Three Reasons
TITLE: THREE REASONS
RATED: (Late) T
DISCLAIMER : I don't own Eloise or it's characters and I don't make any money from this story. Only the original characters, plots and ideas belong to me.
SUMMARY : Eloise Fan Fic. Based on the relationship of Nanny and Sir Wilkes.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This will be a RAWTHER short Fic. I am SUPPOSED to be in retirement... but this came to me ;) Let's call it a gift for "Princess Week" since Nanny is such a Cinderella, and I for one will be visiting The Plaza that week :)
CHAPTER ONE
Nanny exhaled, feeling his fingers drift across her torso. She relaxed a bit and looked to her left to meet his gaze.
"I thought you may be sleeping", He said, responding to her eyes opening.
"No, no, no. Not sleeping", she said, sitting up quickly. This was the part she hated most. Leaving him.
She reached down and plucked her slip from the floor, gliding it over her head. She could feel him shifting behind her. He did not want her to go. She knew this, but knew she had to anyhow. It was not proper to spent the night! They were not married. He was a knight. She was a Nanny.
"Please...", he said, in a tone she now recognized, "Please stay"
She turned to him. Smiling a brief lovely smile, "You know I can not, not, not", she said before standing and retrieving the rest of her clothing.
"I do know that you say you can not", he replied as she gathered her things and moved towards the bathroom, "I am not entirely sure, at times... you know... why that is"
"Aoww! Now Willie...", she said through the bathroom door, "You know very well why! For Lord's sake!"
"I suppose", he replied, exhaling, and feeling the empty cavern to his right, which had recently held her body, "And yet it all seems so... trivial at times like these"
"You've 'ad too much wine", she said, opening the bathroom door, having dressed impressively fast, "You are getting rawther sappy Love"
"It's not the wine", he replied honestly, picking up his own garments from the floor, not wanting to look at her in his flustered state.
She sat on the edge of the bed, watching him dress from the waist up, when he moved to put on his trousers she looked away. Which was rather ironic, considering how intimate they had just been... but then again, this was their lives. They were lovers for a few blessed hours a month, and the rest of the time... very proper friends.
"Will you be joining us for tea tomorrow?", she asked.
"If you'll have me. Of course", he replied.
"You know you are always welcome. Eloise looks forward to seeing you"
"As I do her, if only because you, my dear, are never far behind"
Nanny blushed, looked up, at the the now fully dressed Sir Wilkes. She slid over to him, resting her head on his shoulder. His hand retiring to that comfortable place at the small of her back. She looked up and caught his eye.
"You know 'ow much I love, love, love you Wilkes"
"Yes", he replied honestly, knowing their situation was hard for her as well, "I just wish... Well, at times perhaps I wish..."
"Yes?"
"I wish we could show it openly", he replied quickly, feeling her retreat before the words even left his mouth fully.
"I should be going", she said softly, knowing she was being cold, but not knowing how to stop the "marriage talk" that was sure to come.
"Yes", he replied, sitting up straighter and standing to offer her his hand. He was slipping back into his role as well.
"It was a lovely evening", she said to him, "Dinner was just divine!"
He smiled at her attempt at enthusiasm. They had indeed had a nice dinner, and had even done a bit of dancing afterward. After which they had come back to his suite and locked the door. Surely he must feel delight at knowing he had spent such a lovely evening with such a beautiful, sincere woman. Yet, he felt defeated, as he always did when it was time for her to go back to her own quarters. Why couldn't they simply be together? "For keeps", as it were?
"I am glad you enjoyed it", he replied.
She smiled, stepping towards the door, "I will see you tomorrow then"
"Yes", he replied, kissing her hand as she reached for the knob with her alternate.
She turned to him, smoothing one hand down his cheek, "Good night Love"
"Wait!", he said, after she had stepped away into the hall, "Will you... Will you... think about it?"
"Think about what?", she heard herself ask, but she knew very well what he was referring to, and she felt the knots in her stomach forming at the thought of rejecting him once again.
"Think about... us. Please Nan. Please...", he gripped the door, clearly wanting to reach out and touch her, but clearly feeling it better not to.
"Wilkes... We are so lucky to 'ave found one another.."
"Yes, certainly we are! However, we could have so much more!"
"Perhaps some day", was her standard reply.
She was glad that he simply nodded tonight, rather then put up a fight, or even... get down on one knee as he had once before.
"I do love you!", she told him sincerely, as she leaned in and kissed his cheek, "So, so, so much!"
He smiled in return, "What a wonderful gift your love is", he relied, his hand gliding over hers.
She was relieved momentarily, thinking he might be looking on the bright side, but as his eyes shifted up from their interlocked fingers, she could see the shadowy sadness that loomed there.
"Good night", she said once more.
"Good night Nan", he replied, clearing his throat and standing as straight as he could.
As she heard the click of his door behind her, her lip started to quiver. She made her way to her own suite, willing herself not to brake down in the hallway. It had been a lovely evening! She did not wish to ruin it with her silliness, and yet the same old feelings came back to her. The feelings she had felt many times before. The feeling that a happy life was just at her finger tips, if only she knew how to grab it.
It would never work though. She knew this and pressed on as best she could. What would her mother say? Or her dear departed Aunt Fanny? If they were to see her as this silly old fool? She was in love with a nobleman... well fine, but there was no need to make a scene about it! She was lucky. Very lucky! To have his love at all. She opened the door to her own suite, locking it behind her as she collapsed on the sofa. It was a good thing that Eloise was away with her mother, as there was no way she could stop the sobs that were about to arise within her.
TO BE CONTINUED...
