Harriet's Arrangement

Restoring the Balance

It took her a little while to come out of the place she needed to be in to submit to him and back into the real world that evening. He was patient, gentle and kind, but she could tell he was distracted. He ran her a bath and got in with her, tucking her between his legs and rubbing soapy water gently over her soft skin. He didn't speak much, occasionally pressing his lips into her hair or the back of her neck, and she nuzzled into him, feeling safe in her submissive space and wondering if in fact he wanted her to come back just yet.

Once they were dry, he led her back to the bed and pulled her gently down next to him, lying her on her stomach and reaching for the cream he always had on hand, massaging her bottom and the backs of her thighs, but he still didn't speak, and neither did she. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, and she knew he was deep in thought, so she let him do whatever he needed to do, happy to stay in her quiet space for a while longer.

He finished his massage and tucked a fluffy dressing gown around her, rolling her onto her side and pulling her into a hug from behind. She shuffled backwards towards him, moulding herself to the shape of his body, and lifted his hand up to press her lips into it.

"I'm sorry, Tom," she whispered, choosing to use his name rather than Sir quite deliberately to try and coax him out of what she was beginning to be concerned might be verging on a dark place. He pulled her tightly into him.

"It's ok, Hattie," he whispered back, "I just... I wish you'd told me last night."

"I know," she said, ashamed, "I know I should have done, but I... I just felt like I needed to put it to one side in order to be a hundred percent who Lily needed me to be today."

She felt him nodding behind her. "I get it, I promise you I do."

"And I get why you're upset, and you are completely entitled to handle it however you want," said Harriet.

"Oh, baby girl, I will," he said, laughing a little, "I need to or I'll go insane. I see a paddling or two in your future, and I think you know it. But will you tell me what happened, please?"

She swallowed as he confirmed her suspicions on the paddling front and started to explain how she had seen Malcolm at the bar, and how Lily had handled it – and how Jennifer had appeared, and she'd recognised the dynamic immediately. "I promise you, Eva had the same thought," she said, hurriedly, "I wasn't just making trouble. She completely agreed that I needed to at least try."

Tom made a "Hmm" noise that sounded like he was pursing his lips, but said nothing.

"I went up to her room, once Lily and Eva had checked he was waiting in the foyer... and I tried to speak to her," Harriet continued nervously, "But she wouldn't let me in. I told her she could find me at C&C. But I think she knew who I was."

"You told her who you were?" Tom breathed, "Hattie –"

"She knew," Harriet said, quickly, possibly telling a small white lie, "Malcolm used my name in the bar, and I saw her making the connection. I dread to think..." she shuddered as she tailed off.

Tom gave her a squeeze. "You are a very selfless person, Miss Hattie," he murmured, "What happened then?"

"Nothing," Harriet said, "She shut the door and I went back to Lily and Eva, and they –Malcolm and Jennifer – didn't come back. Thank goodness."

"What if Jennifer tells Malcolm you spoke to her?" Tom asked.

"She won't," Harriet said confidently, "She knows that would only mean bad news for her, I'm fairly sure of that. But she knows she has... someone willing to help her, if she needs it. She might not need it. But those eyes through that door... I hope she reaches out."