Forget the Past

Forget the Past Part 6

Hastily Made Plans

Erich pulled up short, sensing the young Parlor maid had something to say which was odd in itself for having worked her three years now, he knew...she had yet to speak to him personally.

"Yes, is there something you need, Emily?" He encouraged.

"The new Mistress, Sir. She be very nice indeed." The girl blushed profusely. "She is ever so pleasant to we folk who be here. We...we like her, Sir. Thank you very much, for...bringing her." she smiled politely, going on her way with a quick curtsey once again.

Erich looked after the girl, his thoughts of a suspicious nature.

He quickened his steps, taking the stairs two at a time. Something would simply have to be done about this 'Mistress of the House' debacle.

He burst into the room, his temper high.

Tessa swirled about, startled, grasping the large towel to her breasts.

"Do you never knock, man?" she scowled darkly at him.

Erich took in the bare shoulders, tiny feet showing out from under the heavy wrap, the long, lush curls falling over her shoulders, his temper calming a bit.

"What is it now?" it was demanded. "I didn't take the bloody picture down. What is the dragon lady saying?"

"What have you been telling the servants." he recalled his reason for being angry in the first place.

"Concerning?"

"The situation which exists between us."

"There is no 'situation' between us." Tessa stated frostily. "What do you mean?"

"Then perhaps they have surmised we are an 'item' from the fact you have completely taken over the running of this household."

"Are y' daft?" the girl was lost. She hoisted the heavy material once again to her breast because the damned thing kept slipping. "I did not do anything to your precious dungeon-o-horrors. I have been in this room for most of the day."

It was Erich's turn to be confused.

The girl tried to cross the area, tugging, pulling, jerking the heavy material along the way. "I will be gone in a few days time. I cramped all day and it was not simply from the food you serve."

The man watched the woman rub lotion on her slender arms, shoulders and neckline. There was something very erotic about the action to his dismay.

"If that is true, if you are close." he looked away from the woman, transferring his attention to a trinket on the desk. It was his sister's locket. "What are your plans. You cannot simply walk out of this...dungeon. Where will you go? What will you do? You must allow me to give you enough silver to..."

"Do not even go there." she halted her activity to warn.

"You are being ridiculous and I think you know as much." the man sighed. "The question is 'why?"

The woman sought her brush, loosening the ribbon on her hair. The one that held the beautiful locks back from her face. "I...I do not wish anything from you. It is that simple."

"You wanted something from me that night." her words troubled the man greatly.

"As you said, it was a mistake."

Erich called her bluff. "You do not regret what happened...no more than I." he stated quietly. "Listen to me, please." he tempered his speech for once, moving farther into the room.