In which we meet Mrs Anderson and Roland is promised more than a salad for his tea!

CHAPTER 4

It seemed that no time had gone by when Grace became aware of an insistent voice, dragging her unwillingly from a deep sleep to open her eyes. Yawning, she realised it was morning and a sunny one at that. Roland was leaning over her in his dressing gown

"Come on, lazy bones. Time to get ready before Mrs Anderson arrives."

"I'm so tired, darling."

"No prizes for guessing why that is!"

"No. And we all know whose fault it is, too."

"I didn't notice you complaining, Matron," he said as he bent down to kiss her. His dressing gown parted as he did so affording her access to his body. As her hand rose to gently cup him, she smiled as she replied,

"Did I say I minded?"

He grinned at her, "Not as I recall; in fact, I'd say you were positively enthusiastic as, indeed, certain parts of my anatomy are becoming right now. You're not playing fair, Grace Carter. How would you feel if I did that to you?"

"I think you know the answer to that, Roland Brett."

With that, he ran his fingers along her, and she sighed with pleasure.

"Now who's not playing fair?"

She sat up in bed and, smiling at him, dropped a teasing kiss upon his length.

Groaning he said, "And you'd better stop that or we shall definitely have a scandalised maid on our hands. Come on, my beautiful one."

He pulled her up and rising from the bed, Grace looked around.

"Where's my bag? I didn't even unpack my things. My blouse and skirt will be creased to pieces."

"I brought it up before I woke you. Show me the damage and I'll try to help."

"What do you mean?"

"I'll press it."

"You? Roland, seriously, you would press my clothes?"

"I won't be making a habit of it, but I can help out when needed. I'm not completely useless!"

Wrapping her arms around his neck she grazed his mouth with hers and said, "You're far from useless, my darling."

He held her close for a few seconds as he nuzzled her neck, his chin scraping against her collarbone, reddening the skin, which he then soothed with his tongue. Sensing her ready response, he drew back and looked at her with eyes darkened with longing once again.

"I love you, Grace. This is our first day as lovers."

"I feel truly alive for the first time, Roland. You've made that happen."

"I feel the same. I wish we could stay here, but we have patients."

"And before that, we have Mrs Anderson."

"You're right. Come on, let's get ready and pass me your uniform."

Grace quickly unpacked her things and retrieved her skirt and top.

"Where should I put my things?"

"Next door; there's a dressing room attached to the second bedroom. Come, I'll show you."

They went in and Grace put away her few possessions. As she went in to the bedroom, she saw Roland pulling at the sheets and pillow. Looking up he saw her laughing.

"I just thought I'd better mess up the bed in here, too. It's not so obvious then."

She went to him and held him close.

"I love you so."

"In time I dare say she'll put two and two together and make four, but for now, let her get used to you being here and see where that takes us. She's a kind soul so I don't foresee any problems."

"I need to wash."

"In here, sweetheart." He led her to an adjoining door and into a small bathroom. "I'll do my best with these," he said gesturing to her uniform.

Cupping his cheek, she kissed him. "Thank you."

As she washed and prepared for the day ahead, Grace marvelled at the turn in her fortunes. Twenty four hours ago she had dressed with a heavy heart, going through the motions as she had done every day since she had lost him, the landscape before her one of emotional aridity. Yet one day later, it was burgeoning with life and she was his at last. The sponge trailed down her body and she could see the evidence of their night of passionate lovemaking marked on her skin. Each tiny mark represented a moment of indescribable longing, each was the result of love, none was deliberately made and, as strange as it sounded, she treasured them. She knew his body would be the same. Love making like theirs could not but leave its imprint and she was as desirous of him as he was of her. She smiled at her reflection and saw a different Grace smile back, different yet the same. "I'm the same person, but I feel different," she thought.

