They stopped about halfway to the estate for a noon meal at a pub, and Jimmy drew Wilkes aside and explained that Lois was meeting him in that town a little later, because their daughter lived just a few streets over from the pub. "You can drive the rest of the way yourself, can't you, Willy? As a favour to me? Just so I don't 'ave to drive out then back 'ere again?"

"Of course," Wilkes agreed. "You'll have lunch with us first, though, won't you?"

"Don't mind if I do!" Jimmy grinned.

When they came outside again after their meal, it was to a cold wind and much heavier clouds. Jimmy turned up the collar on his coat and hurried away to his daughter's house, and Nanny and Wilkes put on their coats and climbed into the front seat of the car.

"I hope I remember how to drive," Wilkes muttered, and Nanny looked a little apprehensive before realizing that he had to have been joking, as the car pulled very smoothly away from the pub.

After an hour and a half, Wilkes began to point out various landmarks, saying they were getting closer to the estate. Then he said, "My castle is just a mile or so from here. You can see it from the road just on top of this hill here."

He stopped at the top of the hill and Nanny looked in the direction he pointed, and caught her breath. There, rising from the unkept grounds, was the stone castle, with the ruins of the church standing just outside the walled keep. "It's not, you know, really deserving of being called a castle yet, I suppose, being that it's mostly a ruin, but..." he stammered ashamedly.

"Aoww, Willy, it 'as such potential, though!" Nanny breathed, putting her hand on his and glancing at him with shining eyes before looking back to the castle.

Putting the car back into first gear, Wilkes attempted to drive on, but the car made a funny grinding sound, then stopped. Nothing he could do would make it start again. Glumly he looked at Nanny. "Now what? I'm afraid I'm not very mechanically-inclined."

Nanny took a deep breath, then let it out, peering up at the sky then at the castle. "I say we take our luggage and walk to your castle and 'ope we get there before the storm 'its!"

"R-really?" he asked. "You would really do that?" Most women with whom he was acquainted would have died first before walking anywhere, especially if a storm was pending! Then again, Nanny was not 'most women', for which he was profoundly thankful.

"Really." Nanny nodded. "My sainted Aunt Fanny, we could sit 'ere with the car, but if no one came, we'd be no better off! You 'ave a telephone there, don't you?"

"Er, yes. One was installed a couple of years ago."

"Then we walk in and ring your nephew and 'e can come get us. That way, I get to see your castle up close!"

"If you're sure," Wilkes still sounded doubtful.

"I'm sure, sure, sure," Nanny said firmly, getting out of the car and reaching into the back seat for her shopping bags, not wanting to leave them behind either. When Wilkes took her suitcase out of the boot, she opened it and fit in the three bags without any trouble. "There!" she said.

Wilkes had taken his own suitcase out and closed the boot. He handed her his umbrella "just in case, you know" and picked up her suitcase as well as his own. Nanny took her toiletries case and the umbrella, and they set off down the road then in the mile-long lane to the castle.

They had only gone about halfway before the skies opened and it poured. Nanny hurriedly opened the umbrella and it did manage to keep them both dry... for about two minutes. Then a strong gust of wind caught it and wrenched it out of Nanny's hand. She tried to chase it down, but gave up when it got caught in the branches of a tree over her head.

"Leave it, Nanny... we must get to shelter!" Wilkes called, and she retraced her steps to him.

They struggled on, fighting the wind and the sheets of rain until they were both soaked to the skin and shivering violently.

"Remember the saying, Nanny," Wilkes said, gasping a little after their fast walking. "Life isn't about... how to survive the storm... but how to, you know... to dance in the rain."

Nanny unexpectedly laughed, and pirouetted ahead of him briefly before turning and holding out her hands to him, the small case in one hand. "Come on, Willy, you know 'ow to dance in the rain as well!"

