Part 6
His lips coaxed hers to open and he deepened the kiss. Nanny felt the rush of ecstasy beginning to flood through her, and she arched closer to him. Joey's moustache tickled and ... wait a minute. Joey, HER Joey, was clean-shaven! Who ...? Why, it was Sir Wilkes ... no, Willy. Dear, dear, dear Willy. His kisses become more passionate and Nanny moaned her dream lover's name aloud. "Willy, oh YES, Willy!"
"Mmm, Nanny ..."
Dragged awake by the choked murmur in her ear, Nanny forced her eyes open to find herself snuggled against Sir Wilkes. She drew in a deep breath and looked up to see him open his eyes, as bewildered by his whereabouts as she was. They had been sleeping in each other's arms! He caught his breath, then a beatific smile spread over his face. For a moment, Nanny allowed herself to press yearningly into him, rubbing her cheek on his shoulder, still caught up in her dream. "Oh, yes, Willy ..." she groaned. Then reality crashed around her. Oh, my Lord, what were they doing?
"Aoww, KNICKERS!" she muttered, leaping out of the bed and pulling off one of the blankets to wrap around herself.
Shocked into full consciousness by her sudden movement, Sir Wilkes yanked up the sheet and clutched it to his chin, disregarding the fact that he was adequately clothed in his flannel pyjamas, and lay motionless as he stared up at her with eyes as wide and startled as hers. For a moment they were silent, eyes rivetted upon the other, both breathing heavily. Then Sir Wilkes began to stammer his apologies and explanations about her choking, holding him and falling asleep even as Nanny began to apologize and explain herself.
Just then, the B's knocked on the door and walked in. For a moment, everything was eerily still. The B's wondering gazes went from Nanny to Sir Wilkes and back, then they almost fell over themselves retreating from the room, stammering their own apologies.
Sir Wilkes appeared to be in a state of complete shock. "Well, I guess we've frightened THEM away now," Nanny tried to laugh. "What must they be thinking?" She took a step forward and tripped over the blanket she was holding. With a little scream, throwing her arms out for balance and thereby losing her blanket, she fell onto the bed, sprawling across Sir Wilkes' chest.
He grunted as she landed on him, and closed his eyes. Nanny was horrified. Had she KILLED him? "Open your eyes! Get up!" she cried under her breath, wriggling back and trying to get to her feet. Even amidst her turmoil, she was acutely conscious of the pleasure derived from her breasts pressing on his chest. "GET UP, Sir Wilkes!"
His eyes opened, dazed. "I AM up," he spoke hoarsely, with a touch of bewilderment in his voice. "And I daresay that if you were to move a little lower and keep squirming like that, I would be more UP than I have ever been in my life!"
Heat suffused her face and spread downwards rapidly. "Aoww!" she cried again, horrified at her actions and thoughts. She struggled to get off him as quickly as she could, retreating to the far corner of the room, blanket in hand.
"I DO apologize for saying that, Nanny!" he jerked upright, his eyes wider than ever. "I cannot THINK what came over me!" Clearing his throat, he lurched out of the bed, still clinging to the sheet. He edged over to the connecting door, almost tripping over the legs of his pyjama bottoms. "I'll just, that is, I must ... perhaps we should ... er, excuse me ..." The moment he was through the door, he shut it with a bang.
As the effects of her erotic dream and subsequent actions gradually subsided, a stupefied Nanny repeated to herself, "Yes, perhaps we should ..."
O o O o O o
At breakfast that morning, Nanny sat as silently as the other two. Clarisse was still trying to sort out her feelings for Joseph and why seeing him kissing Nanny had been so devastating. It didn't help that, as usual, Joseph was standing by the door at his post. She kept her eyes down and picked at her food. At last, Clarisse forced herself to look up and smile. "I suppose we are all tired from last evening's festivities."
"Oh, quite," Nanny murmured.
"Terribly so," agreed Sir Wilkes, not raising his eyes from his plate.
"Nanny, I, umm, understand that your ladies' maids ..." Clarisse began.
Nanny's head shot up, her eyes wide. "They DIDN'T!"
Sir Wilkes' reaction was almost as strong, as he dropped his fork on the floor and bent down to pick it up, fumbling for his napkin at the same time.
Clarisse was bewildered. "They didn't? Didn't what? I was going to say that I heard they were learning the job and hoped to be assigned to my grand-daughter when she moves here in a couple of months. What didn't they do?" She stared at the other two, who were fiery red.
