Hers. Hers. Hers.Forever.
“You have a room.”
They break apart, stumbling out of each other’s arms. No longer alone, Gwen looks up to find Mrs. Gilpe and Mrs. Stelm standing in the doorway to the serving hall.
“Right,” Gwen says, wiping at her mouth as Beth goes crimson.
“Good to see you, Miss Demeroven. Gwen, you have a shift she can use?” Mrs. Stelm adds.
“I do, yes, right. Thank you. Um, good night. We’ll—oh, Beth, you’ll love playing cards with—right. This is Mrs. Stelm, and Mrs. Gilpe, our housekeepers,” she says, bumbling around the words. Beth laughs, and the two women regard her in fond exasperation.
“Very pleased to make your acquaintance,” Beth says, dipping in a curtsy that makes both women grin.
“I like her,” Mrs. Stelm says brightly.
“I’m assuming you heard . . . all of that?” Gwen asks.
Mrs. Gilpe rolls her eyes. “If your parents agree, we’ll prepare your room for two, otherwise she can have the empty one next to you. And Miss Demeroven—”
“Beth, please,” Beth says softly.
Mrs. Gilpe nods. “If you have need of anything, our quarters are down this hall, past the kitchens, and to the left.”
“Thank you,” Beth says, her eyes going a bit wide.
Gwen reasons the reality of how much has changed has just hit her. She can tell in a few minutes she’ll be in her own complete state of paralysis. Best they get upstairs before they’re too overwhelmed to bother. And she doesn’t particularly like the gleeful look on Mrs. Gilpe’s and Mrs. Stelm’s faces. Beth is fresh meat, another young woman to embarrass and spoil, and tonight, that’s entirely Gwen’s job.
“Come on,” she says, taking Beth’s hand to start the trek to her—their—room.
Beth waves at Mrs. Stelm and Mrs. Gilpe and then laughs as Gwen tugs on her arm, practically dragging her up the stairs. Of course, as soon as they round the first landing, Beth’s as eager as she is, the two of them sharing one look before bursting into giggles. They all but sprint up the stairs and down her—their—wing until they reach Gwen’s room.
Gwen pauses, Beth’s hand warm in hers, the two of them flushed and happy and gloriously free.
“Gwen,” Beth prompts. She reaches out and opens the door, nudging Gwen through.
Gwen lets herself be handled and watches as Beth flips the lock with confidence and then comes to stand with her in themiddle of the room. It’s a mess, with clothing everywhere and a few dishes left about. She’s been in a funk for weeks and it shows.
But Beth just grins at her, stepping forward until she can slide her hands up Gwen’s chest and draw her into another fiery kiss. And then Gwen doesn’t care so much about the cleanliness of the room, or where they’ll put all of Beth’s things, or how they’re going to balance their public and private lives, or what exactly they’re likely to face after a letter penned by both of their parents goes to the Ashmonds.
“I love you,” Beth whispers against her mouth.
Gwen clutches at Beth’s waist and pulls back so she can meet her eyes. “I love you too.”
Beth smiles and then slowly spins in her arms. “Help me out of this godforsaken thing?”
“With so much pleasure,” Gwen says, reaching out with eager fingers to start undoing Beth’s dress. She’s going to kiss her lover, and undress her, and touch her, in their bedroom, for the first of many, many wonderful nights to come.
Epilogue
April 1858
Beth
“We barely fit,” Gwen grumbles, shifting carefully around Beth so they can see into the vanity together.
Beth snorts, reaching out to grab the chair for support so she doesn’t stumble into the vanity as Gwen’s hoop inevitably bumps hers. The circumference in style is rather large now and Gwen’s not wrong, with both of them in their room and clothes and detritus scattered about, it’s almost claustrophobic.
But Beth doesn’t really mind, watching Gwen fondly as she delicately wipes at her lip line. Together, Beth thinks they look quite the young ladies, a little older, a little wiser, and infinitely happier than this time last year.