CHAPTER TWO
"Where is Sir Wilkes ?", Eloise demanded for the fourth, ... or was it fifth, time as she and Nanny sat at their table in The Palm Court.
" 'e will be 'ere Love! Sir Wilkes is a busy, busy, busy man! 'e likely got tied up with work is all"
"I thought he was retiring for Lord's sakes!", Eloise protested, crossing her arms over her chest and slumping in her chair.
" 'e is! Which is why, why, why 'e 'as to work so 'ard right now! To wrap up 'is business matters before 'e retires"
Eloise sat across from her, leaning forward and tapping her finger to her chin.
"What?", Nanny asked, uneasy after several long moments of this.
"Oh, nothing!", Eloise said, taking a cookie form the plate in front of them.
Nanny relaxed, taking a cookie herself, until she heard Eloise go on...
"I was just wondering if Sir Wilkes will FINALLY ask you to marry him after he retires is all"
Nanny choked on her cookie, spitting a few pieces in a rather unladylike fashion onto the table, "wha, wha, what? Eloise! You must not, not, not speak like that! Sir Wilkes and I are friends and nothing more. As I 'ave TOLD you young lady!"
"Sure, sure, sure", Eloise said under her breath, "Like everybody doesn't already know!"
"Know what?", Nanny demanded, having heard her, terrified that all of The Plaza had learned of her and Wilkes' affair.
Eloise softened her face and put down her cookie, before talking a while a minute in a plee to her mostly companion, "Oh Nanny! Everyone knows that you love Sir Wilkes! And that he loves you too! You can see it when you look at one another for Lord's sake! You two were made for one another! You may have come from different worlds, but that does not mean that you are not the the most perfect couple in the whole wide world! Please marry him! I know it would make you everly so happy Nanny! Please!"
"Eloise, once AGAIN, Wilkes and I are friends!", Nanny replied, as she smoothed her napkin over her lap, hoping no one close by had heard. She softened her tone as she continued, "Sides that. You do realize if I was to get married we would no longer be mostly companions Love! I would never do that to you. I love you too, too, too much!"
Eloise smiled at her, "Oh Nanny. You really don't know do you?"
"Don't know what?", Nanny asked, thinking the child was calling her stupid, but not quite sure why.
"We will ALWAYS be mostly companions! We fit together just right! Just like a two-piece jig-saw puzzle!"
"Yes. That we do Love", Nanny said with a smile, having remembered telling Eloise that herself quite a while ago.
"Which is why I think you should marry Sir Wilkes and not worry about me, Eloise. I'll find a new nanny in no time, and we will still be best, best, best friends! Won't we Nanny?"
"Well, I...", Nanny's replied was interrupted by Wilkes' arrival.
"Sir Wilkes!", Eloise said, jumping up and hugging him.
"Oh! Yes...", Wilkes said with a laugh, patting her head, "Hello Eloise"
Eloise returned to her seat and Wilkes was able to turn his attention to Nanny, "I do apologize for being late. You look lovely this afternoon Nanny", he said taking her hand and kissing it, before taking his own seat.
Nanny blushed, looking around at the people around them. A few waiters, other Plaza residents, and Palm Court regulars looked their way. Nanny saw the slight smiles on their faces and had to wonder what they were thinking. Did they think them sweet old friends? An older couple who were devoted to one another, but purely for companionship? Did they see them as lovers, who spoke quietly in public, but burned down the house during their occasional sessions of lovemaking? Nanny blushed again thinking of this last scenario, which was the most accurate. Did these people see a future for them? One she herself even could not see?
"I have a little surprise", Wilkes said to her from across the table.
"Is that why you were so late, late, late?', Eloise asked.
"Eloise that is rude, rude, rude!", Nanny pointed out.
"Tosh, tosh. Quite alright", Wilkes replied, "Yes Eloise. That is exactly why I am late"
"Well... what is it Sir Wilkes? What is the surprise?", Eloise asked, delighted.
"How would you and Nanny like to go on a big adventure with me?", Wilkes asked Eloise, seeming as excited as she was.
"Adventure?", Nanny asked.
"Oh boy! Yes, yes, yes!", Eloise replied.
"Are sure?", Wilkes asked Eloise, "This would be a REAL adventure! Like something from a book!"
Eloise bounced up and down in her seat clapping her hands in approval.
"Once again...", Nanny interjected, "Adventure? May I inquire what that means Sir Wilkes?"
"Gotta skitter!", Eloise interrupted, hopping down and grabbing a cookie, "I have to go help Bill set up for a party. Count be in for the big adventure Sir Wilkes!", she said as she raced away.
"I'll 'ave the last, last, last say on that thank you!", Nanny called after her, quieting herself after a few people turned to look at her.
"I'm sorry my darling", Wilkes whispered, taking her hand over the table, "I should have asked you first before exciting Eloise"
Nanny withdrew her hand gently, causing Wilkes' face to sadden in an unconscious way.
"It is alright", she assured him, "But will you please tell, tell, tell me what this big surprise is for Lord's sake?"
"Of course", Wilkes said with a smile, "I believe I am selling my company... to a Kenyan business man. He'll be moving some of the company over there. My people won't loose their jobs mind you. The base will still be here in New York, but he would like to set up a division in his homeland. Is that not amazing? Anyhow, you see he has invited me to visit with my family. So that I may meet him and his family and smooth out the transaction"
"I'm confused Love. 'ow does this effect Eloise and the adventure you promised 'er?"
"Well, I want she and you to come with me! You two are the closest thing I have to family. We'll have a wonderful time! We'll go on a safari and get, you know, close to nature. Won't that be a nice change from the hustle and bustle of New York City?"
"Well... Yes Love, but..."