Setting the heavy suitcases down beside a puddle and putting her toiletries case on top, Wilkes took her in his arms and they danced around the driveway, sloshing through the puddles, ignoring the rain, lightning and noise of the storm, laughing together "like fools, for Lord's sake!" Nanny gasped at last. Then they both picked up the luggage again and hurried around the last curve to the open gates.

Wilkes managed to find the key to the door in his coat pocket, and opened it, hustling Nanny inside then closing the door behind themselves. They blinked in the dim light and sudden cessation of noise. Wilkes reached for the light switch and flicked it, then exclaimed in disgust, "Not working!"

"Per-per'aps it's just the bulb?" Nanny shivered.

Realizing his socks would be just as wet as his shoes, Wilkes didn't remove his shoes but squelched over to another light and flicked the switch. Nothing.

"Try the t-telephone," Nanny suggested, trying to stop her teeth from chattering. "M-maybe we can go over to your f-family now rawther than l-later!"

"G-good idea!" However, when he lifted the receiver, there was not even a dial tone. He looked around, noting the layers of dust. The retainers obviously hadn't been there in spite of Wilkes having written to them. Now he assumed they had been planning to come shortly before his original date of arrival. Doubtless the power hadn't been turned on yet, nor the telephone hooked up! Now they truly had no way of contacting anyone!

Wilkes was mortified, thinking of her reputation, but Nanny showed her mettle by waving that off and, as soon as Wilkes turned on the main switch at the power box and got the electricity working, she had him show her a bedroom she could use. She changed quickly into a somewhat drier navy skirt and white blouse from her suitcase while Wilkes changed in his own room, then they searched the kitchen and found some tinned food in the pantry so they could have a meal later. It seemed the water HAD been turned on. While Nanny wiped off the kitchen counters, rinsed some cups and the teapot she found in the cupboard and filled the kettle with water, Wilkes lit a fire in the fireplace in the sitting room and in no time they were sitting in front of it to warm up, drinking a cup of tea.

Wilkes spoke a little more of his late older brother whose unpleasant wife and 'totally useless' son had spent their inheritance money recklessly and who kept trying to wheedle more out of Wilkes who had successfully increased his portion of the estate inheritance. He also spoke a bit more about his childhood, this time telling some of the stories of the fun he and Jimmy used to have. "It's true," he said thoughtfully, taking another sip of tea, "that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly. Thankfully, I know many people like that." He lifted his eyes and looked directly and meaningfully at Nanny, who blushed and quickly changed the subject.

"Wilkes, I do think we have to move, move, move in order to clean the bedrooms and bathroom so we can stay here tonight without having to worry about the filth!"

"I daresay you are right," he nodded, and they got up and got to work.

They were both exhausted by the time they had cleaned the sitting room and the two furnished bedrooms and Nanny had marvelled at the huge clawed-foot bathtub in the relatively-modern bathroom when that room was clean. She looked around with satisfaction at the rooms they had divested of dust, and said thoughtfully, "You truly do 'ave a wonderful start on this castle, Wilkes. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of it by daylight tomorrow, if you will indulge me."

"I'd be more than happy to show you around, Nanny!" Wilkes said, very pleased indeed that she wasn't too critical of his prospective home.

While Nanny made both beds with sheets he had unearthed from a huge chest, Wilkes opened the tins and heated the food... such as it was. They ate quickly, Wilkes making the comment that it really didn't hold a candle to their meal the previous night, and Nanny laughed. "But the company is what makes it good, good, good!" she declared, and he had to agree wholeheartedly.

They cleaned up the kitchen a final time, then Nanny yawned widely. "Aoww, my Lord! I'm sorry, Wilkes!"

He chuckled. "I'm very tired myself, Nanny. Is there anything more I can get for you tonight?"

"Naoww, everything is lovely, thank you. G-good night, Wilkes."

"Good night, Nanny," Wilkes said, casually stepping closer and kissing her on the lips as if he had every right to do so.

