Portrait of a Scandal (15 page)

Nellie felt pleased by Anne’s words, but could not help a chuckle of amusement as it bubbled from her lips. “Even Mrs Smith?”

Anne’s forehead furrowed. “Well, I must admit I am not sure what to make of the housekeeper. She is very reserved and the under-maids warned that she was not to be trifled with.”

“Has she been cruel to you?” Nellie asked, suddenly concerned.

“No, not how I fear you mean. She simply watches me. It is unnerving.”

Nellie nodded. “You would come to me if you held any concerns though, would you not?”

Anne smiled. “Indeed, I would.” She passed Nellie a pair of satin gloves to accompany the deep green dress she had selected for the day. “I suppose it is time for you to make your way down to breakfast, and for me to brave the kitchen once more.”

“Brave the kitchen? Is the cook worse than Mrs Williams?” Nellie asked as she slid on her gloves. Her father’s cook ran her kitchen like a general would an army. It was a frightening thing to behold, especially when things were not going to plan.

“Not at all. Geoff was making an ointment for your new mare, and the paste smelt something dreadful.” The young woman laughed. “The cook threatened to tan his hide if he did not leave her kitchen. I must admit, while it smelt truly dreadful, like a dozen eggs past their prime and dropped on the floor, he tried to reassure her it would heal your steed’s ailments. That did not appease the cook. God help the boy as he tries to inflict the poor animal with it.”

Nellie was delighted to learn Geoff had taken to helping the grooms. She had received the impression, from the pleasure in which he had spoken of his time at the Sterling estate, that he missed the task greatly.

* * * *

As she entered the dining room a short time later, she could not help but be staggered by her husband’s presence. The sight of his bent head, with his curls falling softly over his face as he read the morning post, paired with his tall frame and strong body, sent arousal surging through her. How could it be so after last night? Surely her heart would stop if she experienced so much pleasure again.

Thomas looked up and smiled at her as she entered, then rose as she took a seat beside him. He reached out and took her hand, sliding the glove from it and raising it to his lips. Those lips lingered after the kiss, but she did not mind. His eyes held hers and she read the same desire she felt reflected in them. She had met her match in every possible way. Yet, it would all vanish if he knew the truth about her.

“Nel, are you well?”

She blinked. “Quite well, husband. Why do you ask?”

“You seemed to leave me for a moment, and by your expression it was not for a pleasant place.”

“It was merely a moment. I am back now and very happy to be here.”

He nodded in approval as the footman entered with their breakfast.

She smiled at Geoff as he set her plate in front of her. “I hear you caused quite a stir this morning. Is the kitchen back to rights?”

The young man’s lips perked in amusement. “Indeed, my Lady.”

“What took place in the kitchens?” Thomas asked.

“Apparently Geoff was making an ointment for my mare and, if my maid is to be believed, it smelt worse than a dozen eggs gone bad. Is this a fair description, Parker?” she asked the butler, who stood to one side of the room.

“Indeed, my Lady,” the man said with a slightly disgusted expression.

She grinned and looked back to the footman. “Did she allow you to administer it?”

“It needs to cool first, my Lady. Once applied, it should heal the wounds in her mouth by the morrow.”

“That is fast indeed. Your father taught you how to make the paste?”

“He did, my Lady.”

“Well, I thank you in advance for tending to her so diligently. I am indeed grateful. If you have any problems, say,
‘Beruhigen sie wenig einen’
. It means, ‘Calm, little one’.”

The footman repeated the phrase, and she only had to replicate it once more before he could say it correctly. He was repeating it quietly under his breath as he and the other footman departed the room.

“You have taken quite a liking to the young footman,” Thomas said, sounding curious.

“Indeed, as I have with most of the staff. Tell me, did he apply for the footman’s position in this household first?”

Thomas paused, his brow dipped in frown before he looked to Parker.

The man stepped forward. “He inquired about a groom’s position firstly, my Lady. However, the grooms from the previous household stayed when his Lordship purchased the house. He was then taken on as the second footman, and has since moved into the position as first footman.”