"It is a lot to think about. I realize"
"Yes", she agreed, "We'll just 'ave to think it over is all"
"Of course", Wilkes said with a smile, "I, ah, I have already spoken with Eloise's mother"
"You 'ave?", Nanny asked in surprise.
"Yes. I ran into her this morning as she was dropping Eloise back off at The Plaza you see. I told her of this wonderful opportunity I had in mind and she thought it was as splendid idea!"
"I see"
"I'm sorry Nanny", Wilkes said nervously, "I should have come to you first. It all just happened this morning however, and I was just so excited..."
"Aoww! It is alright Love. I understand you being excited. It does sound nice. I would love to get away from the city for a bit, and the only place I ever seem to go with Eloise and 'er mother is Paris, which is lovely, but there is only so much I can take, take take!"
"This will be a nice change then?", Wilkes asked hopefully.
Nanny nodded, a smile on her face.
"Brilliant! I have your plane ticket right here", he said pulling it from his pocket, "I just left the travel agency. We leave Friday. If that suits you?"
"That will be fine, fine, fine", she heard herself reply, having seem his handsome face saddened by her rejections too, too, too much lately. She decided to simply accept the ticket and enjoy the trip, "Thank you Wilkes"
He kissed her hand briefly as he handed her the ticket, and then happily picked up his menu to have a look. She smiled at his obvious happiness at the notion of going away with her. Of course Eloise would be there too, which was probably for the best... far less gossip that way.
She thought back over the last year as Wilkes looked over his menu some more. They had fallen in-love at the debutante ball the previous Spring, but had both refused to admit their feelings for the better part of a year. While they had been inseparable for all those months and the best of friends, it wasn't until a few months ago that they had officially, and rather unexpectedly on New Years Eve, became more then friends. She loved him. A fact she had been admitting to him for close to two months now. He loved her just as much in return. He had confided this to her on several occasions in the last months as well, but she had known even before then.
"I don't know why I even look", he said placing down his menu, "I always seem to get the same thing"
"A man that knows what he wants", Nanny replied with a smile.
"Oh yes", he said, taking her hand and squeezing it.
Nanny could not bare to pull away once more. She did, however, blush and look down at her teacup.
TO BE CONTINUED...
CHAPTER THREE
"Aoww!", Nanny said as she dropped her duffel bag on the floor of their suite, "I 'ave never been to Africa for Lord's sakes! 'ow, 'ow, 'ow am I to know what to pack?"
"Oh Nanny! You're thinking about it too, too, too much! Just pack the basics!", Eloise instructed from the sofa, where she was eating candy and watching cartoons, "Just make sure you pack something chic, chic, chic for dinner with Sir Wilkes!"
"Well... I'm not sure I OWN anything chic, chic, chic!"
"I KNEW you would say that!", Eloise said with a huff, "Which is why I packed FOR you!"
"Well, that's just fine... Wait! You WHAT, WHAT, WHAT? !"
"That's right Nanny, and not to worry. I thought of SIMPLY everything! You'll look divine!"
"Eloise!", Nanny said as she approached the sofa with her hand on her hip, "You should not 'ave DONE that! Now I 'ave to UNpack everything and then REpack it all again and I simply do not, not, not 'ave time for that!"
Just as Nanny was about to dig in to Eloise once more the doorbell rang. Nanny sighed, stepping over the duffel bag in the middle of the floor and walked towards the door. It was probably room service with the sandwiches she had ordered to put on top of their bag for the airport. Nanny pushed back some stray hairs which had fallen out of her bun as she swung open the double doors.
"Nanny!", Wilkes said, smiling at her.
"Willie... ah, er that is... Sir Wilkes!", Nanny replied, feeling weak kneed at the unexpected site of HER mostly companion, "I wasn't expecting you for another two, two, two hours!"
"I was able to get away early", he replied, loosing himself in her beautiful blue eyes. He had been working around the clock trying to tie up loose ends before their trip to Africa. Although they had talked on the phone a few brief times, it had been almost a week since either had gotten a glimpse of the other.
"Aoww, I've missed you!", Nanny let out in a dreamy breathless manor, before catching herself and quickly squaring her shoulders before peering in Eloise's direction. She was glad to see the child was still engrossed in her cartoons.
Wilkes picked up Nanny's hand. She returned her gaze to him, letting her eyes drop down to her hand then as he raised it to his lips and kissed first the back and then her palm softly. Oh! She had missed his tenderness and attention!
"Hello there Eloise", Wilkes called, releasing it was time to let go of Nanny's hand and acknowledge her charge.
"Hallo Sir Wilkes!", Eloise called, still facing away from them towards the television, and dropping another handful of gum drops into her mouth.
"I... er, would like to speak with Nanny for a moment Eloise. Would that be alright?"
"Of course. I have tons to do anyhow!", Eloise said, hoping down from the sofa and running towards them, "Gotta skitter!"
"Oh no, no, no you don't young lady! We are leaving for Af- Af- Africa in two hours!", Nanny protested.
"I'll be back by then", Eloise said with a wave of the hand, "I HAVE to go say goodbye to everyone Nanny! Besides, Sir Wilkes wants to be alone with you!"
" 'e wants a WORD alone with me!", Nanny replied, blushing.
Eloise shrugged, "I shall return in... thirty-seven minutes!"
"Why thirty-seven... ", Wilkes began to ask, but Eloise was already out the door and running down the hall.
Nanny sighed, closing the doors behind Eloise, before turning to Wilkes, "I love that child so, so, so much, but I can 'ardly keep up with 'er these days!"
