Chapter 26
Thea settled down into the sheets, feeling a strange mixture of embarrassment and hope.
As fit the society they were in, nobody had mentioned her little outburst when she returned to the party.
But she had felt a strange sort of confidence every time she looked at Doctor Travers and remembered their conversation.
The two of them had laughed with Harriet and both Emma and Helena had looked a little put out at her new-found vigour.
She quite liked it. George had already retired to the drawing room to drink brandy and port with the gentlemen, and there was even a chance he was so drunk he wouldn’t remember.
Perhaps it was acceptable for her to not be like everyone else in the room?
She wriggled to get comfortable in the huge bed.
Neville certainly had made his money; the furnishings were opulent and the bed exquisitely comfortable.
Four posts raised above her with drapes tied at the corners and a tapestry canopy making her feel at least a little cozy.
Her head dropped back into the pillow. Time alone after a day full of noise and people was very welcome.
A knock sounded at the door. There was only one person she could tolerate this being, and she hoped with all her heart that it was her.
‘Come in,’ she said, sitting up a little and pulling the covers around her while she peered at the door.
She wasn’t disappointed.
‘May I join you?’ asked Martha smoothly, her head and shoulders around the door.
‘Of course.’ She was still a little embarrassed by her conduct and alarmed by the story she had heard, but she was beginning to understand why Martha hadn’t said anything.
‘I didn’t know if you would like some time to yourself,’ said Martha, understanding Thea completely as she stepped inside and closed the door. ‘I will go if you wish?’
‘I have calmed down, you will be pleased to know. Please stay.’
Martha stepped a little further into the room. ‘I’m sorry if I upset you,’ she said. ‘I hadn’t meant to keep it from you, but…’
‘I understand,’ said Thea. ‘But I wish you had told me. I felt like a fool.’
‘I know,’ said Martha. ‘I am sorry.’
‘Is there anything else you have been keeping from me?’ asked Thea. ‘That you thought I wouldn’t manage to deal with?’
‘No,’ said Martha. ‘It’s just that it isn’t an incident I want to relive, particularly.’
‘I understand,’ said Thea again. ‘And I overreacted. I have simply felt inadequate recently, and you have had so many experiences that I haven’t been part of. Then Emma and Helena being so objectionable. I should have kept it in.’
‘I’m glad you didn’t,’ said Martha, still standing a few paces away. ‘Even Harriet had a word with Emma while you were gone. It needed saying.’
‘Not in a room full of people including my husband though,’ said Thea, cringing.
‘He was drunk enough that he might not remember,’ said Martha.
‘Let’s hope so.’ But she was determined not to dwell on him and dash her tiny glimmer of optimism.
‘You seemed to feel better after your chat with Doctor Travers?’ asked Martha, sensing that George was not where Thea wanted to linger. ‘Better than I have seen you, recently.’ She came a little closer. ‘I have been worried about you.’
‘I have been a little worried about myself,’ said Thea.
‘But yes, we chatted, and he essentially expressed my own advice back at me. Between us I think we put some things into perspective.’ She smiled with a quiet resolution.
‘He and I both will be endeavouring to judge ourselves less by others’ ideals. ’
‘I am very glad to hear it,’ said Martha.
‘I’m still sad about the protea though,’ said Thea, grimacing. ‘I know it wouldn’t make so much difference to how they felt about me, but I really wanted it. For myself and for Frankie.’
‘I know,’ said Martha. ‘But there will be other plants that refuse to grow, and Frankie is getting into her stride.’ She eyed Thea. ‘How does it feel? Judging yourself by your own standards rather than others?’ She looked relieved, like this was exactly the result she had hoped for.
Thea thought for a minute, looking Martha up and down.
She wore a silk robe of claret and gilt that Thea hadn’t seen before and wasn’t sure why it had taken her this long to notice.
Apparently, conviction in ones’ self was distracting.
‘It feels like I am a woman with new convictions,’ she said, injecting a little mischief into her voice.
‘And one of those is that I want you in my bed right now.’ Martha’s eyes lit.
Thea felt a twinge of guilt. Her mood had dampened their activity between the sheets over the past few weeks but now a little stirring happened low in her belly.
‘Is that right?’ asked Martha, trying to remain sensible, Thea noticed, but failed to keep the keen grin off her beautiful face. She made towards the bed and her bare leg poked out of the robe with each step. Thea swallowed.
‘How are you so beautiful...?’ she asked, trailing off when Martha reached the side of the four poster. Martha arched an eyebrow but then came a knock at the door. Martha stepped away, and Thea sighed.
‘Surely not,’ she muttered, but then more loudly, ‘Come in.’