The two glanced quickly at each other, then away again, and both spoke at once. "Nothing." "Never mind." "No need to mention ..." "Quite so."
"Hmmm," Clarisse was not convinced, but realized she was not going to get any more information out of the other two right now. Perhaps she could have a chat with Wilkes later ... "Charlotte has managed to free up my schedule for today, so I thought we could drive to Mertz to the beach today. I DID promise you, Nanny, that you would get to see some of the country while you're here."
"That would be fine, fine, fine," Nanny agreed, nodding.
"Wilkes, I noticed you dancing quite a bit last night. Are you up to going to the beach after your strenuous evening? " Sir Wilkes' face reddened even more, and Clarisse noticed a twitch of Nanny's lips as if she had said something amusing. Now the Queen was definitely intrigued. She added, "If you'd rather not go to the beach, perhaps you could come up with another suggestion?"
Sir Wilkes mumbled something incomprehensible, so Clarisse turned to Nanny. "Well, I suppose it's really up to you, Nanny."
Again a faint smile crossed Nanny's face, although her face flushed as well at that one. "I, er, I should like to go to the beach very much." Then she added wickedly, "No doubt Sir Wilkes will rise to the occasion when the time comes."
Almost choking on his last mouthful of tea, Sir Wilkes looked helplessly at Clarisse. She patted his hand reassuringly. "Nanny's just trying to get a rise out of you."
Putting his napkin to his lips, Sir Wilkes coughed again, not looking at the others. Clarisse leaned forward solicitously, "Wilkes? Maybe you'd be better standing. Can you get up?"
Nanny, in spite of her embarrassment, could not contain herself any longer, and her infectious laughter exploded, easing her tension considerably although it did nothing for Clarisse's curiosity.
O o O o O o
Joseph parked the royal limousine by the steps to the private beach at Mertz, then opened the door for Clarisse. Sir Wilkes climbed out the other side and held the door open for Nanny to get out. They still weren't looking or speaking to each other. Clarisse was almost at her wits' end with the two of them. What had happened? Was Wilkes, like her, still thinking of the kiss they had seen Nanny and Joseph exchanging the day before? Perhaps she should try to get him to talk a bit. Then, seeing Nanny step up to Joseph and murmur something to him, Clarisse decided she would speak with Wilkes now. Perhaps if she tried to ignore Joseph and Nanny, the hurt twisting inside her would die down somewhat. Why could she not stop thinking of Joseph in that way?
The four walked slowly down the steps to the beach, then rather naturally fell into pairs once there. Due to the continued absence of the B's, Nanny had been able to leave her new shoes in her room and her feet were once more encased in her comfortable, sensible shoes. Oh, they weren't nearly as elegant, for sure, sure, sure, but she almost felt like dancing in them! Rawther like talking with an old friend and being comfortable instead of being with someone to whom she was attracted yet nervous and unable to completely be herself! She took Joseph's arm as they walked, and her face mirrored her delight in being by the ocean.
"I think the sea is absolutely divine, divine, divine!" she sighed happily.
"Hmm," Joseph responded absently.
Looking at him, Nanny realized he was gazing after the Queen and Sir Wilkes. "Joey?" she said, tugging his arm to make him stop walking. "Joey, have you spoken to the Queen? DID she see our kiss?"
"I tried to speak to her, but ..."
"You must, must, MUST talk to her! Tell her it was not a PASSIONATE kiss. Would it help if I told her, do you think?"
"I'm not sure she will listen to you, either," he said moodily.
"Perhaps her heart is broken," Nanny said softly. "It's a terrible thing to have your heart broken, Joey."
"I know," sighed Joseph. "I, well, I don't like to think of her with a broken heart, but I DO like the thought that she cares enough about me to have her heart broken by something I do. Does that make sense?"
"For sure, sure, sure," Nanny said soothingly. "You need to talk to her, Joey. You must tell her you love her. Make, make, MAKE her listen to you!"
"Nan, Clarisse already has said that we can't talk about 'us', since there can be nothing between us while she is Queen of Genovia."
"Why not?"
"The von Trokens," Joseph kicked the sand, a grim look on his face.
"I don't understand."
