She flew, mindless and blind to everything but the maelstrom of sensations rippling over her.
At last, she eased, sliding back into the now-cool bathtub.
“Adalyn?” Jeremy touched her shoulder. “Are you all right?” He pushed her wet hair to one side and dropped a light kiss beneath her ear.
“Oh God, Jeremy,” she sighed, then lifted her head. “Evan.”
“I’m here, Adalyn.” He was rubbing his fingers over her foot.
“I need to get out now, otherwise I might just sink beneath the water and never come up again.”
Both men chuckled, and within moments they wrapped her in a large cloth that had been warming by the fire.
Jeremy gently dried her hair with a smaller one, and Evan mopped the splashes.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her words falling into the silence. “Thank you both.”
“Our pleasure, Adalyn,” answered Jeremy. “Now here’s your brush. And you’re warm enough here by the fire. Evan and I will empty the tub and then perhaps some dinner?” He glanced at the other man.
“I have a pie baking, and a warming soup. Would you like dinner here? That way you can slip into your nightgown and nobody will know.”
“I think that sounds lovely.” Adalyn stretched her arms wide. “As long as you join me…”
“It would be our pleasure, dearest Adalyn,” smiled Jeremy. “Don’t fall asleep before we return…”
“Oh, I won’t.”
It was a promise she could very easily keep. The thought of sharing an evening with them sent all sorts of exciting tingles through her once again, and she energetically tugged at the tangles in her hair, letting it hang free to dry.
She caught sight of herself in the looking glass as she walked to her bureau.
Yes, that was, without doubt, the reflection of a loose and sensual woman.
And wasn’t it extraordinary?
Dear Diary,
I scarce know where to start - these last few days have been so eventful that sorting it all out in my mind is not an easy task, to be sure. I suppose I should begin with my first foray to our local church, where the sermon was charming, the hymns familiar and I had the delightful honour of being seated in my own Wolfbridge pew, with Giles at my side.
I believe I sat taller and straighter because of those two circumstances; not through pride, but because of my desire to do right by the Wolfbridge reputation.
It was after the service that we were all surprised by a woman who accosted Jeremy. She was a figure from his past, he told us, and he revealed a story I still find hard to believe.
He was tried as a murderer for saving this young woman. The villain attacking her with obvious intentions was accidentally killed and Jeremy was responsible. Thankfully he evaded the ultimate punishment, but I can understand now why his reactions to some of my personal revelations have been so strong.
No sooner did we recover from those astonishing tales, than everything turned upside down.
Trick has been arrested in connection with the death of Sir Amery Fairhurst.
I cannot believe I am writing those words, since they seem so outrageously wrong and unjust. Trick has the most honest heart and warmest soul; the mere notion of him poisoning Sir Amery is absurd in the extreme. Even now, Daniel and Giles must be examining the situation with the Lord Lieutenant - they left yesterday afternoon and have yet to return.
I was, and still am, terribly upset by all this, and Jeremy suggested we help Trick in the best way we could by caring for his stables. I agreed, and I’m glad I did, since now I know at least two of the horses there have clean stalls and fresh food and water. I pray Trick will be back soon to take over this job and am determined that should his stay in the Roundhouse be prolonged, I shall visit him and take him some of the things he might need.
How strange it feels to have only two of my gentlemen here at Wolfbridge - as if one of my limbs is missing. It has been so easy to grow accustomed to all four handsome faces smiling at me and with two gone…I am a little lost.
But I must confess that last night, Jeremy and Evan admirably filled the void.
They bathed me, dear Diary. Yes, I was nude before them, naked to their touches and their ministrations. It was - for lack of a better word - amazing, and I’ll admit it eased muscles that had become sore after my brief dally with the world of a stable hand.
