her upon his departure.
“Why will he not have more candles?” she asked, settling her hands on her hips and turning her head around the room. There was complete silence, and she lifted an eyebrow. “If the two of you are exchanging nervous glances, wondering what to say, then you would at least do me the honor of speaking.”
“How did you know—” Isobel spluttered.
“I lost my sight, not my common sense.” Charity waved a hand in the air. “Now, what is the reason for his reticence?”
