Chuckling in his deep tone that always sent her stomach aflutter in the most pleasant way, Reid stepped inside the kitchen and examined the dried plants that were currently scattered across the space. “I don’t mind a little mess,” he said. “I’m just in awe that you know how to do all this. And I know firsthand how effective your potions can be.”
“What can I help you with?” Elise asked, pleased by his praise. “I assume you came over here for a reason.”
“Seeing you can’t be reason enough?” he said with a teasing smile. When she swatted her dishcloth at him, Reid raised his hands in a gesture of surrender while letting out a bellowing laugh. “I’m sorry, you’re right,” he acknowledged. “I do have a favor I need to ask you.”
“I’m not sure what I may be able to do for you, but I am intrigued.”
“I’m hoping you will agree to come to Cliff House and act as hostess for me and some of my friends for the foreseeable future. A special session of Parliament has been called to try and deal with the fallout from the Peterloo Massacre and will commence in the next few weeks. I’ve invited some of my friends who also serve in Lords and Commons to come for a strategy session. We’ll need someone to organize meals and make sure needs are met while we’re holed up planning. We have a lot to accomplish and will most likely be working late most days—I won’t have the time or capacity to think about creature comforts.”
Elise was interested by the work the men would be doing, but she hardly thought she was the best person for the job. “Would this not be a task better suited for your mother?”
Smiling, Reid quickly disabused the idea. “My mother is not in residence at the moment. She left for my sister’s in London right before harvest and will remain there through the holidays to spend time with her grandchildren. I know I am asking a lot of you, but we must make a plan to combat the Tories offensive to curb rebellion.”
Reid’s voice was becoming agitated the more he delved into the topic at hand, his passion apparent as it always was when it came to politics. “They are taking things too far and are threatening to compromise rights that are the very foundation of what makes England a free nation.”
“What about your housekeeper—surely this would fall under her duties,” she said, valiantly searching for an alternative solution that did not include her, unsure if she could handle being so close to him without hindering her resolve not to kiss him again.
“My housekeeper is a lovely woman who excels at keeping the house in order, but she lacks vision and only works well when given clear direction,” Reid explained.
“I’m not unsympathetic to your situation, but I’m not sure you’ve clearly thought this through. I am an unmarried woman and can hardly live in a house full of men. It’s simply not appropriate. While I may live more freely here, that’s only because I can do so out of the eyes of theton.But serving other peers, with my reputation, I need to be more careful than ever.”
“I suppose I hadn’t thought of that,” Reid admitted. “I assure you there is nothing to fear from my friends, but what if Evie came along with you as a companion?”
“Can I think about it and let you know?” Elise asked. “When will your friends be arriving?”
“This Friday. I’ll need to know soon so I can make other arrangements if needed.” He didn’t seem upset that she was not providing him with an answer immediately, but his manner was slightly agitated by the seriousness with which he took the task ahead.
“Let me discuss it with Evie, and I’ll make plans with Jonathan if we are to be away. I will send you an answer tomorrow,” she promised.
Reid’s shoulders visibly dropped at her answer, releasing some of the tension he had been holding. “Thank you. I appreciate you seriously considering this. I know it’s short notice, and not being able to give you a clear end date certainly does not work in my favor. Any help you could provide would be truly appreciated.”
Elise looked him over with a critical eye, noticing the dark circles under his eyes. He appeared ill at ease and was fidgeting, which was most unlike him. It was clear he was taking on too many responsibilities and starting to feel the strain. She knew how invested he was regarding the issues he and his friends would be discussing, but he was also busy making plans for the agricultural health of the estate. Not to mention that he had spent the bulk of the last week doing physically exhausting work during harvest.
“Reid, are you making time to care for yourself?” Elise’s concern compelled her to ask. He looked surprised by her question, but his face softened into a smile that highlighted the crinkles around his mouth. Elise had grown to love that smile and those small wrinkles, and she couldn’t prevent her eyes being drawn to his lips. Swallowing, she recalled their kiss on the beach before forcing herself to raise her gaze back to his eyes.
“I’m trying to, but I will admit to being rather worn out at present.”
She felt an overwhelming urge to take care of him, and Elise realized that in his own way, that was what he had just been asking her to do. Her attitude regarding acting as hostess softened as she grasped just how much he could benefit from her assistance.
“Try and get a good night’s sleep. I hate to worry about you,” she said, moving closer to him.
“You worry about me?” Reid murmured as he lessened the space between them. Now, only inches apart, she felt as if a magnetic force were pulling her into him—like they were meant to be connected to one another.
“I do,” Elise said, caught in his stare. As if operating on its own accord, her hand lifted, and she worked her fingers through the silver strands at his temple that so fascinated her. “You need a haircut,” she observed.
“Is that you offering to give me one?” Reid asked, whispering as they were so close. His deep brown eyes scorched her with the intensity in which he looked at her, waiting on how she would answer his question.
“I suppose I could,” she said, surprising herself. What was it about him that made her act without thinking? It was like he had hypnotized her, and she was not responsible for her actions—they were directed by his every wish and need. Elise wasn’t sure she would resist even if she could. “Would that help ease your mind—if I could take care of just one thing you needed to accomplish?”
“I think it might,” he said.
Pulling back, Elise arranged a chair in front of the kitchen sink and motioned for him to sit. She pumped water into a bucket, adding hot water from the pot that was always kept warm on the stove. “I’ll need to wash your hair first,” she explained.
Looking at her, Reid took off his jacket and began to loosen his cravat without saying a word. Elise felt warm all over watching him and needed to distract herself. “I need to gather towels and soap, I’ll be right back,” she told him.
Rushing up the stairs, she leaned against the wall in her room and tried to catch her breath. Elise knew she was playing with fire, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. The need to touch him and be near him was almost overwhelming. She really did want to take care of him and hoped to soothe him with this service—even if it served her own needs as well. Taking a deep breath to settle herself, she grabbed some fresh linens and the herbal soap she made and used to wash her own hair.
Reentering the kitchen, Elise saw him sitting in the chair as requested with his head tilting back against the edge of the sink and his eyes closed. He looked at peace for the first time that day, and she was loath to interrupt his quiet moment. Moving forward as quietly as possible so as not to disturb him, his eyes opened anyway at her approach, so she pulled gently on his shoulder, leaning him forward and wrapped a towel around his broad shoulders.
