I think Lady J may have stopped hyperventilating now, so here's another chapter!
The door opened.
Harry's heart paused in his chest.
Ruth had stopped breathing before she even opened the door.
She emerged. This time, dressed.
"Ruth, I..."
"Just don't say anything Harry," she said, eyes lowered making a bee line for the door.
"At least we're even now," he ventured, trying to ease her embarrassment.
"You had a towel," she said, her hand reaching for the handle.
"So did you."
"You were wearing yours, Harry."
He spluttered slightly.
"It seems you've saved me again," he managed to blurt out as she opened the door.
"Well, I'd be quite grateful if you could manage to go the rest of the day without needing rescue."
She was about to disappear.
"If I do, my door's always open," he called out.
She looked at him, embarrassment still etched across her face and closed the door.
He sat and wondered why he had said something so stupid.
Ruth walked out of the front of the hotel.
Ros was leaning against the wall.
"Well, did it work?"
Ruth nodded.
"Then, what's wrong?"
Ruth said nothing. She leant next to Ros and gazed out across the fields.
"Oh my god," exclaimed Ros, "You're not are you?"
"What?" said Ruth.
"You and Harry, you're not sleeping with him?"
"No, of course not," replied an equally shocked Ruth.
"And so that was you standing in front of him for the first time, stark naked?"
"Yes. It's not something I make a habit of."
"It seems to happen to me all the time."
Ruth looked at her.
"Not with Harry, obviously."
"It wasn't just him, though, was it? It was him and a room full of men, including the Foreign Secretary."
"Yes, but it's not them that you're worried about, is it, Ruth?"
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, come on, you may not be at it but that doesn't mean that you don't want to be. And now he's just seen you naked."
"Yes, fine, you don't need to keep saying it."
Ros laughed and Ruth turned to glare at her.
"Sorry," said Ros, after a moment.
"I thought you didn't do sorry?"
"I don't."
They stayed like that, still and quiet for a while.
"So, what did he say afterwards?" asked Ros.
"He said his door was always open," Ruth replied quietly.
"I'll bet he did."
Ruth glared at her again.
"Oh, for heaven's sake. He fancies you, always has. You've probably done yourself a favour, it might move things on a bit. Put us all out of our misery."
"How am I going to work with him now? I'll never be able to look him in the eye.'
"I wouldn't worry about that, the last place he's going to be looking is anywhere near your eyes."
And off stalked Ros.
Ruth remained leaning against the wall.
Harry remained sitting where she had left him.
Ruth tried to determine whether Harry had thought her attractive.
Harry determined to commit every stunning curve to memory.