Lovescape

Chapter 3

After several hours of working together in silence, Rosalind looked up from her pile of papers and asked Vidal softly, “Are you planning to go to the festival this evening?”

“I hadn’t thought about it,” he told her. “I don’t suppose so.”

“Why not?” she pressed. “the harvest festival is one of the most exciting nights of the year.”

“I’m not sure I’m in the mood for dancing and festivities.” He scowled teasingly.

“Vidal,” she said in a tone of mock rebuke, “you really should go.”

“Why?” he asked, chuckling at the banter.

“Well,” she explained, “you’re the master. It would do your employees good to see you relaxing, having a good time.”

“I don’t know…” he trailed off as though in deep thought.

“Take a chance. You never know, you might enjoy yourself.”

A devilish thought crossed Vidal’s mind. “Are you going?” he asked her.

“Of course,” she replied.

“I’ll go on one condition.”

She looked at him expectantly.

“I have to have at least one dance with you.”

Rosalind drew in a slow breath. A flash of s****l awareness sizzled through them. Vidal could see it on her face. He felt it as well. Rosalind alone had the ability to awaken the latent lust in him. His desire for her seemed to intensify every day. The memories of her in his bed had never faded in the…Dios mío, has it really been a whole year since that night?

Dios mío, has it really been a whole year since that nightIn fact, it had been. Carmen had left on the night of the harvest festival. Gingerly, he probed at the memories of his abandonment by the woman he loved and found that the pain had faded considerably.

At the time, he had thought he would never forget, that the pain would never pass, but it had. He still missed Carmen occasionally, but those occasions had grown rarer over the months, as had the crippling regret, the sense that there was something wrong, something flawed in him. Finally, he had come to accept that a relationship between them had never been meant to be and that no longer bothered him, at least not very much.

Examining his emotions, Vidal realized that on the whole, he felt…better, like a new man. He owed so much of it to the slender beauty poring over his English business correspondence. He owed her a greater reward than a dance at the festival. She, of course, would say it was nothing. That any good friend would have done the same, and no repayment was necessary. I disagree.

She, of course, would say it was nothing. That any good friend would have done the same, and no repayment was necessary. I disagree.As he reflected, he absently took in the details of the room where they had passed so many hours together. Once a bedroom, it had exposed wooden beams on the ceiling which matched the shining maple boards that composed the floor. A single window, shutters open to admit the breeze, looked out over his freshly harvested vineyard.

Vidal glanced at the little roll top desk set against the whitewashed wall perpendicular to his own and took in Rosalind’s pretty profile as she bent over the paper. Her beauty was of a quiet, understated kind, except for those luminous eyes. They haunted his dreams.

In the years they had been working together, he had learned her fierce loyalty, her intelligence, her unswerving devotion, her lovely face, and even her body. But about her past, her desires, her dreams, he knew nothing, and it held him back. If only there was some way to discover one of her wishes and make it come true. I’m certain at least something is within my ability to grant, but I have no idea what it would be. Money obviously doesn’t interest her since she refused to accept a raise with her promotion. She doesn’t fight among the other servants for status or position, though she could have had it.

If only there was some way to discover one of her wishes and make it come true. I’m certain at least something is within my ability to grant, but I have no idea what it would be. Money obviously doesn’t interest her since she refused to accept a raise with her promotion. She doesn’t fight among the other servants for status or position, though she could have had it.She drew his gaze again, so Vidal studied her face. Another ripple of desire shot through him. It’s been too long since the last time we touched. She refused to share my bed again, saying she didn’t want to be my mistress. Rightly so, I suppose.

It’s been too long since the last time we touched. She refused to share my bed again, saying she didn’t want to be my mistress. Rightly so, I suppose.She seems content to sit in my office, reading my paperwork. I might almost believe it’s enough for her, except that once or twice I’ve caught her staring at me, her emerald eyes filled with longing. She still wants me, but in what way? And what do I want from her? Besides another night together, that is. Such basic questions and no real answers.

She seems content to sit in my office, reading my paperwork. I might almost believe it’s enough for her, except that once or twice I’ve caught her staring at me, her emerald eyes filled with longing. She still wants me, but in what way? And what do I want from her? Besides another night together, that is. Such basic questions and no real answers.