After only a momentary hesitation, Nanny kissed him back enthusiastically, tacitly granting him the right. Wilkes recognized the quick punch of desire from the other times he had kissed her, but the sudden ravenous, greedy hunger he felt was startling. He was not reckless and he never took impulsive chances. All risks were calculated and the odds weighed. But the risk here, in his arms, was immeasurable. Distance was impossible and his control was rapidly spinning out of reach. He could only think of Nanny and how she felt pressed against him as she was. Against all his inclinations, he finally dragged his mouth from hers and released a shuddering breath. He would be a gentleman if it killed him... as well it might, in this case! "Good night, Nanny," he repeated hoarsely.

For a moment he wondered if she would respond. He wondered if she were rooted in place and his already tattered control began to fray. Then, belatedly, his words seemed to register with her.

"Aoww, my Lord! G-good night, love!" and Nanny fled, leaving Wilkes to inwardly curse his chivalrous instincts.

O o O o O o

When the next day dawned, it was a beautiful day. The sun was out and everything, although wet, looked much brighter. Nanny hurried to the bathroom and washed, humming the 'morning song' she and Eloise usually sang together, then scurried back to her room before Wilkes emerged from his room. Sighing as she sat on her unmade bed for a moment, Nanny realized she actually missed the child, and hoped that there really was nothing wrong. But why else would Kay have sent for her so abruptly? Then she shook her head and got to her feet, making the bed quickly. It was all too, too, too much to think about!

While going through the shopping bags and hanging up her new clothes, Nanny found the black negligee and was scandalized by its filmy skimpiness yet drawn to the decadent, exotic look of it. Oh my Lord, every bulge of her body would be on display... as would, of course, the ample curves men seemed to adore! The possibility of perhaps sometime wearing it for Wilkes crossed her mind, and she blushed fiercely at that thought and stuffed the diaphanous negligee into a drawer beneath her flannel nightgown. Dressing again in her navy skirt and a clean white blouse, albeit with the new bustier beneath it, Nanny was thinking that if she was to see over the castle, she might get her pretty new clothes somewhat grimy. If they ended up leaving today, she could and would change before they went.

Nanny met Wilkes in the kitchen boiling the kettle for his tea and already having the coffee pot perking on the stovetop for her. He asked if she had slept well.

"Aoww, for sure, sure, sure. I was absolutely exhausted!" she said. "Your bed is very comfortable!" Then her cheeks reddened as she heard the words echoing in the room. Before Wilkes could say anything teasing, as his eyes indicated he might, she quickly asked if he had slept well.

Wilkes admitted, his eyes twinkling wickedly, that although he had had a decent rest, he rather thought he might have slept better had he been beside her again. He added that after three nights, he was becoming accustomed to the feel of her body in his arms. Nanny blushed becomingly then daringly confessed that she felt rawther the same. His eyes lit up at that, and Nanny gulped and changed the subject quickly.

After a rawther sparse breakfast, Wilkes, at Nanny's insistence, began to show her around the ground floor of the castle. Nanny was very impressed with everything, and finally said, "Wilkes, I do believe it will take a lot of 'ard, 'ard, 'ard work, but the effort will most certainly pay off and your castle will be "absolutely divine" someday, to quote Eloise!"

"I certainly hope so," Wilkes said, looking very pleased at her praise.

They raided the larder again for a noon meal, and Wilkes grumbled about the retainers not having come earlier. "We should have had enough food to feed an army! There SHOULD have been an army here... an army of cleaners and cooks and..."

"Never mind, Wilkes," Nanny said, patting his hand comfortably, "Jimmy'll wonder why you're not at 'ome when 'e gets there, and will come looking for you... doubtless 'e'll be 'ere this very afternoon! And if 'is wife is anything like 'e is, and you do 'ire her as your 'ousekeeper, you'll be very comfortable 'ere! And even if 'e doesn't come this afternoon, there are still enough tins to get us through two more days."

"But I like good food, Nanny, not these everlasting tinned meals!" Wilkes whined a little, hoping for more sympathy.

