“Well, I am for my bed,” Walter said, slapping Jeremy’s shoulder. “Thank you for a pleasant evening, Jemmy.”
After Walter retired, Jeremy remained in the library for some time, staring into the fire, his mind on Alys instead of the troubling news from the north. He longed to see her, to hold her again, to feel her lips on his. Her kiss had been innocent yet ardent, her desire for him obvious.
With a deep sigh, he pushed to his feet and headed up to his lonely bed, Duncan trotting at his heels. Jeremy had forgotten the dog was there. Duncan was too old to get excited by much. The only time he bared his teeth was when he saw Marjorie, growling at her low in his throat, as if she were a threat. Jeremy shook his head in amazement. Even Duncan couldn’t warm to her.
Journal Entry
Today my Husband’s relations came for a visit. I dreaded having to entertain them, knowing they would carry on as if the house were theirs and my presence a mere inconvenience my Husband had to incur to acquire his country seat. Of course, I was the object of their Judgement and Scrutiny, but the conversation at table was actually rather interesting, although I didn’t dare contribute.
To think that the Parliamentarians, led by that great man Oliver Cromwell, are becoming a real thorn in the King’s side. I can only conclude that the good Lord disapproves of the King’s popish ways and means to see him humbled.
Chapter 44
Nicole
I woke slowly, enjoying the warmth of Kyle’s body against mine. I was pressed to his side, my head on his shoulder, his arm around me, holding me close. I’d slept alone for so long, I’d forgotten the joy of waking up in a man’s arms. Should I have returned to my room last night? Would things be awkward this morning? I hoped not, but there was no protocol for this, so I’d have to play it by ear.
“Good morning,” I whispered when Kyle opened his eyes and looked at me, his generous mouth stretching into a playful grin.
“Good morning,” he said, flipping me onto my back, his intentions clear. As he nuzzled my neck, I decided it was a good thing I’d stayed.
It took us an hour to get out of bed, and by then I was desperate for a cup of coffee. “I’ll shower and get dressed and meet you downstairs,” I said to Kyle, who was reclining in bed, his naked body gilded by the sunlight streaming through the window. If not for the phone in his hand, he could have been the subject of a Renaissance painting.
“Text from Andy,” Kyle said, looking up from the screen.
“Anything interesting?”
“He said I should call him at nine. This is not a call I care to make in this house, so let’s have some breakfast and go for a walk. The reception by the reservoir is fairly good, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“All right,” I said. I pulled on my clothes and stuck my head out the door, hoping there was no one in the corridor and I could get to my room undetected.
As soon as I shut the door behind me, Len appeared at the top of the stairs. He must have had breakfast already.
“Doing the walk of shame?” he asked, presumably noting my clothes from last night, my disheveled hair, and the coat and bag I had slung over my arm.
“I have nothing to be ashamed of,” I replied archly.
“You can shag whomever you like, darlin’,” Len drawled. “But if you are up for something a little off the beaten path, you know which room is mine.”
“Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“You do that.” He winked at me and walked past me to get to his room.
I scoffed in outrage and entered my room, eager to take a hot shower and clean my teeth. As soon as I walked in, I realized something was off. I couldn’t put my finger on it exactly, but the room was not as I had left it. I had taken my bag with me to Kyle’s room, so my notebook was safe, not that I had added anything since it had been taken.
Depositing my coat and bag on the chair near the door, I looked around, allowing my gaze to slowly scan every inch of the room. Everything appeared just the same as before, except for my laptop, which was further back on the desk, as if someone with long arms had used it in my absence. And the monitor was up. I always lowered it after using it because I didn’t like the screen and keyboard to get dusty.
I sat down at the desk and placed my hands on the keyboard. I had to lean forward to reach it, so it wasn’t my imagination playing tricks on me. Had I found the laptop pushed back prior to lunch, I would have thought Lisa had moved it while cleaning the room. She did all the rooms immediately after breakfast and had cleaned my room yesterday before noon, leaving me fresh towels and several tiny bottles of shampoo and body wash. Even if she’d returned, she had no reason to open the laptop.
Had someone tried to get into my computer last night while I was with Kyle? What had they hoped to find? I went to the door and made sure I had locked it behind me. Finding it secure, I walked into the bathroom, turned on the water, stripped down, and stepped into the shower, enjoying the hot spray on my