Leaving the sanctuary of the bathroom she started to don her clean underwear and moments later, Roland came back with her skirt and top. They were not perfect, but they would do very well. He looked at her standing in her lingerie, so new and yet so familiar to him. She was his life now and he had never been happier. She smiled at him and looked pointedly at the clothing he was holding and he realised that he was gripping it tightly and it would crease again.

"Sorry, darling."

"Thank you. You are the most wonderful man in the world. I'm so lucky. Promise me, we'll never lose how this feels right now."

"I promise. Now you promise me, you'll always greet me like this in the morning."

Grace looked down and realised that she had not yet put on her brassiere. She blushed and momentarily felt shy, but then the look of absolute desire on his face empowered her and she raised her arms, running her hands through her hair, which gave him an uninterrupted view of her breasts. She did it with no disingenuous intent, but because she wanted him.

"Like this, you mean; I promise!"

He went to her as she had known he would and for a few seconds they kissed as he cupped and teased her, leaving her aroused, but supremely happy.

"We'd better get dressed. Mrs Anderson will be here soon."

"I'll make some toast, Roland."

"Already done and on the warming plate."

"I love you, so much, but let me help you."

"Tomorrow, perhaps, when you're more settled in."

She smiled at him and set about her hair and nurse's headdress. She had done this so many times, she could do it in her sleep. He watched her and took in how each pin created the look with which he was so familiar. It was so new to him, all this domesticity; he loved it and, yet, he loved her more for bringing him this joy.

Half an hour later, they were ready and having their toast, when the kitchen door opened and a buxom, woman with salt and pepper hair and a smile as broad as her hips, entered the kitchen. She looked at Roland, not in an unfriendly manner, but clearly seeking an explanation.

"Ah, Mrs Anderson; let me present my dear, nursing colleague, Matron Grace Carter, who served with me for the entirety of the war on the Western Front."

"Good morning, Matron Carter. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Grace, this is Mrs Anderson. She keeps me in order and I daresay will do the same for you as you'll be staying here."

"Mrs Anderson, the pleasure is mine. I hope that Colonel Brett has not been too difficult a charge. I found him immensely difficult to organise in France and he appears not to have changed one jot."

The older woman looked appraisingly at Grace and then, to Grace's great relief, she laughed out loud.

"You have the measure of him, then, Matron Carter. Perhaps with two of us chivvying him up, we might make some progress."

"Perhaps."

"I am still in the room you know," Roland said.

"We hadn't forgotten you," Grace replied with easy familiarity.

"I'll make up the second bedroom for you and air the room. It must have been rather stale in there."

"I was able to take the night air. Thank you." Grace had a feeling that Mrs Anderson knew she had not occupied the room, but she was content to maintain the fiction. It was easier that way.

"Now, we must take our leave. Shall you be here later, Mrs Anderson?"

"I doubt it today Colonel, but tomorrow, I shall work late."

"We'll see you tomorrow then. If you could check that we have the basics for a salad and cold meats tonight, I would be obliged," Roland said.

"Leave that to me. You two have work to go to. Good day, Matron Carter. It will be nice to have a lady about the house."

"Likewise for me. Till tomorrow, Mrs Anderson."

Grace extended her hand and was relieved, once more, to find it readily taken and firmly shaken. Mrs Anderson seemed a reasonable person and that was a blessing. As they got into the car, Roland and Grace waved goodbye and Mrs Anderson returned the gesture with a smile.

"She likes you," Roland said, "but then I knew she would."

Grace smiled at him, "And I like her. Eyes forward, Sir. I'd like to arrive in one piece."

"May I remind you who's driving."

"You may, but I'd still like your eyes on the road."

"Bossy."

"Not at all; just protecting my future happiness, Roland. I want us both hale and hearty for later or did you only have cold meats in mind for tonight?" Grace's face bore the promise of much more than Roland was used to. His heart beat faster at the prospect and he squarely faced forward.

"That's better, Colonel, and for the record, I adore you."

He grinned at that and taking her hand squeezed it.

"And I adore you, too, Matron Carter."