“Oh, I had not realized.” Then Bethany shrugged and poured him a glass of ale and handed it to Leopold before pouring one for herself.
“How do you normally spend Christmas Eve, Your Grace?”
“Given the circumstances, should you not call me Leopold.”
“It is far too intimate,” Bethany answered and took a deep drink of the ale. Given she had hardly touched her breakfast, he hoped that she ate some of the bread.
“You have seen me naked four times. We are past concerns for intimacy.”
“You are wrong. That was lack of modesty on your part, three times. The first was my error. Not intimate.”
Bethany was acting very strange, and he was not certain why. Plus, her face was flushed, different from the blush she’d been wearing earlier.
“What else did you do when you went to retrieve the ale?” he asked with suspicion.
“While I was waiting, there were some men celebrating and they bought everyone in the taproom whiskey. After it was placed before me, I thought it only polite to drink it.”
Leopold wanted to laugh, but he did not. “How many did you drink?”
“Just the two. I had not tried whiskey before and rather liked it.”
She was also feeling the effects because she had not eaten, nor was she a large woman. It likely would not take much for Bethany to become inebriated. While he would never attempt a seduction while she was in this state, any conversation they may have could prove to be interesting and informative.
Each day alone with Leopold became more difficult, but perhaps it would be easier now that he was clothed.
Disappointing too.
Bethany chastised herself. She was a respectable miss, and should be pleased that he was finally no longer naked in her presence, though he had been quite spectacular to view.
She sighed and took a sip of ale.
What she hadn’t anticipated was becoming quite relaxed from drinking whiskey, and warm in a way that had nothing to do with Claybrook being naked.
Tearing off a piece of bread, she ate it before drinking her ale only to note Leopold lying in the bed, pillows propped so that he sat straighter, and staring at her.
“Is something amiss?”
“No, nothing.” The side of his mouth quirked before he took another sip of ale.
“Did you want to read any of the newssheet?”
“It would be rude to do so when the company is so charming.”
Bethany nearly snorted.
Silence stretched before them for Bethany could think of nothing to say.
Leopold barely drank his ale, whereas half her glass was already gone. If she was not careful, she would get drunk and that would never do.
“May I ask you a question?” he said quietly.
“You may.”
“Why do you frown when you look at my person?”
“I do not,” she insisted. “You are quite handsome and pleasant to look upon.”
The side of his mouth quirked again, and Bethany knew that she needed to think on her words carefully before speaking.