"Baron von Troken and his wife want the throne. He wants to be king. They are looking for any excuse they can find to wrest the throne from Clarisse, especially if they can do it before Princess Mia is twenty-one. Then it won't matter that there is a Renaldi ready to rule ... the von Trokens will have already taken over. Unfortunately, there are enough people in Genovia who would prefer a King to a Queen ... especially a young, inexperienced Queen such as Princess Mia will be. If I press Clarisse too hard now, or if it becomes general knowledge that I am in love with her, the von Trokens will be clamouring about scandal, treason, adultery, and God knows what else. No ... we cannot have anyone find out about us. Assuming there IS an 'us' after yesterday."
For a moment, Nanny watched the waves crashing on the beach while she thought about his dilemma. Then she said, "Joey, I'm constantly being reminded by Eloise to say what I am feeling ... to follow my heart ... or rather, to listen to what's in other people's hearts. You must know how she feels about you."
"I know how I HOPE she feels about me. There have been times when I swear I've seen love for me in her eyes ... but she will not allow herself, or me, to say anything. Sometimes I wonder if she has ever really admitted her true feelings even to herself. Well, Princess Mia will be crowned queen in just a few months. THAT is when I plan to speak openly to Clarisse, and hopefully when I will be able to convince her to marry me."
"You'll let me know?" Nanny asked.
"I will," he shrugged.
"Pinky promise, promise, promise?" Nanny held up her finger, smiling widely, her eyes sparkling with laughter.
Joseph couldn't resist her smile. He chuckled and linked fingers with her. "I promise, Nan," he vowed.
"Good." She tugged on his arm and they resumed their walk.
"And you?" Joseph asked at last. "You'll tell Sir Wilkes you like him?"
"Joey, I CAN'T! How would that look? He's above my station! He ..." she stopped suddenly, seeing Joseph's sly grin. Rather shyly, Nanny smiled back at him. "I daresay you are thinking I should take my own advice?"
"I daresay I am. If you feel about him as it appears you do. Tell me, Nan, what happened between you two? You were both blushing this morning, you're not talking to each other ... and I heard a rather garbled story reportedly from Brigitte and Brigitta in the kitchen ..."
Nanny's face went red again. "Nothing happened at all, all, all!" she muttered. "Not that I can remember! We were just ... caught in a rawther compromising position ... but it was nothing, nothing, nothing!"
O o O o O o
"Well, Wilkes?" Clarisse said, when the silence between them had stretched too long for her patience.
He started a little. "Well, what?"
"What is the problem?"
"Problem?"
Clarisse sighed. "Wilkes, I'm going to get personal here, but please remember we are old friends. What is wrong between you and Nanny?"
He stumbled a little in the sand. Clarisse's hands caught his arms, and she continued to hold him. "Is it because of yesterday, when we saw ...?"
"Oh, no ... well, not entirely ... I must admit, that had not crossed my mind today ..."
"I see," Clarisse waited, but he was not forthcoming with any more information. "Then was it something that happened last night at the ball?"
"No, no, no ..."
"Wilkes, PLEASE," Clarisse entreated him. Then she changed tactics. "You know, I always felt that I should keep my emotions hidden, the stiff upper lip, and all that, just as we were taught."
"Indeed."
"Well, getting to know my grand-daughter changed that for me. More and more, she has been encouraging me to express my feelings aloud. And you know, it DOES get easier ... and it is SO much more comfortable when you are able to trust your emotions."
"I see. So, when you saw Nanny and ... Joseph ... yesterday, you were jealous?"
Clarisse was taken aback. "Well, I ... I ... Wilkes, really, I ..."
Wilkes smiled, delighted that he had guessed correctly. "You WERE perturbed by the sight. I simply cannot imagine that all your emotions were solely on MY behalf ..."
"Oh ... I ..."
"Clarisse ... you said your grand-daughter teaching you to ... well, to 'feel' again, so to speak. Is it possible that Joseph has had something to do with this change as well?"
Clarisse frowned at him for a moment, then she gave a short laugh and said, "You certainly managed to turn the tables on me, didn't you? When did you become so bold?"
He blushed, and his eyes involuntarily drifted to Nanny further down the beach before looking at Clarisse again. "I do believe that I have learned from Nanny ... and perhaps from Eloise, in a way. She is most remarkable for such a small child. Nanny said something once that I have never forgotten. She is constantly being reminded by Eloise to say what she is feeling, to follow her heart and to listen to what's in other people's hearts. I suppose that is what I am trying to do with you now."
"Wilkes, I see something in the way you look at Nanny and speak to her ... well, I've never seen you like this before."