"Perhaps...", Wilkes replied, moving closer to her and gently threading his arms around her waist, letting one hand rest on the small of her back where it fit just right, "It is time you considered retirement my love"
Nanny made a little face at him. She knew him too well, "I suppose you're about to suggest that I marry a 'andsome knight who will make my life a fairy tale?", she asked, allowing her arms to come up behind his neck and for her body to rest against his.
"I'm not sure about handsome... but I can promise you the rest", he said with a little smile.
"I 'ave to pack Love", she said, pulling away.
He grabbed her waist and gently pulled her back, "I must admit that I am pleased you have missed me in my absence. I have missed you as well"
Nanny smiled at him and traced her finger down his cheek. She placed one hand behind his neck and applied a slight amount of pressure. Wilkes happily took the hint that she wanted him to kiss her, and moved forward to her warm moist lips. Their lips maneuvered together until her mouth parted slightly and his tongue gained access. She moaned just slightly, as they both deepened the kiss and his hand went up to cup her face in his hands. Her hands remained on his chest, where they ran up and down wishing they were touching his bare skin. After a few more moments their kiss broke, both of them needing to breathe. Nanny touched her lips, which were swollen from their kisses and his mustache. Wilkes immediately felt saddened by their loss of contact.
He was about to ask her if she had experienced a pleasant week, and apologize once again for having been so busy, when she grabbed his hand and tagged him behind her in the direction of her bedroom. He smiled brightly from behind her, quickly hiding it when she turned to him in front of the door to her room and looked down at her watch.
"We 'ave thirty minutes. Can you be quick Love?"
"I can try", he said with a blush and a slight grin.
Nanny innocently ripped open her blouse, which had been held closed with little metal snaps rather then buttons, and let it fall to the floor. Wilkes looked back at her and her ample mounds of cleavage.
"I can be quick", he said in a weak voice, feeling his body excite at the beauty before him.
"Brilliant", Nanny replied, taking his hand and leading him into her room, where she closed and locked the door.
"What, what, what?", Nanny asked, reaching over Wilkes to answer the telephone.
Wilkes marveled at how his body reacted at being close to this woman. They had just commenced the most intimate of acts, and yet here she was lightly brushing her bare chest against his and his body was already preparing itself for another passionate encounter with her.
"No, no, no!", she said, braking his thoughts. He thought for a moment that she had been speaking to him, having read his mind... or his body's reaction to her. Soon, however, he realized she was speaking into the phone.
"Er... something wrong?", He whispered.
Nanny held up her finger to him, the way she did to Eloise when she asked questions while Nanny was on the telephone, "Alright. Thank Mr. Salamone. I will be right down"
"What was that all about?", Wilkes asked after she had placed down the receiver and sat back up on her side of the bed.
"Eloise 'as gotten sick, sick, sick!"
"Oh no"
"Oh yes!", Nanny replied, flinging the covers off herself and gathering her clothing, "All over the lobby"
"Oh dear!"
"Yes. I must, must, must got fetch 'er at once"
"Of course", Wilkes replied, as he swung his legs over the side of her bed, wondering if this was the first and last time he might have the privilege of being with her here, in her most personal of locations.
"It was all that candy for Lord's sake! I knew she was eating too, too, too much!"
"Perhaps so", Wilkes replied. The child had ingested massive amounts of sugar and then had, as far as he could tell, ran laps around the hotel.
"Well... I suppose I will go fetch 'er and bring 'er back to lay on the sofa while I pack, pack, pack... Oh my Lord! We are leaving in less then an hour and a 'alf and I 'ave so much to do!", Nanny said as she slipped on her second shoe and raised her foot onto the bed to tie it.
She truly did have the most beautiful legs he had ever seen, he thought as he watched her. Her skirt had slide up just a bit from her raising her leg up on the bed, which gave him a lovely view of her knee cap and the toned muscles of the back of her calf. Wasn't he going to say something, he thought, ... Oh, yes he was, "Nanny. Why don't I go and fetch Eloise while you pack for the trip my dear"
"Oh. Now, that is a very sweet, sweet, sweet offer Wilkes, but I couldn't ask you to do that"
"Tosh! I wouldn't mind at all!", he replied as he got himself dressed, rather happy with himself that he was being so helpful to her.
"Well... I do 'ave to pack all of Eloise and my things and we don't 'ave much time left since we just wasted the last 'alf hour... Well, you know", Nanny said with a blush.
"I'm not sure I would say we WAISTED the last half hour. However, you are correct in that we do have less time now"
"Aoww, that's not what I meant Love. You know that!", she said walking around the bed to him. His shirt was still off and she she ran her hands up his bare chest, tangling them just a bit in his chest hairs, "You know 'ow much I enjoyed it"
"It did sound that way, yes", he said with a smile, trying to relax her. He could see the stress forming over her face at having much to do in a small increment of time and having to deal with traveling and a sick child on top of that.
"Yes", she said with a little laugh, "It was quite... pleasurable"
"Indeed it was", he replied, rubbing a slow circle on her back, "Not just the physical aspects . That is to say, I also enjoy, very much, being so close to you. It is the most marvelous feeling"
"Aoww, me too Love", she said, giving him a soft kiss, "I really did miss, miss, miss you this past week... I'm afraid we 'ave to move, move, move now 'owever or we will miss the flight to Africa"
"Of course. Shall I retrieve Eloise then? While you pack?"
"I suppose... if you are sure"
"Naturally. I have already packed my things. I have nothing left to do. It is always a pleasure to assist you any way I can"
"Thank you", she said, giving him another brief kiss, before moving out of his arms opening the door to head into the living room.
Wilkes picked up his shirt, vest and suit jacket and followed after her.
"Eloise said she 'ad done the packing... which means I 'ave to start all over"
"It was nice that she tried to help. She is quite a remarkable child", Wilkes said as he buttoned his shirt.