Nanny merely laughed at him and washed the dishes up briskly. "Now then," she said. "Might I see outside while it's still light?"

They explored the grounds and Wilkes was very, very tempted to ask her to marry him right then and there, but a surreptitious patting of his pockets revealed that he had indeed left the ring in his other jacket. Well, perhaps later... Then Nanny exclaimed over some rawther overgrown rose bushes she found not far from the main gates. Immediately she fell on her knees and began to pull some of the bigger weeds out of the ground, being exceedingly careful to not touch the thorns. Wilkes knelt by her side, weeding diligently. They moved around the castle a bit at a time, weeding some places and noting others where more work was needed than four hands could supply.

When they decided to stop for tea later that afternoon after washing up, Nanny decided to dress up for their tea, and slipped into the blue shirt dress she had purchased the previous morning. She noted the approval in Wilkes' eyes, then kept her eyes downcast so he wouldn't be able to see how much his good opinion meant to her. Quickly saying something to divert his attention, Nanny mused aloud that she could grow to love it here, then again her face turned red. What was she saying, for Lord's sake? Inviting herself to stay! How attractive was that? Wilkes very considerately did not comment on that remark, although he did say that he was very, very glad she liked it.

"Nanny, would you care to go up to the roof of the tower?" Wilkes asked suddenly. In the time they had washed and changed for tea, he had made sure that her engagement ring now was residing in his pocket. If all went well, he could have it on her finger in very short order! Tonight! Indeed, up on the roof would be a rather romantic setting. "The view is, er, magnificent. You can almost see our family estate from the top. And the sun should be setting in about an hour, which might be nice to see."

"Aoww, sounds wonderful, love," Nanny said, getting to her feet with a bit of groaning. "Oooph, I 'aven't been so active since 'aving to follow Eloise around the Plaza all day every day when she was a little younger!"

Wilkes chuckled, then grimaced when he stood himself. "It's the bending and getting down on our knees on the damp ground that did it, I expect. For both of us."

"You shouldn't be feeling it quite the same as I do, Willy, you're still young!" Nanny laughed.

"Not that young," he sighed. "Sixty-five is legally old, you know."

"Ahh, but sixty-nine is more so," Nanny said. "Come on, love... let's move, move, move before we solidify and grow mossy!"

Wilkes led Nanny through the dim musty corridors, up long flights of stairs, and through more corridors. At one point, Nanny saw a rawther rusty suit of armour in an alcove and she grinned at Wilkes. "Yours? Eloise was wondering where you kept your armour! My stars, stars, stars, it's not very shiny, is it?"

Wilkes glanced over at it, surprised then obviously angry. His eyes were unexpectedly bleak when he looked back at her. "No," he said, turning away rawther abruptly Nanny thought privately, wondering what was wrong with him or the armour. "No, it's not very shiny. Actually, I had thought this had been disposed of long ago, as per my orders."

"Disposed of?" Nanny was startled. "But, it's an heirloom..."

"And damned uncomfortable, if you will pardon my language," Wilkes almost growled. At her look of surprise, he sighed and explained, "My older brother and his friend shoved me in it once and left me... it took four hours for anyone to find me and by then I was too weak to cry out any more. I was only seven, and I couldn't walk in it," he added quickly, sensing her puzzlement, "because it had rusted and the hinges no longer worked. I thought I had been entombed alive..."

"Aoww, Willy..." Nanny said sympathetically, putting her hand on his arm.

"Jimmy finally rescued me. Giving him a job and some security for his family's future is the least I can do for him now. Besides," he said, a faintly malicious grin curling his lip, "it will irk Cecil to no end if I steal Jimmy and Lois from him. I've no doubt Cecil is the one who had the armour placed here. Reginald is bound to have told him the story."

"Wilkes! You are much better than that, much, much, much!" Nanny laughingly scolded him. "I know you are a dear, gentle, loving man..."