‘Warm water if you need it, Your Grace, and – oh.’ Mrs Phibbs, who had insisted she come with Joan to assist the Hartford party, stopped a yard into the room as she spotted Martha. ‘I am sorry Your Grace, Lady Foxmore, I hadn’t thought you might be together yet.’
Thea stifled a smile at the inference.
‘No problem at all Mrs Phibbs, I came up early. Thank you for the water.’
Mrs Phibbs bobbed. ‘And I brought you some of those pastries that you liked – snuck some up from the kitchen – thought they might be welcome.’
They were indeed. ‘Thank you.’ Mrs Phibbs placed the water jug on the dresser and the pastries on the mahogany side table before bobbing again and exiting the room, clicking the door shut behind her.
Martha sat down on the side of the bed. ‘Just me and you, then. And some pastries.’
‘It seems that way,’ smiled Thea. ‘Do you want one?’
‘Which one?’ asked Martha, sliding up the bed a little and cupping Thea’s cheek.
Thea fixed her with a cheeky grin. ‘The little curly one with the raisins and cinnamon?’
Martha looked aghast. ‘You know I despise cinnamon. And raisins in pastry? No thank you. I’d rather have the sweet one wrapped up in the blankets.’ She leant forward and placed a gentle kiss on Thea’s lips. Thea melted into it, and it deepened.
‘I think you better get in.’
Martha stood to shed her robe but then thought better of it as there was a second knock at the door. She pulled it back round herself quickly, throwing a puzzled look at Thea, who shrugged.
‘Come in,’ she said again, after ensuring they were both decent.
Mrs Jenkins’ round face appeared.
‘Ah there you are, my lady,’ she said, looking relieved as she squeezed sideways into the room, rattling tray in hand. ‘I had thought you might enjoy some evening tea and expected I might find you here when you were not in your room. Thought I might be early enough.’
There was no hint of judgement in Mrs Jenkins’ countenance, but Thea hid her face to disguise a smile as she saw Martha pink a little.
‘Thank you, Mrs Jenkins,’ managed Martha, sounding extremely collected. ‘You might as well put it with the pastries.’ She nodded to the side table by the chairs.
‘Right you are, my lady.’ She bustled over to the table and set down the tray, arranging the cups, teapot, accoutrements and pastry plates until they were to her satisfaction, and she stood back pleased, hands on hips and surveying her work.
Thea glanced at Martha, who waited patiently as usual.
She knew they were both wondering if they would ever get any peace other than snatched liaisons in the middle of the night.
‘Lovely,’ said Mrs Jenkins, almost to herself before turning to the bed where Thea reclined and Martha stood awkwardly. ‘Will there be anything else, my lady?’
‘That’s all, thank you, Mrs Jenkins,’ said Martha gently. ‘I will see you in my room around nine in the morning, perhaps?’
Mrs Jenkins nodded her agreement and left the room.
Martha turned to Thea. ‘That must be all of them?’
Thea shrugged. ‘The only other we brought is Fletcher and he’ll be seeing to George.’
‘Thank goodness,’ said Martha. ‘Now, where were we?’ A mischievous smile spread across her face. ‘I have missed you, you know.’
Thea grinned. ‘We slept in the same bed last night.’
‘I know, but…’
‘I know,’ said Thea. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘No need,’ said Martha gently.
Thea reached forward to pull Martha down for a kiss, the silk smooth against her fingers. ‘As much as I love this,’ she said, pulling the material to the side to get a better look, ‘I think, perhaps, you might take it off and join me in here?’ She twitched the covers to her side.
‘I think, perhaps, I might,’ said Martha, her voice dripping with promise as she slid the robe off her shoulders and let it pool on the floor. Thea should have noticed from the leg that had emerged earlier, that the only garment Martha was wearing was a silk night slip. She gulped.
‘Right then.’ And then a very practical thought occurred to her. ‘Did you come down the corridor like that?!’
‘I did,’ said Martha, an eyebrow raising. ‘I know we are rather alone at this end, but it was still a little exhilarating.
‘Worth it,’ said Thea, still unable to take her eyes off Martha’s exquisite legs. ‘I think you should join me.’ She threw back the covers to invite Martha in, who settled next to her in the centre of the bed before dropping a gentle kiss underneath her ear. Thea moaned at the touch.
‘More of that?’ asked Martha, her breath warm against Thea’s ear.
‘Most certainly.’ Thea shifted down the bed and Martha came with her, planting gentle kisses on her neck. Thea let out a long exhale when Martha’s hand began to travel up her thigh. How she had waited for this. The excruciating party was almost worth it.