" 'er 'eart may 'ave been in the right place, but now I 'ave twice as much work to do for Lord's sake!"
"Yes. I see your point", Wilkes replied as he put on his tie and vest.
Nanny picked up the duffel bag off the floor and peered inside, "I 'ave no idea what to pack for a trip to Africa!"
"Oh, yes... Well the part we are going to is a city. Not quite like New York of course, but still quite modern. I do hope for us to go on a safari one day however. Some short pants would be a good idea"
"Yes. I bought some just for this trip"
"Brilliant!", Wilkes replied as he slipped on his jacket, "Of course you'll want something you can wear to dinner as well, as well as a bathing suit and a hat for the sun"
"A bathing suit!", Nanny said as she stepped over to straighten his tie, "I 'ave not owned one of those in quite a few years!"
"Oh dear... well. If it's just you and I we could always, you know, go skinny dipping"
"Wilkes!", she replied, pretending to be scandalized, but having a big smile on her face, "I'll pick one up on our way out of the city. There is a swim shop a few blocks over. I just 'ope it fits as I will not, not, not 'ave time to try it on"
"Brilliant", he said giving her a brief kiss, "I'm off to get Eloise then"
"Thank you again Love", she said as he moved towards the doors.
"Tosh. You needn't thank me. I am just happy we did not have to cancel the trip with Eloise being sick"
"Aoww, she just 'ad too much candy. She'll be fine", Nanny said as she placed her hand on her hip and picking the duffel bag back up.
"I agree", Wilkes replied, opening the door before Nanny could change her mind and decide to call off their trip, "Be back soon then"
"Alright Willie", Nanny replied as she began to busy herself with her packing once more, "I do 'ope she does not 'ave too, too, too much vomit in 'er 'air or on 'er clothes"
"Yes", Wilkes replied, trying to mask his disgust at the thought of what the next half hour of his life might be like. He had very little experience with children, but he was determined to do this and prove to Nanny that he was not just a stuffy old businessman. He wanted her to see him as a family man, and besides that he really was found of little Eloise, whom had been so instrumental in pushing he and Nanny together, and would like to help her in her time of need.
"Are you going then Love?", Nanny asked.
"Oh! Yes. I'll be back in a tic", he said with a smile as he broke out of his deep thought and stepped out the door. He then began his descent to the lobby to collect Nanny's charge. Whom was now his charge for the time being. For some reason this new sense of usefulness made him feel absolutely wonderful.
TO BE CONTINUED...
CHAPTER FOUR
"Nanny, I really think I should just stay put for Lord's sake!", Eloise protested from her spot on the sofa, "I am a sick child!"
"You are not, not, not a sick child!", Nanny countered, as she hurried through the living room in a mad dash to finish packing before they were set to leave in a few minutes, "You ate too, too, to much candy is all!"
"All the same. I am going to be sick for some time! I can feel it. It is going to be DREADFUL!", Eloise said dramatically, as she tossed her hand up on to her forehead.
Nanny sighed and put down the bag she was currently filling with supplies, "Alright Love", she said, stepping over and sitting beside her charge on the sofa, "I 'ad very much 'oped to take this trip with Sir Wilkes... and YOU of course. For ALL of us to go, but if you are too ill then we will just stay put, put, put!"
Wilkes' face fell across the room. Nanny's eyes met his. Oh! She hoped he knew how badly she had wanted to join him in Africa, but the grim look on his face reminded her all too well of the recent pains she had caused him by not wanting to take more serious steps in their relationship. By not going on this trip she felt like she was turning down his proposal, or refusing to spend the night with him, after being intimate... all over again.
"But YOU must go! That's the whole point!", Eloise said, sitting up sharply.
"What, what, what POINT?", Nanny asked, returning her attention to the child, "What are you up to?"
"Nothing!", Eloise said, collapsing back and coughing, "I am a sick child. I need a proper nurse. I have already made arrangements! I have called up that everly so nice nurse, Gertrude, I had when I had the chicken pox and you Nanny could not care for me since you have never had the chicken pox in your LIFE, and it is bad, bad, bad if you get it as an adult!"
"You WHAT?", Nanny asked, shocked that Eloise would be so bold.
"She'll be here any moment and you can go off with Sir Wilkes", Eloise replied with a shrug.
Wilkes had to smile from across the room. She really was a most remarkable child!
"Eloise! You should not, not, not 'ave done that! You are not seriously ill! This is not an emergency and I should be the one to care for you! That is my, my, my job!"
"Everyone needs a vacation Nanny! When is the last time you took one?", Eloise countered.
"Well... I..."
"You see! Take her away Sir Wilkes! I want you two to have a grand time and I do not want to hear from you for two whole weeks!"
"Well... the trip is merely a week Eloise...", Wilkes began to reply, quite happy with the direction of the conversation.
"Take her some place else after Africa then!", Eloise instructed.
"Well...", Wilkes replied, his face forming into a small smile, "We could go to Europe. I had not planned on taking so much time off so close to retirement, but you do only... you know, live once!"
"Europe! Oh, no, no, no Wilkes! I can not even go to Africa! What would Eloise's mother say?"
"Oh Nanny!", Eloise said shaking her head, "Did you really not think I would check with mother first? She is all for it! In fact she is the one that said do not, not, NOT let her return without a proper vacation!"
"Are you fibbing?", Nanny asked, knowing she was.
"No!", Nanny heard, and she was about to continue, when she realized that it was Wilkes who had spoke the word.
"She phoned her mother in the lobby on the way up. I did hear her, you know... give her blessing", Wilkes said, slightly terrified as well as guilty at lying to Nanny.