He kissed her gratefully, but the gratitude very quickly burned off and only pure, unadulterated passion remained. His lips moved over hers with the force of restrained hunger, kisses which were slow, scorching, lingering and mind-stealing. Nanny cradled his face between her hands, almost crying with the tenderness she was experiencing, and intensely savouring the sensual experience which was fueled by years of denied emotion. It seemed that her dreams about Wilkes, about having a relationship with him, were finally being realized.

Desire for the voluptuous, loving woman in his arms had Wilkes fighting his own inclinations to ravish her. When he could no longer bear the pressure and his control seemed about to snap, Wilkes drew back only slightly, and right there in the dusty corridor, dropped to one knee on the stone floor in front of her. Holding her left hand tightly in his, he fumbled in his inner jacket pocket for the engagement ring which he finally managed to get out. Nanny was trying to tug her hand away, her eyes wide with panic at his position, but he held on tightly, and managed to line up finger and ring and slip the ring into place. He hurriedly said, dragging in deep breaths, "Marry me, Nanny! Marry me right away!"

"Aoww my Lord, Willy, you can't want to MARRY me!" Nanny exclaimed, trembling violently with the force of the passion between them and gazing wildly at the ring now on her finger.

It was truly the most beautiful one she had ever seen... with one large solitaire diamond in the centre and tiny diamonds and scrolls down the sides. Willy wanted to marry her? It was quite, quite, quite unbelievable! "I'm beneath your station! I'm so... so plain... so... so ordinary... so..."

"So very beautiful in my eyes, my beloved Nanny... not plain or ordinary at all! You have the loveliest eyes I've ever seen... and the bluest... like looking into a bit of heaven! I love your character, your laughter, your soul... and your... you know, your body. Please marry me! I long to feel you beneath me... beside me... above me..." Wilkes said in a low, husky voice, getting to his feet with a bit of a grunt, happiness breaking over him because she hadn't said an outright 'no' to his proposal.

With one arm around her to hold her close to him and staring into her eyes intently, Wilkes daringly swept a hand over one ample breast. "Shall I stop or may I continue this loving for a short time? I've so wanted to caress you here..." he whispered against Nanny's lips, changing his caress to a circular glide. "You truly have beautiful breasts, Nanny..."

Almost drowning in pleasure at Wilkes' touch, an ache began throbbing between Nanny's legs, a yearning that drew an involuntary whimper from her throat. Then he was kissing her again with a fierce possession that scattered every sensible thought in her brain. Nanny's heart hammered against the flood of sensation, her nerve endings sizzling in places she hadn't even known she had nerves! Her body grew hot, an inner heat that threatened to burn her up from the inside out.

"Willy!" she cried out, dizzy from his assault on her senses, her hands gripping his shoulders.

"You will marry me, won't you, Nanny?" he asked again, confidently now, thrusting himself firmly against her hips. The barrier of clothing between them inflamed him, especially when Nanny pressed closer herself. At that, he attempted to draw back, whispered hoarsely, "No, my dearest love... We must... must stop... Not... not married yet..."

"Willy, I want you..." Her hand slipped down between them, but Wilkes groaned and grabbed her hand, preventing her fingers from curling around him.

"Marry me, love. Marry me! Today. Tomorrow. SOON!" he growled.

Nanny, overjoyed, was almost in tears when she breathed, "Aoww, yes, yes, yes! I do love you, Willy and I will marry you as soon as we can arrange it!"

Their lips met once more to seal their covenant, then both became practical, although Wilkes couldn't let her go. Instead, he put one arm around her and his other hand clasped her left hand and stroked her fingers as they kept walking toward the tower. "Do you... do you like this ring? Is it acceptable?"

Snuggling against him dreamily, Nanny eyed her hand with the ring on it. "Aoww, it is gorgeous, love, for sure, sure, sure! But... you 'ave this castle to fix up! If we're getting married very soon, per'aps we should just get a wedding band and not worry about the expense of an engagement ring?"

