Althea felt safer with Monique close by. Not that she feared Melcombe would harm her. She feared her own weakness of still wanting him. Therefore, she needed to keep her wits about her.
Those very wits abandoned her this morning when she allowed Lord Melcombe to do unmentionable things to her person in the middle of the chamber with the door wide open for anyone to see.
“I would rather go across to the inn and arrange for rooms tonight,” Melcombe announced.
Her pulse quickened at this suggestion. Surely he didn’t expect them to carry on where they had left off? But why should he think any differently? She wasn’t objecting this morning. Not until they’d been interrupted.
“We cannot make it back to Ambrose Hall. I barely made it here with this storm and I want to make certain we have lodgings for the night.”
Althea wasn’t certain if she was relieved that he was being practical or that he gave no indication of wanting to be intimate.
“I am also famished. I missed my luncheon and I assume my governess did as well.”
He kept referring to her as his governess. Perhaps he realized this morning was a mistake, not to be repeated, but forgotten. Why did the thought disappoint her?
“Please, Althea.” He held out his hand to her, just like in her dream. Until this morning he was her safety, her comfort, but what did he want her for now? Governess or lover?
“Go.” Monique picked up her abandoned cloak and put it across Althea’s shoulders before taking her arm and gently pulling her to the door. “I am here if you need me.”
Althea went to him and allowed Melcombe to tuck her hand in his arm. They exited the shop and crossed the street as quickly as one could against the strong winds and snow and entered the Hemsley Coffee House and Inn.
“Lord Melcombe, I can’t believe you are out in this.”
He grinned at Mrs. Hemsley. “I came to retrieve my governess. When she didn’t return from her errand, I feared she was lost in a snowdrift.” He placed his hand over Althea’s and squeezed. “Now neither of us can get back home. Do you have two rooms available?”
He wanted to go back to being employer and governess. Maybe in a decade or two, when the girls were gone and she was no longer needed, she would be able to forget about this morning. He apparently was going to put it from his mind.
“That I do, but your coachman already secured a room for you and for himself. I have one left for Miss Claywell.” She handed the keys to Melcombe.
“Thank you,” Althea mumbled and took the offered key.
“We are also famished.”
“We don’t have a private room available as it is full. Those who were traveling one way or the other are stuck just like you,” she said while leading them to a table near the fireplace.
Melcombe held a chair out for Althea, placing her closer to the fire. She turned so her wet slippers could dry and to warm her toes.
“I’ll be right back with your supper.”
Supper?How long had she been gone?
Once again, she glanced out the window. It was already growing dark.
She’d spent her entire day with Monique, and while it had been so nice to finally talk to someone, it had been irresponsible as well.
She may very well be slipping into madness because her behavior of late had been completely uncharacteristic.
Except the conversation she’d had with Monique were normal. They had discussed many things, such as how Monique came to own a dress shop in Willanton and she gave her opinion on Althea opening a lending library as if it were a normal day with a new friend. Except, through it all, a part of Althea’s mind was also thinking about Lord Melcombe, his nieces, and what she’d find when she returned to Ambrose Hall.
“Could you bring us ale? I’ve had my fill of tea today,” Melcombe requested.
Althea preferred tea. She rarely drank ale and thought it best to keep her wits about her. They were in an inn for the night, or maybe more, depending on what could only be described as a blizzard, and she did not want to repeat the actions of the morning.
She drew her cloak about her, wishing she could get warm and had half a mind to go sit on the hearth. If she became sick because of her actions, she had nobody to blame but herself.
The door to the inn burst open and Althea looked up to find Monique entering with a package in her hands.
“Surely the dress isn’t complete already.”