"I've never felt quite like this before." With a self-conscious laugh, he added, "I sometimes feel like a teenager. I do believe this morning I acted rather like one as well."
"Oh?"
He blushed harder and his eyes stayed on the sand by his feet. "It's not important. Well, it was important, but ... suffice to say, Clarisse," He looked up at her, a somewhat astonished look on his face, "I do believe that I am in love, for the first time in my life. Really truly in love! At my age!"
Clarisse couldn't help herself, she smiled at his overwhelmed visage. "And does Nanny feel the same?"
"I believe so. That is, I THOUGHT so ... although, yesterday ... but I am sure there is an explanation for that! I mean, last night ... this morning ..." He floundered in the quagmire of self-abasement and humiliation. The events of the last night and that morning had driven Nanny's revelation of her previous meeting with Joseph completely out of his head.
Clarisse took pity on him. Besides, she wanted to believe that he was right, that there was a perfectly reasonable explanation for the kiss they had seen between Joseph and Nanny. "Oh, Wilkes ..." Her hand smoothed down the side of his face.
"Your feelings for Joseph ... they are well-hidden, Clarisse. In fact, I'd venture to guess they have even been hidden from YOU!" he managed to blurt out.
Smiling wryly, Clarisse nodded. "You are a very good friend, Wilkes, and now that you are following Nanny's advice, you are able to read me almost too well. I, like you, have just realized that I am in love. However, because of my circumstances as Queen of Genovia, my love for Joseph MUST remain hidden in shadows, even from Joseph himself." Taking a deep breath, she added softly, "Life in the shadows is rather lonely, I find. Wilkes, I urge you to take your happiness while you can."
O o O o O o
Joseph drove them to the exclusive hotel in Mertz for lunch. Clarisse put on her sunglasses and tied a scarf over her head in an attempt to remain unknown, although she didn't expect it would work. The four walked into the hotel restaurant, and were immediately shown a table in a secluded corner by the window, as per Joseph's request. That way, he and Clarisse could keep their sunglasses on without other patrons or the waiters questioning their apparel. It was something they had done many times in the past, and had generally worked quite well ... even in Genovia!
Nanny, feeling a little easier after her talk with Joseph, tried to copy Clarisse's mannerisms. In a somewhat convoluted thinking process, Nanny decided that since Sir Wilkes was fond of Clarisse, perhaps if Nanny could be like her in some ways, he would be fond of HER, too. She smiled across the table at Clarisse. "I must say, I was surprised and pleased that you were able to come here with us today. Yours must be a very busy life."
"It can be, indeed," Clarisse agreed. "Fortunately, I have Charlotte to organize it for me. And your life must be hectic as well, in charge of a six-year-old."
"And such a REMARKABLE child!" Sir Wilkes put in.
"Yes," Nanny's eyes were a little wistful, "she's a love ... most of the time. She can also be quite a handful, however, that's for sure, sure, sure! I do hope she is enjoying Paris with her mother."
"Actually, I was relieved that her mother agreed to take charge of her, for once," Sir Wilkes said. He looked at Clarisse, "I think Nanny is given entirely too much responsibility, and she is severely overworked as a result. Why, she was so rundown, it's no wonder she contracted pneumonia! Just look at how thin she is now!"
Nanny blushed painfully. "Aoww, it's not so bad as that!" she protested.
"I'm sure Nanny does a wonderful job with the child," Joseph added. "She always ..." he broke off quickly.
Clearing her throat, Nanny changed the subject. "Tell me, your ... er ... Clarisse, does Charlotte live at the palace?"
Surprised by the question, Clarisse looked from Joseph to Nanny, then said slowly, "I believe she does." It was Nanny's turn to look surprised. Clarisse bit her lip and, easing off her sunglasses, rubbed her nose reflectively. "I ... I suppose I should know more about ..."
Joseph leaned forward. "No, Clarisse. Actually, Charlotte and I agreed that that sort of information would be kept strictly confidential. If everyone knew how to track down Charlotte, myself, Shades, or any other member of your staff, the security aspect could become a nightmare."
"I never thought of that," Nanny murmured, just as Clarisse said the same thing at the same time. They glanced quickly at each other, and their identical blue eyes both sparkled with humour. Then Clarisse slipped her sunglasses on again as the waiter came with their order.
"Will there be anything else, your Majesty?" the man asked, subserviently.
