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dwgmBack to work today. Happy Inauguration Day to Us All!
And with the latter in mind, I'm posting early today. 500 more words of the story, by the light of the 'Moon'. Thanks again to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
hereswith for the beta read.
1. Tortuga
2. Happiness
3. Festive
4. Last Minute
5. Calm
6. Truth
7. Bargain
8. Spook
9. Down
10. Wounds
11. Moon
~ An Execrable Business, continued...
He set her on her feet – foot – when they reached the door and she willed her cheeks to cool while he looked for the key. How disconcerting to be carried like that!
“It’s here, somewhere,” he muttered, feeling along the top edge of the doorjamb. “Ah! Success!”
He held up the key and his teasing wink set her blushing once more. Oh, he was dangerous, she was drawn to him like a moth to the flame! He turned to unlock the door and she scowled at his back, sternly berating herself. Then he got the door open and stood aside to let her pass.
“Milady?” he said, sweeping his arm in a welcoming gesture.
Good heavens.
“You are dreadful!” she exclaimed, in a low, embarrassing burst of candor, and was further mortified when he agreed.
“I know precisely what you mean, love. You’re rather dreadful yourself. Nothing for it, however. We must gird our loins. As it were. Come. Inside, tout de suite.”
She limped past him and found herself in a hallway that ran toward the front of the house. Jack entered behind her, closed the door, and locked it again. They weren’t quite plunged into darkness, for the full moon shone through the windows, in the rooms on either side and the one in the door.
“We'd best not use a lamp, might attract undesirable attention. Sit down on this bench—“
She did, perforce.
“—and I’ll go look around.”
“Are you sure we should be here? Your friend won’t mind?”
“Mind? Not at all. She's true blue, is Sally.”
He ambled off, disappearing from sight, though she could still hear him as he moved about, his bootsteps on the polished wood floors and the staircase, and once a small crash and the sound of glass breaking, followed by indistinct cursing.
She turned and rested her throbbing foot and ankle upon the bench beside her. The pain gradually faded, but as it did so the indigestion engendered by their mad escape became all the more noticeable. She leaned against the wall, tired and thirsty, slightly sick, and wondering why she wasn't more worried.
Eventually Jack returned. “You'd like our hostess's rooms, I daresay. Quite resplendent. But they're upstairs. Might prove difficult for your foot—or my back, if I carried you. We'll stay down here, in the housekeeper's room, just off the kitchen. We can have a nice tot of her brandy, for medicinal purposes, and get some shuteye. Come, up you go.”
He took her hands and helped her to her feet. Impulsively, she clutched his fingers. “I’m sorry I said you were dreadful. It’s me, not you. I’m so very much—”
“Such honesty! Most ill-advised." He kissed her knuckles, then said, amused and seductive, "I reckon it’s both of us, love. But tonight, at least, you'll remain unravished.”
She couldn't help smiling. "Are you tempted? I am most unravishing at present."
His teeth shown white in the gloom. “Very true. But tomorrow's another day.”
TBC…
And with the latter in mind, I'm posting early today. 500 more words of the story, by the light of the 'Moon'. Thanks again to
hereswith for the beta read.1. Tortuga
2. Happiness
3. Festive
4. Last Minute
5. Calm
6. Truth
7. Bargain
8. Spook
9. Down
10. Wounds
11. Moon
~ An Execrable Business, continued...
He set her on her feet – foot – when they reached the door and she willed her cheeks to cool while he looked for the key. How disconcerting to be carried like that!
“It’s here, somewhere,” he muttered, feeling along the top edge of the doorjamb. “Ah! Success!”
He held up the key and his teasing wink set her blushing once more. Oh, he was dangerous, she was drawn to him like a moth to the flame! He turned to unlock the door and she scowled at his back, sternly berating herself. Then he got the door open and stood aside to let her pass.
“Milady?” he said, sweeping his arm in a welcoming gesture.
Good heavens.
“You are dreadful!” she exclaimed, in a low, embarrassing burst of candor, and was further mortified when he agreed.
“I know precisely what you mean, love. You’re rather dreadful yourself. Nothing for it, however. We must gird our loins. As it were. Come. Inside, tout de suite.”
She limped past him and found herself in a hallway that ran toward the front of the house. Jack entered behind her, closed the door, and locked it again. They weren’t quite plunged into darkness, for the full moon shone through the windows, in the rooms on either side and the one in the door.
“We'd best not use a lamp, might attract undesirable attention. Sit down on this bench—“
She did, perforce.
“—and I’ll go look around.”
“Are you sure we should be here? Your friend won’t mind?”
“Mind? Not at all. She's true blue, is Sally.”
He ambled off, disappearing from sight, though she could still hear him as he moved about, his bootsteps on the polished wood floors and the staircase, and once a small crash and the sound of glass breaking, followed by indistinct cursing.
She turned and rested her throbbing foot and ankle upon the bench beside her. The pain gradually faded, but as it did so the indigestion engendered by their mad escape became all the more noticeable. She leaned against the wall, tired and thirsty, slightly sick, and wondering why she wasn't more worried.
Eventually Jack returned. “You'd like our hostess's rooms, I daresay. Quite resplendent. But they're upstairs. Might prove difficult for your foot—or my back, if I carried you. We'll stay down here, in the housekeeper's room, just off the kitchen. We can have a nice tot of her brandy, for medicinal purposes, and get some shuteye. Come, up you go.”
He took her hands and helped her to her feet. Impulsively, she clutched his fingers. “I’m sorry I said you were dreadful. It’s me, not you. I’m so very much—”
“Such honesty! Most ill-advised." He kissed her knuckles, then said, amused and seductive, "I reckon it’s both of us, love. But tonight, at least, you'll remain unravished.”
She couldn't help smiling. "Are you tempted? I am most unravishing at present."
His teeth shown white in the gloom. “Very true. But tomorrow's another day.”
TBC…