Nellie nodded. “I had expected he would prefer to be a groom rather than a footman.”

“But a footman earns twice what a groom does,” Thomas pointed out. “He does not seem to dislike his post. In fact, I have always found him rather attentive.”

“I am sure he is. It is not always money which drives our motivations in life, though it does supply a grand driving force. There is simply no greater reward than doing what we love most.”

Thomas sat back in his chair and regarded her oddly. “Would you have me move him to a position as a groom, demoting him from his current post?”

“That is not what I said at all. I simply think since we have the power to do so, we can offer to others what they desire—even if it is not full time, but in part, we can bring them happiness. I believe Geoff receives great pleasure in working with the horses, and already I trust him to tend to such an animal as Karla. A little faith can go a long way to not only ensuring loyal and happy staff, but also a pleasant and well-run household.”

Still, Thomas regarded her, with slight amusement now. “You speak with so much wisdom for someone so young.”

“Young? You think me a child?” she all but snapped.

Her husband’s lips twitched. “Hardly. I find your insight enlightening, that is all. I agree with you. If a member of this house has an interest or desire to assist in other areas, I would be happy to grant them their wish if it is within my power. Parker, keep that in mind should the situation arise.”

The man bowed. “As his Lordship wishes.”

Nellie sensed surprise, but approval, from the butler and as he rose from his bow, their eyes met and she knew she had found an ally in this man. He offered her a nod as he stepped back against the wall, attempting to blend in with the tapestries.

“I received a reply from my saddler.”

Thomas’ words recaptured Nellie’s attention. “Oh?”

“Yes, he is to come today and fit Karla for a saddle. He is regarded as the best in London. I assure you, you will be pleased with his work.”

She smiled at him. “I am sure I will.”

“He is to arrive this morning. I thought it best that you be on hand, should your mare not take well to him,” Thomas said, with a glint of enjoyment.

“Indeed, husband. After all, I have a way with the beast.”

Nellie felt the smile spread across her face as her husband’s eyes darkened.

* * * *

Nellie stood back and watched in amusement as Geoff attempted to speak to her horse in German. It appeared from her unobserved vantage that her mare understood his intention, no matter how poor the attempt. Karla leaned into him and eagerly opened her mouth for him to apply the ointment. However, once she had experienced the taste, she all but attempted to demolish the bowl Geoff held.

“Yes, I know it is tasty, but let me work it into your gums, then I will give you the rest,” Geoff pleaded as he struggled with the eager horse.

O’Malley attempted to hold the horse still, but Nellie noted it was a trifle difficult since the boy stood as far away from Geoff as he could, his nose wrinkled. “God, that stuff is foul! How can she desire to eat it?”

“I have not the faintest inkling, but she is not acting any differently to any other horse I have attempted to administer it to in the past.”

Nellie watched the scene unfold and chuckled to herself as Geoff seemingly finished, surrendering the bowl to the animal with a sigh.

“It all went well, then?” she asked, and approached.

O’Malley straightened and moved closer to Karla. He patted the horse’s neck and offered Nellie a smile, likely trying to cover the fact he had been disgusted moments ago. She was sure he would have been rather embarrassed to learn of his audience.

“Indeed,” Geoff said as he wiped his brow and retrieved the wooden bowl now it was licked clean.

Karla turned her attention to Nellie as she spoke to her in German. She was not under any illusions that the horse could understand her—she simply thought the remembered tongue would make the horse feel more at ease. Still, the animal seemed a lot more content than she had yesterday.

She turned to the groom. “How has she settled in, then?”

“Well, m’Lady,” O’Malley offered, puffing out his chest as if he had just returned home a conquering hero.

“I am glad to hear it,” she said, but the sound of hooves caught her attention.

A hooded gig came down the lane to the stables with a lone man driving the one-horse carriage at a trot. Nellie took Karla’s rope and nodded to O’Malley, who ran forward to hold the carriage-horse while the man dismounted. The man took one look at her and froze, seeming staggered.
What? Do the ladies of London never leave their homes?