Both Nanny and Clarisse looked up, and BOTH were shocked to see that he was staring at Nanny. Joseph quickly stood up and said to the man in a low voice, "Please, we are trying to stay anonymous, today. Would it be possible to refrain from calling any attention to the Queen?"
"Of course, sir! Yes, sir! Whatever you say, sir!" The poor man stammered as he backed away. "I just forgot! I should have realized she was trying to be inconspicuous ..."
When they were alone, the four of them looked at each other, then began to laugh.
"I do believe we have something going here," Clarisse said finally, wiping her eyes. "Nanny shall be me for the afternoon. Joseph, if you take Wilkes' hat and cane when we leave, the two of YOU will be anonymous as well! After all, I'm sure the waiter recognized YOU."
"No doubt," Joseph said. "Are you sure you ...?"
"Capital idea, my dear fellow!" Sir Wilkes beamed. "I'd love a chance to drive the limousine!"
"Oh, no!" Clarisse shook her head. "I remember the last time I was with you when you were driving, and I refuse to set foot in any vehicle with you in charge!"
"My dear Clarisse, we were all of ten, and it was the pony's fault for running away with us. If it had just been walking, the cart would not have overturned into the mud hole!"
Joseph and Nanny looked at each other and chuckled at the image. Then Nanny said, "I really do not think I could presume to ... to assume your identity, your ... er, Clarisse!"
"Nonsense! It'll be an experience you'll never forget!" Clarisse said.
When they left the hotel, Sir Wilkes handed Joseph his bowler and his cane. At the door, Nanny noticed the blooming rose bush in the gardens in front ... the mauve Queen Clarisse roses. "Oh, look! You men really should have a rosebud in your lapels, don't you think?" She began to walk across the grass to pick one.
"There is a sign saying Stay Off The Grass," warned Joseph.
"Not to mention the one Do Not Pick The Flowers," added Sir Wilkes.
"Oh, tush," Clarisse waved her hand. "They're her roses!"
Nanny, who had stopped short at Joseph's words, let out a snort at Clarisse's comment. "Right," she said, dryly. "MY roses."
The waiter who had served them happened to step out the door just then. He looked over at Nanny, then at the sign, then said, "Might I be of some help, your ... ummm, shall I pick some roses for you?"
"Young man, the sign DOES say not to pick the flowers," Nanny said in the most regal tone she could manage. Then she smiled, and added, "but I would dearly love it if you could possibly give me two buds for these fine gentlemen here."
Nodding eagerly, the young man picked two rosebuds, wincing as the thorns pierced his fingers. He handed them to Nanny with an elaborate bow, and she graciously thanked him, and walked back to the other three. Clarisse noticed the man eyeing Nanny's shoes and rather stiff-legged walk with a puzzled look, and could barely contain her laughter. Nanny handed one of the roses to Clarisse, and turned automatically to Sir Wilkes to put the rose she had in his lapel. Clarisse hesitated only a moment, then busied herself putting her rose into Joseph's lapel.
"Clarisse, we MUST talk ..." he whispered urgently, catching her hand.
"Not now. Tomorrow, perhaps," she murmured back, disengaging her hand and turning away without saying anything more. She spoke up to the others. "Shall we leave the limousine here and walk down the main street?"
For the rest of the afternoon, the four had a marvellous time exploring the shops in the small village of Mertz. They soon had a crowd of children following them, hearing the excited whispers that the queen was in town. When they finally returned to the hotel for the limousine, they found a small group of reporters eager to talk to the Queen.
Nanny shrank back when they all thrust their microphones into her face and demanded her responses to their town, the sights, the economic backlash to the bann of fruit pesticides and numerous other issues. Joseph tossed the cane to Sir Wilkes after pushing Clarisse towards the vehicle and hissed to the other man, "Get her into the limousine NOW!"
Sir Wilkes put his arm around Clarisse and hustled her into the car. Joseph, meanwhile, waded through the reporters and rescued Nanny, who was trying to answer some of the more non-committal questions with the poise she knew surrounded Clarisse like a cloak. With his hand on the small of her back, waving away the microphones, Joseph managed to get Nanny to the car. Shutting the door behind her, he got into the driver's seat and soon they were driving away. For a moment there was silence in the limousine, then Joseph looked in the mirror, straight into Nanny's eyes, and said, "You thought the bann on pesticides would be very good for GERMS?"
"Did I say that?" Nanny gasped.
