Page 91 of Dearest Beast
A response Rebecca would not have imagined in her wildest flights of fancy merely a few weeks ago.
Michael still spoke very little, but he would occasionally visit her bedchamber when she suspected he was supposed to be napping, lugging Rose, the cat, who was surprisingly patient with the youngest Berab. What he wanted, she could not be quite sure, but he seemed amenable to listening to her read out loud from whatever book was lying around while sucking on his thumb. One day, he’deven crawled into her lap to glance over the pages, seriously studying them until she’d accidentally read “first,” instead of “fourth,” and, in a very soft voice, he’d corrected her before popping his appendage back in his mouth.
She relayed this to Roger when they were in bed together later that night, making the man puff with pride.
What Miss Pardo couldn’t be paid to do in over a year, I could accomplish in a few days.
I thought you weren’t a governess,she teased him.
I’m not,he insisted.I just had some extra time and wanted to make myself useful.
Naturally,she replied with a smile.Then I won’t point out that you’ve had the advantage of the movement of time on your side, so you might not want to boast so much.
I never boast,he insisted with a wink.Not about that, but I’ll tell you, in addition to teaching my children, who now both know how to recognize the entire Hebrew alphabet, I’ve studied up on my theoretical duty to my brother’s widow. Though I’m not sure Nina would approve. But I’ve never been one to shy away from a mental challenge so I shall persevere. While I still have the time.
A lump formed in her throat at the acknowledgment that their current situation was temporary and coming to a close. This was not her home. She had a home. One she liked. To which she’d return. Soon.
After all, Dr. Maduro had declared her ready to work again, and Lopez had immediately sent messengers to all her patients letting them know she was once again available for any and all deliveries.
Thus, here she was, preparing for a call. Rebecca inhaled and tied her new cloak. Bending down, she wrapped her palm around the handle of the case of new tools Roger had purchased.
The bag itself was a soft, embossed leather with patterns offlowers running down the front. It was far too fancy for her taste and far too fine for her purposes, especially given how hard she used her things. She turned it over in her hands before spying the man himself behind her reflection in the mirror, leaning against the doorframe, which could barely fit his tall, lanky form.
“This is ridiculous,” she told him, dangling the bag in his direction.
Accepting the object from her, he inspected the piece.
“It’s something you presumably use almost every day, so it should be well made,” he told her, handing it back to her.
“Well made, not pretty.” She clutched it against her chest.
“The two aren’t mutually exclusive,” he pointed out. “Pleasant to view isn’t a crime. Take me, for example.” He waved a hand over his person as if to demonstrate, his face completely serious.
She rolled her eyes.
“Though you do make me want to do illegal things,” he told her, his voice turning lascivious.
“Truly?” she asked with a laugh. “Like what?”
“Like bending you over and taking you at the dinner table instead of reviewing the accounts for the house or the memorizingDebrett’sfor my next dinner party,” he told her.
“You’re ridiculous,” she returned, even if she could not stop laughing. “I’m not sure that’s illegal, just inappropriate and bad form in anyone’s home when you’re a guest, no matter the background. And I have to work.”
“I know,” he said. “Perhaps when you return?” His voice was hopeful.
“It might be a while.” She glanced out the window to see if the Berab family carriage had been brought around.
“I can wait,” he told her. He took an audible breath. “I’m happy for you,” he said softly.
“You are?” she asked, cocking her head in surprise. Not that hewould be unhappy, but the idea that he cared… was… odd… not that one didn’t suppose friends felt that sort of thing for each other.
But they weren’t truly friends.
Not that they were enemies.
Nor strangers any longer.
“I know how important this is to you,” he said, interrupting her thoughts, his voice sincere. “How skilled you are at it. How lucky we are as a community to have someone like you who is so dedicated.”