Eloise smiled, happy that he was playing along, before slipping back into her role, "You SEE! Gertrude will be along any moment and she and I will have a divine time while you are away!"
"Well...", Nanny said, thinking out load, "If I really 'ave your mothers approval... Gertrude was very good with you..."
"She was brilliant Nanny! And she is young, young, young... she can run as fast as I can! Oh! Not that I prefer her to you of course! Other then Momma, you are the one I love best!"
"I know Pet", Nanny replied, patting her charge on the knees, "I'm sure, sure, sure it is nice to 'ave someone to keep up with you"
"We have a lot of fun playing together", Eloise replied honestly.
"I know Love", Nanny replied.
"And you and Sir Wilkes can play together!", Eloise added, wanting Nanny to feel better about her having another nanny in her absence, "You and Sir Wilkes can play night and day for two whole weeks!"
Wilkes was completely unable to hid his smile now.
"Yes... well", Nanny replied, "I 'ad better call your mother and double check..."
Just then the doorbell wrung, and Wilkes moved quickly to open the door, "You must be Gertrude!"
"That I am!", said the young, slightly chubby, red curly haired young woman who stepped in and set down her bag, "There's my girl! Feeling a bit under the weather again are we? Well I know what will fix you right up", she said as she sat beside Eloise and took out her bag of magic tricks.
"Gertrude is a brilliant magician!", Eloise informed Sir Wilkes.
"Good to see you Gertie", Nanny said sincerely.
"Likewise Nanny. You never age. Do you know that?"
"Aoww... that is not, not, not true!"
"Just my opinion", Gertie said with a smile, "Now, I hear you have a plane to catch..."
"Aoww! The plane!", Nanny said, looking at the clock.
"Yes. We really must go... if we are, you know, still going", Wilkes chimed in.
Nanny looked from Wilkes to Eloise, "Are you sure, sure, sure your mother is alright with this?"
"Alright with what?", Eloise asked innocently.
"Gertrude watching you!"
"Oh, right!", Eloise replied. Fibbing was so much work!
"And my taking a vacation with... well, my accompanying Sir Wilkes on his business trip that is", Nanny added.
Gertie sent Nanny and Wilkes a knowing smile, which made Wilkes blush and look away, before replying honestly, "She didn't know Nanny, but I phoned her after our little lady here called me and she is fine with it. In fact she thought it was a marvelous idea!"
"No, no, no! I should stay if this was not 'er mother's idea for me to take a 'oliday!"
"But Nanny you simply HAVE to go! I've gone to so much trouble!", Eloise insisted.
"Trouble? What, what, what trouble? What are you up to young lady?"
"Nothing!", Eloise said quickly.
"Aoww! Wilkes, I thought you said you had spoken with her mother? This is all very confusing"
"Yes", Wilkes said stepping forward. He knew he should not have lied, but the thought of taking a proper Holiday with the woman he loves had caused him to make an error in judgment and play along with Eloise's fib, "The truth is..."
"You'll miss you're plane! Mrs. Thompson is fine with it Nanny. Now, why don't you have this chat while you are in the air", Gertrude pointed out.
"Well... I... I... Yes. Alright. You pinky promise, promise, promise me you 'ave spoken to Eloise's mother about this though ?", Nanny asked Gertrude.
"Pinky Promise! Now go have some fun!"
"It's a business trip", Nanny explained, pulling her cardigan closed selfconsciously, "Wilkes and I are friends. 'e thought I might like to see the sites"
"Sure! I get it, but you may as well have some fun too!", Gertie rationalized.
"LOADS of fun!", Eloise said with a grin.
"You just get some rest!", Nanny said pointing a finger at her charge, before moving over to tuck her in properly, "I will miss you Love"
"I'll miss you too Nanny, but not to worry! Gertie will take care of me and I know Sir Wilkes will take care of you"
"Yes", Nanny agreed, "Alright then... I suppose I am as packed as I ever will be"
Wilkes picked up her bags, noting that they would buy anything she needed and may have forgotten there in Africa.
"Oh! I did want to get a swim suit at the shop round the corner though! It is 'ard to find my size and I know they cater to... older woman who 'ave more shape to their bodies"
"Yes", Wilkes replied, trying very hard to not get a mental image of the curves of her body which he had so recently caressed. As it may result in a very obvious sign of arousal, "If you want to run by now... I will fetch us a taxi and have the bags loaded in"
"Really Wilkes?"
"Of course. You must hurry however", he replied.
"For sure, sure, sure", Nanny said grabbing her purse and kissing Eloise goodbye, "I'm off then. I'll call as soon as we land"
"Don't you dare!", said Eloise with her hands on her hips as she darted up once more. She gave a cough for affect and laid back down, "Goodbye Nanny. I love you everyly so much. Please have fun on your trip!"
"I will Pet. I'm sorry you are feeling too ill to come along"
"I'm brave. I'll be fine", Eloise replied.
"Yes you are Love", Nanny said, kissing her forehead and then dashing for the door, as she called behind her "I'll bring you a special present. 'ow does that sound?"
"Brilliant!", Eloise replied.
Nanny nodded, blowing her one last kiss, "I'll meet you in the lobby in twenty minutes Willie. You'll bring the bags?"
"I will. Not to worry"
"Thank you Love!", she said, kissing his cheek.
Wilkes blushed at her open display of affection, which he knew she had done in an unintentional manner do to her rushed state.
"Goodbye Gertie! Be good, good, good Eloise!", Nanny said as she hustled away to the swim shop.
"Right, well I had better get these bags and bring them down with mine", Wilkes said to the young ladies as he collected the bags.
