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Her smile brought light to her plain face and brightness to her brown eyes. He swallowed dry, as the sight of her faint smile had consequences in the area of his loins. He went back to his paper, implying that the dialogue ended. Hurriedly, she continued her work. She turned to the shelves and his eye returned to her nape.
His stare followed her nape as she moved about. However, it amounted to too much, too close, too long. Why the hell did he order her to stay anyway? Clear thinking shut down. He stood from his chair in an abrupt movement. Her cleaning faltered, as if sensing his move, slowed and then she resumed normal speed.
He approached her from behind, her reflexion in the cabinet’s glass. His warm right hand reached her tempting nape. She halted. His left hand held her upper arm, to prevent her from walking away. He touched her skin. And dived into paradise. His fingers explored the warm, soft skin of hers. A sight escaped her lips, which encouraged him to move his hand farther, the line of her sleek sparrow-wing brown coloured hair, caught in the cap. Her breath quickened. He forgot all about oxygen. Her feet moved one step backwards at the same time his moved one forward. Now he could see her whole upper body reflected on the cabinet’s glass. Her breasts peaked through the rough fabric.
His hand explored even more and touched her throat. She gulped in air as he traced her jawline. As she exhaled, he felt her body go malleable. She lost balance and leaned on him, head on his chest. His lungs demanded short breaths. He finally smelled her. Dull soap, sweet woman. He wanted more, all! Her eyelids slid down, his head bent more. His lips were one inch from her left ear. He wanted to turn her to him, he wanted to…
Knock, knock, knock.
Quick steps, he returned to his desk. As an automaton, she resumed her cleaning.
“Come in.” He ordered, his voice not so cold.
Mr Talcott, the butler, entered the room, Mrs Talcott’s husband as a matter of fact. “Lord Ashton calling on you, my lord.” He announced respectfully.
Hugh had completely forgotten about the fencing training they were supposed to take today. Duncan, his best friend. They had met in Eton and had been friends since then. “Please, take him to the drawing room. I’ll meet him in five minutes.”
“Very well, my lord.” The butler left after a bow.
Hugh looked at Sarah. She busied herself with the dusting and did not look at him. In a matter of seconds, she took her cleaning stuff, curtsied to the floor and left.
He walked to the window and leaned his forehead on the cool glass. His body still bore traces of the effect she had on him. A bonny servant, no less. He gave himself a couple of minutes and went to meet Duncan.
As soon as Sarah broke free from the library, she rushed to the servants’ quarters and hid herself in a remote corner, cleaning stuff and all. Breathless, flushed all over, the nape of her neck seemed to burn. She leaned on the wall, head bent back. Never in her life had she experienced such fervent sensations. On fire, she felt. Moistened. She did not know how she would concentrate on her duties now. She had to resist this temptation. She had to keep away from him. How?
After the fencing session, Hugh managed to dissipate a little of his sexual frustration. But the bitter taste of this strange desire lingered. He felt ashamed of himself. He had never resourced to servants. Not even when all his teenage Eton peers did it. He had always deemed it undignified. Social ranks should not mix. This being a common say in his household. As far as he knew, his long gone father, Lord Christopher, did not lower himself to the point of rushing to servants’ quarters. And he, Hugh, the only boy among four sisters, did not have much opportunity or that. He had been raised by household staff, wet-nurses, nannies, even governesses. Therefore, the lesson that he learned: ranks did not mix and kept mutual, distant respect.
He sat in his carriage, having parted from Duncan. He remembered Adelaide saying that they had an invitation for dinner at the dowager countess’ tonight. So he would have a long night of lukewarm entertainment. He hoped it would provide some distraction, though.
Sarah sat on a corner of the backyard after luncheon, when she saw Lord Hawkmore’s carriage arriving. From her vantage point, she could see, without being seen among the trees. She saw Lord Hawkmore impeccably dressed in a beige day suit, fashionable hat and long coat. His clothes emphasised his imposing figure. The light colour brought out the darkness of his shiny hair and piercing eyes. Men’s beauty concept in itself. Her eyes feasted on him in the distance. Suddenly, he turned and looked in the direction she sat, as if sensing someone watching. She turned her back to him, heart thundering. He looked vaguely at the garden and turned to go inside.
Lady Adelaide also wore soaring expensive outfits. Sarah thought her dresses of utter refinement, but very little comfortable. These dresses required corsets, which Sarah had never worn and intended never doing so. She could not imagine how someone could move in those tight, boned things that one had to squeeze one’s body in until no breathing would pass. She definitely did not envy the aristocratic ladies. Not for their fashion, not for their lifestyle. Life seemed so much more than tea and gossip.
She stood up and contemplated the Hawkmore town house. The latest Victorian style, built not so long ago in this fancy London neighbourhood. What she liked more about it, the high turret at the south corner. It gave the mansion the romantic air of a medieval castle. She wished she could go there to enjoy the view of the park down the street. Time to go back to work, so she walked back to the kitchen entrance.
She did not see Lord
Hawkmore for the rest of the day and she heard they had left for the evening. She could not decide if she felt satisfied or frustrated with his absence. Frustration sang louder in her body.
Next day would be Sunday, she tried to cheer herself up, most of the staff got the day off, including her. She had managed to stop by the second hand bookstore not far from there and buy herself a book she intended to read during her free day.
After a long night’s sleep, Sarah woke up invigorated next day. A long missed bath and a slow breakfast put her in a light mood. Everybody had gone to church, but she had declined the invitation, preferring to take it easy. She took refuge at the kitchen table and opened her book. For once, she did not wear her usual uniform. Her simple light-pink dress felt much more comfortable, with its wider, but discreet, neckline and short sleeves. The fire in the kitchen made it cosy and she even took out the shawl she had on her shoulders.
She had been reading for about one hour, when she heard footsteps. She looked up, wondering who had not gone to the church, and clashed with piercing dark eyes. Quickly, she stood up and curtsied. She forgot all about the book that fell on the floor, at his feet.
Hugh saw her and stopped mesmerized. She looked…she looked…oh dear! In his opinion, she looked like the most beautiful vision he had ever had. Her sparrow-wing brown hair fell lose over her shoulder, not totally dry yet. It shone in the fire with reddish shades. The light pink shade of her humble dress made her skin seem invitingly soft. The feminine scent that came from her... He looked her all over and back, and he still could not find his words.
He bent to take her book, her eyes where the book fell. He looked at the cover. “Lord Byron.” She lifted her gaze to him, at last, her dark brown eyes reflecting the flames. His body responded to her in total disregard to his own will. “You like poetry…”
He dressed black trousers and white shirt opened at the neck. He looked total perdition. All her deep night fantasies came to her memory and she blushed. She started feeling hot all over.
She joined her both hands together in front of her. “Well, yes.” She smiled faintly. He wished she did it more often. It made her plain features look so sweet. “I bought this from a second hand book store.”
He extended the book for her to take it. “You don’t need to do that.” He remembered to breath. “Read the ones in the library.” He issued a command.
She took the book and their fingers touched. They stared awkwardly at each other. A shock of electricity passed between them.
Sarah needed a way out. Now! “Shall I bring you something, my lord?” She hastened to put the book on the table and distance her burning hand from his. “The others are out, but I can try to find what you want.”