“Lady Sterling?” he asked warily.

“Indeed. Am I correct in assuming you are my husband’s saddler?”

He nodded and dismounted quickly. “Indeed. I am Mr Graves. Forgive me if I am late.”

“My husband did not give me an expected time of your arrival. However, he did expect you in the morning, so you are hardly late,” she said with a smile. “We have just been tending to my new mare for an ailment. Your timing is perfect, in fact.”

The man, once settled into his task of measuring Karla, seemed rather talkative. Soon they were in a friendly debate over breeds of horses and which were the finest.

“Mr Graves, I do agree that the Thoroughbred and Arab breeds are supreme when it comes to speed, but they will not get you far if endurance is required. Sometimes the strongest farm horse can be a better steed in the right situation,” she offered.

He laughed openly. “Indeed, that is sure the truth, but it seems a wee bit hypocritical coming from a lady such as yourself, with a well bred Warmblood such as this steed here is.”

She laughed. “Indeed, a hypocrite is a fair assessment of me, sir.”

“That seems harsh, wife.”

Nellie looked around to catch Thomas’ amused face as he walked towards them.

“Morning, my Lord,” Mr Graves offered with a tilt of his hat before he went back to measuring Karla.

“I understand why you like Mr Graves here, husband. He is a charming fellow,” Nellie said, offering the man in question a smile.

He preened at the praise. “That is a kind thing to say, your Ladyship.”

She waved his comments away and smiled at Thomas as he came beside her, offering her mare a pat for her good behaviour. Karla had stood still the whole time, with the exception of flicking her ears or tail when a fly became annoying.

“All right, I think I have everything I need,” the middle-aged man said with warm regard.

* * * *

“I have an outing planned for us tonight,” Thomas said, as they made their way towards the parlour for tea, after the saddler had left and the staff had gone back to their tasks.

“Oh?”

“Indeed. It is a casual affair. We will depart after dinner.”

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him. “And I am not to know where we are to travel, my Lord?”

He chuckled. “It is a surprise, my dear, so one does generally not learn of the location until after they arrive.”

Nellie’s lips twitched of their own accord. He had bought her a horse she adored, provided her with night-times filled with sinful pleasure, and yet he had more surprises in store for her? Life was grand indeed.

Chapter Ten

Thomas was acting rather enigmatically, and Nellie did not know whether to be amused or irritated by it. He had dismissed all the staff for the evening, then they had departed the townhouse steps and climbed into a waiting hired carriage. Nellie thought it all rather odd, but he had offered her a reassuring smile and gently squeezed her fingers before she had had a chance to question him.

She decided to simply await the revelation of his secretive plans for their evening, but she could not push down the bubble of excitement as it built inside her. Where were they going?

They finally came to a halt and Thomas opened the door, descended from the carriage, then turned back to her, holding out his hand to assist her. As she exited the carriage, more confusion met her. They had arrived at what looked to be the service entrance to a large London home.

Nellie looked up at the stone structure and frowned. “Thomas?”

He smiled and leant forward, kissing her firmly on the lips. “Trust me, my dear. Your happiness is all I seek.”

Her frown deepened.
What an odd thing to say.
But before she had had time to question him, he ushered her into the home. He clearly knew the property well, opening doors and ascending stairs until he led her into a room. The house had been in total darkness—the only light illuminating the way was the single candle Thomas had lit as they had entered. He placed it on a small table and as she looked around the dim room, her eyes landed on a strange looking chair in its centre, yet she could hardly see it. There were no windows and they had climbed a fair amount of stairs to reach this room. Were they in an attic?

Thomas moved in front of her then, standing between her and the chair, his hand not releasing hers.

“Where are we, Thomas?” she asked, no longer able to remain silent.

“Our location is not important,” he answered cryptically. “What is worth knowing is that you are about to experience what you most desired last night.”

Last night?
All she could recall of last night was the mind-blowing orgasm she had experienced under Thomas’ hands. Never had she thought pleasure such as that existed.