Chapter 4

Angelique was in the kitchen, sitting by the fire, giggling with some of the other maids over some gossip about the prim and proper housekeeper… and the young, rather good looking gardener.
A skinny, freckled servant boy came in with an order for a bottle of wine. "Who wants wine at this hour?" asked Angelique curiously. The master and mistress of the house were not big drinkers.

"The young master. Barnabas Collins miss" the boy said, blushing a bit at having the undivided attention of a beautiful young woman.

A grin curved Angelique's lips. "Why don't I take it up to him… give you a bit of a break" she said sweetly. A couple of the maids giggled.

"If you really want to…" he said hesitantly. "I insist…" she said with a smile, picking up a bottle of Barnabas's favorite wine. She quickly grabbed a wineglass and a tray.

The boy shrugged and sat down to warm himself by the fire as Angelique left the room and headed upstairs.

Barnabas was sitting at the desk in his study, reading a novel. Or trying to read one anyway. His mind kept wandering back to Angelique.

To that fair, flawless skin… those lovely curves… those lips that tempted to him to steal a dozen kisses… those blue eyes that promised things no lady would consider doing…
A tap on his door jolted him out of his reverie. "Come in…" he said.

He was expecting the young boy that he had sent to get the wine but when the door opened it was Angelique who walked in holding a bottle of wine.

"I took the liberty of taking up bringing up your wine sir" she said brightly, smiling when she saw the slight look of surprise on his face.

"Thank you Angelique…" he said. Once again he couldn't help his eyes flicking down to the neckline of her dress as she leaned forward to place the tray on the desk in front of him.

A cheeky grin curved her lips as she saw where his eyes were and he quickly looked away. "See something pleasing to your eye?" she said teasingly, a hint of a purr in her voice.

He cleared his throat, eyes not meeting hers. "What? Uh no… of course not" he said quickly. It wouldn't do for him to get any ideas. His parents may look the other way as his affairs with wenches in town… but they wouldn't be at all pleased if he trifled with one of the household staff.

A smirk curved those lovely lips as she poured the wine, the crimson liquid rising slowly in the glass.

Barnabas's eyes met hers and she smiled, the two of them staring at each other for a moment.
As she went to put down the bottle her elbow caught the glass, sending it into his lap. She gasped in and he jumped as wine soaked the front of his trousers.
"Oh god… I am so sorry…" she said apologetically, grabbing a cloth out of the pocket of her apron.

Before he could protest she had knelt at his feet and started to dab the stain on his trousers with the cloth.
He found it hard not to groan as her fingers slid teasingly close to his crotch.

Angelique kept an innocent look on her face as she mopped up the spilled wine. She was fighting the urge not to grin at the look on his face. He looked like he was trying to stop himself reacting to the situation.

Her fingers accidentally brushed him through his pants, sending a jolt of desire through him so intense it was damn near painful. He knew if this continued much longer if would be very obvious he was enjoying this.
She saw him bite back a moan as her fingers brushed him a second time, one of his hands curled tightly around the arm of the chair. Her lips curved in a grin as she noticed that. She had barely touched him but he was finding it hard not to react.

Barnabas wondered if she knew just how much of an effect she was having on him. The grin she hadn't been able to keep off her face told him that she knew exactly what this was doing to him.

He was about to suggest exactly what she could do with her hand when there was a throat-clearing cough from the doorway. His mother was standing there with a frown on her face.

Angelique stood up, holding up the wine soaked cloth. "I was cleaning up some wine I accidentally spilled…" she said quickly.
"I'm sure you were" she said in a crisp, cold voice. "Could you excuse us please"
"Yes Ma'am…" Angelique said, bobbing her head respectfully as she left the room.
Barnabas looked up at his mother rather sheepishly.
"Really Barnabas…" she said disapprovingly. "Your father and I understand that young men… have needs... but you are to stay away from the maids. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find decent help in this town?" she said.
He sighed, not meeting her eyes. "Mother you don't have anything to worry about. I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in any maid…"