Free Reads!! Wednesday Briefs – Innocence & Carnality Part 41

Welcome to the next part in my Wednesday Briefs flash fiction serial, Innocence & Carnality! Each chapter has to be between 500 and 1,000 words and this week I chose the to skip the prompt.

Welcome back to Delaga House, Nathan.

Click here to start from the beginning

Part 41

“Nathan, we’re here.”

I opened my eyes a sliver to the gruff voice. Delaga House approached through the window. The late carriage ride had lulled me into a much needed sleep and I relished the warm, comfortable cushion beneath me. Firm with just the right yield, it was perfect. When the cushion inhaled and exhaled, I startled myself wide awake.

Blythe snickered at me as I sat up straight, trying to banish the sudden awkwardness. “Sleep well, princess?” He returned his arm to his side from its position from around my shoulder.

Lovely. As if Rother needed fresh fuel for his jealousy.

“Oh, do be quiet,” I hissed. As always, Blythe seemed nonplussed by my reaction.

It was still dark out with the first fringes of dawn creeping into the sky as Blythe paid the driver. It sped away and I forced myself to step forward. What waited for me indoors terrified me. Blythe nudged me along, or I might not have found the nerve to continue.

Delaga House was silent. No clients roamed the halls, having long since moved on. The only proper light left on came from the salon, where we found Rother, drink in hand.

Sprawled on the chaise, he followed our entrance with scrutiny. Hard creases marred his handsome face, drawing lines of exhaustion across him. Otherwise, he gave up nothing, leaving me with no reading of his mood, which I could likely guess.

“I found him easily enough. Unharmed and untouched,” Blythe said.

“Thank you, Blythe.”

I hated being spoken about instead of spoken to. “Rother—”

“Go to bed. I’ll deal with you later,” he said.

I wanted to talk, but could hear the finality in his voice. I’d wounded him by leaving, but in all fairness, he hurt me first. Despite the scorecard, any conversation would come tomorrow at the earliest. Hopefully.

Blythe followed me upstairs at Rother’s instruction until we reached the bedroom. “Thank you for coming for me. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“It’s my job.” He shook his head, dismissing the idea. “Don’t worry. It’ll all work out.”

Rother didn’t come to our bed. He didn’t speak to me to the next morning or all afternoon once the house resumed its normal activity. I kept to myself, hoping he’d come to our bedroom so we could discuss our situation, to little avail. No one else came to visit either, not even Harston. Whether they were shunning me or following some vindictive edict of Rother’s, I had no idea.

In the early evening, I recognized the noise and bustle of Delaga House preparation. Tonight would line the house with clients and my husband’s pockets with coin. I had a decision to make. Would I stay here outside of the debauchery, or would I take my place alongside it as its co-host? I wasn’t sure I had a position with either option, but needed to do better than my ill-planned flight away. In the end, my duty to my husband cried out over all the indignities.

So I dressed myself to welcome guests into my home to do things I could barely approve of.

Holding my head high, I descended the stairs, drawing the staff’s gaze with each step. At the bottom, Rother’s conversation with Samantha came to a halt. Her approval came with her maternal smile. I wasn’t clear I had his, but I didn’t let that dissuade me.

“Am I to assume you don’t plan on walking out on me this evening?” Rother examined my clothing and manner with a casual air I knew was anything but.

“Am I to assume there won’t be any surprise entanglements?”

Rother cocked his head with a raised brow. “I hadn’t planned on it.”

“Good. Then maybe you can teach me my role here.”

Grinning wide, Samantha caught Rother’s arm. “I need to prepare for my session tonight. Have dinner with your husband before the guests start to arrive. Neither of you has eaten today.”

She sauntered to the stairwell, retracing my path. Rother turned and headed away in the other direction. After taking five steps, he paused and shot me a look.

“You heard the woman. Are you coming?”

I caught up quickly.

Dinner was a quiet affair shared alone on the screen porch so the staff could continue uninterrupted. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was and judging by how Rother devoured his meal, he was no better off.

We spoke little. Painful memories held my tongue. Eventually the bell rang, signaling the night’s beginning.

Rother stood, catching my eye. “We will talk later. For now, there’s business to be done.” I nodded, ready to be educated.

I stood by his side through the first wave of customers. For the next few hours, Rother choose who he greeted with care—most likely the wealthiest—and I politely offered my hospitality, following his lead. He often made veiled comments intended to make me blush, which his guests found adorable.

Our roles were simple, and if one took out the carnal transactions being dealt, it held a clear similarity of a Victorian ball. Easing into being host with its gentile pleasantries and polite exchanges was far easier than I expected. I felt appreciated and useful for the first time in ages.

My favorite part was how Rother and I appeared to set aside the grand issues between us, if only for a short while. I welcomed the distraction.

The evening had been well underway when Rother whispered to me near the stairs. “Come with me. There’s something I want to show you.”

Rother guided me to the third floor where the staff entertained clients. I’d spent almost no time here. He unlocked an unmarked door at the end of the hall—it couldn’t have been more than a closet—exposing a darkened passage. The unusual corridor made me leery, but I was determined to find a glimmer of trust in my husband.

With a gentle hand, he guided me inside.

Check back next Wednesday for the next installation… Be sure to take a read at the other briefers free reads this week here: Wednesday Briefs