"Actually, I expect we shall read in this evening's news that her Majesty, Queen Clarisse, said that."
Again there was a moment of silence, then all four exploded into laughter.
O o O o O o
After supper that evening, Clarisse, Nanny and Sir Wilkes went to the library. Charlotte and Joseph were there, Charlotte finding the news on the television. They sat down to see if their afternoon escapade had made the television news. Sure enough, it had. Nanny groaned when she saw herself, wide-eyed but struggling to act in control of things.
Charlotte shook her head, smiling at the sight of Joseph in Sir Wilkes' bowler. Then she said thoughtfully, "Your Majesty, may I say that it is rather remarkable how similar in appearance you and Nanny are. Why, it really IS hard to tell which one of you is which in some of those blurry distance shots in the village square."
"I must say, I noticed that too," Sir Wilkes said. "Quite remarkable, really. If I didn't know better, I'd wonder if you two were twins."
"If I didn't know better, I would wonder myself," Clarisse said.
"I DO know better," Nanny put in. "I like to think I am a fairly good mimic, and that's all I was trying to do this afternoon, but I must say that I am not, not, NOT in the same class as you! It's like I said to the Prime Minister last night ... I might be a mirror image of Queen Clarisse, but it's a dim, dim, dim mirror!"
At that moment, the final shot of Nanny came on the television, when she had blurted out the line that Joseph had repeated in the limousine. Charlotte stared at the screen, then at Clarisse, and finally at Nanny. "Did you really say what I THOUGHT I heard?"
Nanny hid her red face in her hands, and wailed, "The question took me by surprise!"
Clarisse laughed again. "Oh, please, Nanny, don't be upset! I think it's wonderful! I've always wanted to say something that would make people think ... and believe me, this will make them think!"
"Hmm, and I really couldn't guess what, what, WHAT they will think!" Nanny grumbled, frowning when all the others in the room began to chuckle.
As the previous night had been quite late, it was agreed that they would all have an early night. Charlotte spoke in an undertone to Nanny, saying that she understood there had been a problem with Brigitte and Brigitta that morning. Nanny turned a little red.
"If it was something they said or did, you must tell me. They are only on trial in this position as ladies' maids, you know." Charlotte persisted.
"They did not tell you what they saw?" Nanny whispered, hoping Sir Wilkes, Joseph and especially the Queen would not hear.
"No," Charlotte looked puzzled. "Just that, well, they felt they had walked in on something private and were loathe to return."
"So they don't want to ..."
"I assume they are afraid that YOU do not wish their services any longer. They are quite upset. You must tell me if they were out of line, or if you wish them to be reprimanded in any way ..."
"Now, Charlotte, we are much better than that! Much, much, much!" Nanny shook her head firmly. "The B's do not deserve a reprimand any more than we ... er, than I do!"
A faint smile crossed Charlotte's face. "The B's?" she inquired.
"I cannot remember which is which," Nanny said, lifting her chin and staring at Charlotte unapologetically. "If it is their wish, I would be most, most, MOST happy to have them attend me in the morning."
The sound of light clapping made Nanny turn to look at Clarisse, who was smiling impishly. "You are sounding more and more like a Queen," she said. "If you were here longer, you could attend princess or queen lessons with Mia, couldn't she, Charlotte? Not that you need them. I thought you did very well today, Nanny, and I thank you for putting up with the reporters in my place."
"Aoww, that's fine, fine, fine," Nanny murmured, a reluctant smile tugging her own lips.
Sir Wilkes escorted Nanny to her room, and they stood awkwardly at the door, looking everywhere but at each other. Finally he blurted out, "I'll see you tomorrow. Good night, Nanny!"
"It was a fun day. Thank you for bringing me here, Sir Wilkes. Good night. I ... I DO hope I won't disturb you tonight, for sure, sure, sure."
"Tosh, tosh, tosh ... it was my pleasure, indeed." Then he realized what he had said. He began to back away hurriedly. "Er, good night."
"See you downstairs tomorrow morning," Nanny murmured, beginning to flush herself.
"Right. Tomorrow. Downstairs." Sir Wilkes hesitated for a moment, then, with a determined look on his face, stepped back towards Nanny, grabbed her shoulders and pulled her close. His lips grazed hers. Startled but nonetheless delighted, Nanny adjusted her position to properly kiss him back. They broke apart, then, without a word, both scurried into their own rooms, slamming the doors.
O o O o O o
To Be Continued