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Iwanted nothing more than to climb into bed with Clara and spend the night with her in my arms.
But that would be too personal.
This whole arrangement was meant to keep my willing vessel at a distance.And I feel like I’m failing spectacularly at that already.
The next morning, my cook comes in to prepare breakfast as well as some other meals for reheating later.A dutiful older woman, she always asks me a question to which she knows the answer.“Just you again, Sebastian?”
For once, her assumption is wrong.“No.I have a woman here with me.Prepare food for two, Irene.”
She lights up, clutching her hands together.“Oh.That’s sweet.Any dietary restrictions?Vegan?Vegetarian?Kosher?”
I stare at her for a moment.It makes my fascination with Clara all the weirder as I know nothing about her.“I’m not sure.”
“I’ll make some options just in case.Let me know if you need me to come back in, I wouldn’t want anyone to go hungry.”
I pull out my phone and write out a text.“Are you coming down for breakfast?”
“Huh?Breakfast?”
“Yes.In the main hall.It’s not hard to find.”
“Didn’t think I’d be invited to that.”
“Why wouldn’t you be?”
“Uh.Okay, I’ll be down after a shower.”
Yes.A shower.After everything we did last night and the mess we made of one another, that’s only wise.
Twenty minutes later, she walks into the hall clad in a nightgown with a robe over the top of it.The robe is one of mine from years ago.I wondered where it got off to, and the guest bathroom is as good an explanation as any given I haven’t been there in just as much time.
“Hope you don’t mind I borrowed the robe, it’s a bit chilly around here.”
“I don’t mind at all.And I'll have the heat turned up.”I look her up and down, her hair slicked back, freshly combed and still wet.“You look absolutely beautiful today.”
She blushes as she sits down at the table.“Um, thank you.”She struggles to keep eye contact, her face red, the memories of last night clearly still in her head.
The door to the kitchen swings open and Irene comes out with two plates full of pancakes.“Breakfast is served,” she announces as she slides the plates toward us.
Irene looks at Clara with a smile.“And you must be the woman Sebastian was talking about.”
“Um...hi.”
“How charming.I always thought Sebastian needed a good woman in his life.Hopefully you can be that for him.”
“Uh..”Clara’s eyes drift away, trying to ignore the comment as she has no idea how to respond.
“Anyway, you two enjoy yourselves.I hope blueberry is fine with you, it’s Sebastian's favorite.And there’s authentic maple syrup in the metal jug there.Use as much as you want.And butter underneath the glass tray if that’s what you prefer...”
“Thank you, Irene.We got it.”
She nods.“I’ll be in the kitchen working if you need me.”
My cook disappears into the kitchen, leaving only the normal level of awkwardness between Clara and me.
Clara starts to eat, ravenously.She worked up quite the appetite last night, and so did I.
I don’t see the point in rushing breakfast, however.