"Nothing but the best for my wife! I can afford it, Nanny. Besides, I already have the matching wedding bands... one for me and one for you. I've been wanting to ask you to marry me since our evening in the Oak Room at the Plaza last week. You know, Nanny, although it might be nice to be married at the Plaza, being that that is where we met and we know quite a few people there, I'm not sure if it is even legal. I am not an American citizen, are you?"

"Naow, I'm still using my British passport..." Nanny said. "I 'adn't thought of that, Wilkes!"

At that point, Wilkes turned in to a door which, when opened, revealed a set of narrow stairs winding upwards. They began to climb, and had to stop a couple of times to catch their breath. "Aoww, Willy," Nanny panted, holding on to his arm tightly, "I'm getting much too old for this... much, much, much! It's worse than chasing after Eloise, and I told Kay I needed a raise for that!"

"No more raises needed, Nanny, and no more chasing after Eloise unless it is something you want to do! We can let her run where she will at our home now! I daresay life here helping me fix up this place will be more than enough exercise for both of us!"

"Aoww, but think of the benefits," she grinned, and kissed him quickly. "Now, then... onward and upward!"

At the top of the tower, Nanny was breathless not only from the climb but also because of the beauty of the land around her, not to mention the sky. The sunset was indeed glorious as the few clouds turned red, pink and violet. The two gazed in awe and silence for a long time, watching the changing colours slowly fade before speaking again.

It was Wilkes who returned to practicalities. "Nanny, we could find a vicar to marry us either before or as soon as we get back to London, then perhaps return to 'our' dress shop for a wedding dress and trousseau before checking at the hotel to see if Kay and Eloise have arrived yet. How does that sound?"

Nanny smiled widely at him. "Divine, divine, divine, love! But... there is a two week waiting period, is there not?"

"If we wish to be married either at the Register Office or by common licence, yes. However..." he paused, wondering how she would feel about his next suggestion, then the heated, loving glance she was bestowing upon him gave him courage. "I actually took the liberty of contacting the vicar in the parish here the other morning... from the dress shop, actually. I've known the vicar most of my life, you know. He explained the possibility of obtaining an Archbishop of Canterbury's special licence... which waives the fifteen day waiting period. I then contacted the Archbishop, who happens to know me as well... and, well... we COULD be married here in this parish church as soon as tomorrow if we go in to sign the affidavit. It would mean springing our marriage on all of our friends and family, but... we could be married immediately. That is what *I* would like best, but would that suit you, Nanny?" he asked.

Nanny looked directly into his loving brown eyes and swallowed. Suit her? To be married to him tomorrow? Tomorrow? The driving desire for him almost drove every other thought from her head. Relentless flames of lust licked her body, making her ache almost unbearably. He was everything she had ever dreamed of in a man and more. Breathing hard, she caught her lower lip between her teeth, then she admitted in a throaty whisper, "Tomorrow is fine. Anything you want suits me, if you're sure, sure, sure, Wilkes."

Blood rushed to Wilkes' face as a hoarse, incredulous groan escaped his lips at her words and the tone of her voice. "I want you," he almost growled.

"Aoww, Willy..." she whispered hoarsely. Her breathing had become painfully irregular, and her hands clenched. He wanted her! HER! Nanny of unknown origin! Sir Wilkes, a knight of the realm, wanted her!

Wilkes took hold of her left wrist and unpeeled her tightly clenched fingers one by one before touching his warm lips first to her finger where she wore his ring, then to the centre of her exposed palm. "I'd also like to hear you say you want me as much as I want you, Nanny," he admitted.

"Aoww, knickers, Willy, I've never wanted anyone more in my entire life!" she burst out. The depth of her sheer wanting made her head spin. She shuddered with pleasure and closed her eyes as he kissed her. The heat in her blood ignited and she was kissing him back with a desperate, starved intensity.

One hand splayed over her back to help her stay upright, Wilkes' other hand came up and curved around her sensitized breasts once more. She gasped and pressed even closer to him as waves of hot sensation swept through her body. Nanny's entire body shuddered in reaction.