"Wait!", Eloise said, jumping up and snatching the bag that Nanny had just filled from him, and handing him a suit case from behind the sofa instead, "I packed for Nanny!"
"Oh! Yes... that was very thoughtful Eloise, but perhaps it would be best if I brought the bag that Nanny has packed herself"
Eloise put her hands on her hips, "This is my plan Sir Wilkes! If you want it to go well you must do as I say for Lord's sakes!"
"Plan?", Wilkes asked.
"My sainted Aunt Fanny Sir Wilkes! Do I look sick to you?"
"Well... no. I was quite surprised when I went down to fetch you from the lobby and you had not, er, visibly, you know, vomited on yourself"
"Take Nanny away. Take this bag and let her think I am too ill to go with you! That's the plan. Alright?"
"I must say I do not like the idea of being untruthful to Nanny"
"It's a lie of omission", Gertie said waving her hand, "Besides. It is for a good cause I suspect"
"The cause of Love!", Eloise said, nodding her head.
Wilkes blushed in reply.
"You DO want Nanny to fall in love with you don't you?", Eloise questioned.
"Oh! Well, I believe she already... er, well... yes. Yes, of course I wish to win Nanny's love"
"Good! Then go out there and do it!", Eloise instructed.
"Yes. Quite right. Thank you Eloise!", he replied, truly grateful for the young girls help.
Eloise handed him the bag she had packed once more and this time Wilkes accepted it. He wasn't sure what Nanny's reaction would be to the switching of the bags, but he would simply have to pretend to be ignorant of the switch and hope Eloise had packed some suitable things for her.
"Don't worry. I packed everything she'll need!", Eloise said as if reading his mind, "We'll just say you took the wrong bag. I don't like fibbing to Nanny either, but sometimes one simply must step in to speed up the course of love!"
"Yes. Right... I shall be off then I suppose", Wilkes replied.
"Have fun!", Eloise said with a smile.
"Indeed", Wilkes said, waving to both girls and heading to the lobby. What had he gotten himself into? He was both thrilled and frightened at the idea of this trip. No matter. They would have a grand time. They would have to! Wilkes was glad he had packed Nanny's engagement ring, which she had previously turned down. Perhaps things would change in Africa and she would decide that becoming his wife may not be such a bad idea. Wilkes' smile faded when he looked down to the bag Eloise had packed for Nanny. Should he peak inside? No, he had better not. What's done was done and the more he knew about this little deceit of Eloise's the more guilty her felt about being dishonest with Nanny.
TO BE CONTINUED...
CHAPTER FIVE:
"Are you alright Love?", Nanny asked, trying not to laugh, as Wilkes swatted at the bugs that seemed only to be biting him.
""Fine", he said cheerfully, right before wincing and smacking his arm.
"We need to get you indoors now, now, now!", Nanny said as she took his arm and headed back to the hotel, "A walk was a lovely idea Willie, but it just itn't working now is it?"
"No. I suppose not", Wilkes replied, as he stepped after her through the thin layer of mud. Nanny was dressed in her newly purchased shorts and hiking boots. He enjoyed the rare view of her knees immensely earlier in the day and now was enjoying looking at the back of her legs, perhaps a bit too much, as he tripped over a tree root and stumbled over.
"Willie? Are you alright-right-right?", Nanny asked, leaning over him, her knees in the mud.
"Just not my day I suppose", he said with a little laugh, "Let's hope my business meeting this evening goes better then my experience outdoors this afternoon"
"Not to worry Love", Nanny replied, as she helped him sit up, "I'll get you back in the hotel and right in to bed, bed, bed!"
"Oh really?", Wilkes asked coyly, sliding an arm around her waist.
"That is not, not, not what I meant!", Nanny replied, smacking his arm, but smiling all the same.
"Nanny... I have not kissed you once since we arrived. Would it be, er, possible to... remedy that?"
"Well...", Nanny said, looking around. Wilkes' business associate, Mr. Imani, and his wife had apparently gone off on their own, "Just a little, little, little one!", she replied in a whisper as she turned back to him.
He nodded, smiling, as she moved in closer to him. They both closed their eyes has his hand guided her mouth to his. The kiss was soft and sweet, and would have been a lovely addition to the afternoon just as it was, but then he heard her mumble against his mouth, what sounded like "Oh, knickers!", as she tilted her head some more and deepened the kiss. He smiled inwardly, happily surprised that her tongue was now gliding over his.
"We must stop!", Nanny said breathlessly, putting her hand on his chest as she broke away.
"Yes, of course" Wilkes replied, respectfully, as he prepared to loosen their embrace.
Nanny, however, pulled him back to her before he could. She wasn't sure if it was how fetching he looked his straw sunhat, or if it was the dampness in her shoes from where she had stepped in mud, but for some reason she very much wanted his warm mouth on hers this afternoon. Even more so then she usually did. As she pulled him closer, where their bodies clung to one another, kissing like mad, they fell backwards. Nanny was now on her back and Wilkes wasted no time in placing soft kisses down her jaw, chin, and neck. He stopped at her chest, where her new short-sleeved blouse pulled tightly over her ample cleavage. He looked up to her, unsure of what his next move should be. They were laying in a field, the hotel within site, in broad daylight after all. Nanny quickly unbuttoned the first five buttons and pulled her shirt open to reveal her lovely freckled chest, stuffed snugly into a black lace bra he had never seen before.
"Please, do continue", she said to him in a sultry voice.
