The arms thrown around his neck were free and willing. If only she could be as free to display such affection towards him. A little shot of jealousy ran through her skin like the prickles they were. She shushed them with the press of her lips and a glance at Mattie's sweet kiss on his earlobe. It would do her no good to think of such displays. Replacing Mattie with herself, envisioning their reunion just as Mattie had done. Definitely no good at all.
Mattie's admission to their late night bristled her. Lightly chastising the girl for telling their secret. But why a secret? It's only natural for a housekeeper and boarder to stay up for ones employer and landlord….right?
But Lucien's smile indicated his pleasure in the pair. And his cheekbones never lied…
Nor did his eyes…
Such sorrow of Nell's passing…. in an attempt to hide his grief his eyes adverted, as if, if he didn't look at her she would not see the sheen of tears. So many emotions in all of one minute. That was the roller-coaster of living with Lucien Blake.
And then, with the opening of the office door, the role of doctor resumed. Grief tucked away to be revisited for a time alone with a bottle of whiskey and, she knew, a dose of self loathing. Her tears, though already shed, still had more to spare. As she turned her back and walked past Mattie with a squeeze of the hand made her way back to her place of creation; the center of home. There resuming her duties and trying her best to press pause on her rewinding memories of the evening before when he clasped her hands in his and smiled his smile just for her.
He's home.
He's home.
He's home.