Page 42 of Tangwystle
He kissed my forehead, grabbing the decanter of amber liquor as he passed. “Go find, pet. Keep her safe.”
I wiped hair out of my face, watching him walk away as my mind whirled.
Pet.
Already, he had changed Gretel’s name because it had hurt my feelings.
I hurried down the servants’ stairs into the kitchen.
Gretel crept out of the shadows, her eyes wide as she raked her gaze over me. “You’ve been with Baz.”
I flung myself down the rest of the stairs, the wood creaking. “What are you talking about?” I acted like it was perfectly normal for my cheeks to be so red and my dress wrinkled. I’d rushed out of Baz’s study so quickly I hadn’t even put my shoes on.
Her voice grew clearer. “I know you have.”
And that’s when I noticed how red her cheeks were.
“Were you?” I couldn’t even finish the thought. Especially because as soon as I thought about the idea of Gretel pressing her ear to Baz’s study door, I thought of myself watching them in the garden.
“He talked to you,” she began to stammer.
I grabbed her hand. There was no time for this. “Rufus Clinemell is here.”
I threw her into the pantry, meaning to close the door.
“W-wait,” she cried.
I didn’t expect Rufus to come down to the kitchen. No gentleman except Baz ever did. And Gretel normally kept quiet when visitors came, no one the wiser that an extra servant lingered in the kitchen.
But I would take no chances when it came to Rufus.
“Don’t make any trouble,” I ordered, locking her in.
thirteen
It tookme several moments to get control of myself. First, I rushed to clean myself off, forcing my mind to go blank as I used a wet towel to wipe myself, my pussy clenching again when I thought about Baz’s head between my thighs.
Then I stood in the doorway, looking out at the garden. The cool wind soothed my red cheeks, and I fixed my dress and found my boots.
I gathered a tray of refreshments when I heard a soft knock from the pantry.
“Can I come out now?” Gretel pleaded.
“Quiet!” I ordered, heading upstairs to deposit the tray in the parlor.
You couldn’t find two men more opposite than one another. Baz’s blue eyes found me the moment I entered. Rufus hardly looked up.
Baz leaned back in his chair, his dark hair messy and a light smile on his face. I knew he hid his true feelings, but Rufus couldn’t know it. Though I doubt he cared about Baz’s perceived friendliness.
Rufus sat on the edge of his chair, a walking cane in his hand. He was only in his late forties, but he seemed so much older. Sterner. Stuffier.
His suit was impeccable. His hair combed. His lips naturally turned down into a frown.
If I’d been clever, I would have stood near the door, listening in to find out for myself about this impromptu visit. I’d focused on cleaning myself up instead, but I could feel the stale, tired air in the room.
“Any tea?” I asked.
Both men had a glass of liquor in front of them.