Wilkes was exceedingly happy that Nanny had chosen such an alluring brassiere for the first day of their Holiday. Perhaps she was hoping for a romantic night alone tonight as much as he was. He then remembered, however, that Nanny had not picked any of her under garments. They had been placed in a bag by Eloise. Earlier that day Nanny had opened the bag in their shared suite and gasped. Wilkes had held his breathe, knowing he could not lie to her if she asked if he had knowingly taken the bag Eloise had packed for her. Much to his delight however, Nanny had laughed. She had look through the bag full of sexy under garments and neatly folded little cocktail dresses and chuckled uncontrollably.
"It seems someone is hoping for us to fall for one another", Wilkes had said nervously.
"Little did she know we already 'ad, 'ad, 'ad", Nanny had replied, as her chuckling stopped.
He had leaned forward and kissed her sweetly, before deciding it was time to confess, "Eloise talked me into taking the wrong bag. I knew this was the one she had packed. I do apologize my dear... and I do hope this, er, change in wardrobe doesn't ruin your trip"
Nanny had smiled at him much to his relief, but instead of saying that perhaps it may even make it a bit more exciting, as he had hoped she might, she simply said, "Wait until 'er mother finds out 'ow much she charged for these clothes for me! 'er 'eart was in the right place though"
"Do you think you may...er, wear any of it?", he had asked sheepishly.
Nanny had simply shrugged, "Per'aps, but right now I must, must, must go shopping for some more appropriate clothing for Lord's sake!"
"Of course! We passed a shop on our way in! I'll take care of everything", he had replied, and seeing how the whole mix-up was mostly his fault, she had allowed him to do so.
Returning his attention back to Nanny know, he began kissing down her chest as her hand landed in the thickness of his hair at the back of his head. He ran his lips over the soft flesh of her bosom, wanting more then anything to unhook the clasp and reveal all of her feminine beauty, but their current setting made it much too risky. His thoughts of her exquisite figure were interrupted when Nanny made a sound of pain.
"Are you alright my dear?", he asked concerned that he may have hurt her with their positioning.
"Something bit me", she said, motioning to her shoulder.
He pulled her up quickly, into the safety of his arms. He was momentarily terrified that she had been bitten by a snake, but upon inspecting her bare shoulder he found, to his great relief, that it was simply a bug bite.
"The bugs 'ave finally found me", she said with a little laugh.
Just then they heard branches snapping from the wooded area behind them. They froze in their spots, afraid of being caught be the other hikers, or worse, a wild animal. After a few moments of not hearing anything further, Wilkes pulled them both to their feet.
"We should get inside", he said.
"For sure, sure, sure", she agreed.
Wilkes awakened the next morning with mixed feelings. His meeting the previous evening had gone very well. There was clearly going to be no problem with selling his company to Mr. Imani, as planned. In fact, it seems would along faster then he imagined, which pleased him since he was anxious
to settle down and retire, preferably beside a certain very lovely woman with a cockney accent, whom he loved.
The meeting had, however, gone so late that they had canceled their plans for dinner. While this disappointed Wilkes a great deal, he had been sure that Nanny would want to spend time with him later that night when he was free. However, the enormous bug bites he had received that afternoon had flared up and Nanny had sent him to bed with medicated lotion and no hope of a romantic evening. He had not seen her after their hike either, as Mrs. Imani had insisted on taking Nanny to meet some of her friends in the village. The end result being, Wilkes having spent almost the entire day seperated from Nanny.
No matter. Today was another day. He looked down and saw that his bites seemed better, and he was sure that after his late morning meeting he would have plenty of time to enjoy the rest of the day with Nanny. He dressed in his own room, before heading out to their shared sitting room. He opened the door to see Nanny sitting on the sofa, reading her book. She was fully dressed, and judging by the plate of crumbs in front of her, she had already had her breakfast.
"Good morning!", Wilkes said cheerfully, although he was a bit disappointed that they would not be enjoying breakfast together.
"Morning Willie, 'ow are you feeling Love? Did the lotion work?", she asked as he bent down and pecked her lips.
"I feel wonderful! Thank you. You have, er, had breakfast I see", he said as he sat beside her.
"Aoww... should I 'ave waited Love? I thought I may let you rest for your big meeting this morning. Sides, these bites were rawther nasty and rest wouldn't 'urt for them either. They do look better", she said leaning over and inspecting a bite on his neck.
He turned his head to give her another small kiss, "It's quite alright. We'll have plenty of time later in the day. I arranged for a safari this afternoon. Would that be, er, to your liking?"
"That sounds divine, divine, divine!", Nanny replied happily.
"I am glad it pleases you. We may even see some giraffes"
"I'll order you breakfast before I go", Nanny said as she stood.
"Oh, go where?"
"I am going to 'ave tea with Abena", Nanny replied, referencing Wilkes' business associate, Imani's, wife, "I knew you 'ad your meeting"
"Oh yes, yes. That's fine. A wonderful idea", Wilkes replied, happy that she seemed to feel comfortable in their new setting.
Nanny smiled in reply, as she dialed down for room service, "Would you like anything special for breakfast Love?"
"You know what I like", he replied with a smile, and it was true that she did know him quite well by this point in their relationship.
She thought to herself that yes, she did. She blushed at the double meaning, thinking about their life in the bedroom. Letting her heart melt just a bit at the domestic side of their relationship as well. She liked the idea of ordering his breakfast... or MAKING his breakfast every morning. Perhaps she should think about his proposal... perhaps her "three reasons" were not good ones.
"Er, just so you know...", he said, interrupting her thought process, "When you meet with Abena..."
"Yes?", Nanny asked, the telephone in her hand as she waited to place the order.
"I told Mr. Imani that we, er... Well..."
"YES Love?", she replied, having been all to familiar with the process of stalling from Eloise's many confessions.
"Well, we are sharing the suite together... and so I thought it best to tell him that we are, you know...
married"
TO BE CONTINUED...