"Nanny, perhaps we should discuss..."

"Willy, do you want me to die of frustration?" she groaned. She had always wanted to feel free enough to talk with him, but NOT NOW!

She whimpered soft encouragement as his fingers traced the swells of her breasts straining against the confinement of her bustier. Her breath was coming in short pants and the tight elastic cut into her sides almost painfully, but she was oblivious to everything except his seductive touch. Her arms wound around his neck, Nanny went up on her toes to push into him more firmly. She twisted and strained and went momentarily wild at the eroticism of his caresses. "Aoww, my Lord, Willy, you are kill, kill, killing me!"

"I do hope not," he panted. He pressed closer to her in an attempt to ease the pressure in his own lower body, and suddenly she was coming apart in his arms, shuddering and crying out helplessly as her body spasmed violently. Horrified, indeed terrified that he had hurt her, Wilkes held her until she was only trembling slightly and panting softly in his arms. At the expression of beatific delight on her face, he was able to breathe again himself. Yes, she was all right. More than all right, judging by the softness of her body and the look on her face. Then he groaned faintly and pulled away hurriedly. "I'm terribly sorry, Nanny... I just, well..." He put his hands gently on her shoulders and kissed the tip of her nose. "Perhaps we should go back downstairs."

"Yes, per'aps we should," Nanny agreed, after looking at him searchingly.

Once downstairs, sitting entwined in one another's arms on the sofa near the fireplace, Nanny inquired as to whether or not Wilkes wanted to or should be in touch with Gertrude and Cecil.

"I do not want to, and I will not, Nanny," he said firmly, then began to kiss her again to distract her from her concerns. "I shouldn't be touching you like this before we are married, but it will be happening tomorrow and you are so very, very alluring, my love!" he whispered before very audaciously cupping her breast once more.

Nanny drew in a quick intake of breath and her kiss deepened, tacitly giving him permission to continue. "Aoww my Lord, Willy!" she choked out.

His lips slid over her chin and, after unfastening the top buttons of her dress, he lowered his head and buried his face in her cleavage, the spot he had so often longed to kiss. Nanny pressed his head to her with her hands. Wilkes groaned again with his pleasure before struggling to regain some semblance of control. "No, Nanny... please... we must... stop..."

"Knickers, Willy! Did I do something wrong, then? Am I too, too, too bold?"

"Not at all, my love!" He made a huge effort to pull away from her. "I just... just want to light a fire. It is... you know... cool in here. Tonight. The, er, air..."

Nanny had been thinking of nothing but him beside her. He was gone less than five minutes, but while he was placing the wood into the fireplace and lighting it, her arms felt bereft and her body cooled - a reminder of the loneliness that so often had haunted her, except when he was beside her. But she didn't want to be so dependant upon him! It wasn't right, even if they were to be married the next day! What if she ruined his life when her love for him proved not to be enough to overcome her poor background? She sat up abruptly as he came back.

"You've changed your mind about, you know... continuing this tonight, haven't you?" he said softly, eying her knowingly before sitting beside her and putting one arm around her shoulders gently.

"Aoww, my LORD, Wilkes, I don't know what to do!" Nanny almost wailed.

"We will leave the consummation of our love until we are married, as is right and proper," he announced regretfully. "Tomorrow you'll..."

"If you say that tomorrow I'll thank you for leaving me my virtue intact, I might kill you!" she threatened.

"Oh my love..." he chuckled, enfolding her in his arms, dropping a chaste kiss on her forehead. "We will arrange our marriage as quickly as possible! I pinky promise, promise, promise!" and his finger linked with hers. "And now, Nanny, we simply must go to bed. Now. Separately. We must stop this now or I will not be responsible for the consequences!"

"Aoww, Willy, I... I suppose you are right," Nanny sighed. She took Wilkes' arm and they went very properly to their separate rooms to bed.

Neither one could sleep that night.

O o O o O o To be continued