Bedtime Confessions (The Chambermaid's Tales - Short Stories) (8 page)

“
Let's say, she interests me. She seems to have… connections.”

With that, I knew it was paramount that I left as soon as possible. I helped him into a robe and I spared him some more time for samey chitchat.

One thought was swirling around my mind the entire time,
He's searching for the chambermaid and I don't like the way he looks when he mentions her name. Maybe he knows ‘the chambermaid’ was with… Him.

It was clear this man was hiding sinister plans and an even more dangerous propensity to exact revenge. I was constantly calling on my abilities to appear the servile waif who was unreadable.

When at last I helped him into bed, he watched me clear away all the equipment. He studied me carefully.

“
Why do you bleach your hair? It would be better your natural shade. Dark brown?”

“
Yes,” I smiled. I made up some story, “I just love Hollywood glamour, I guess.”

“
Umm, I guess so, pretty lady.”

He lit a cigar and I passed him a cognac from the drinks cabinet that he had earlier asked me for. He was at peace then. At one. He seemed as gentle as a mouse at times, and as fearsome and untameable as a lion at others. This man irritated every inch of my soul. He upset my hackles with just one breath or one look. I just felt
, scared.

“
So, will you be okay if I leave you now? There is another gentleman I must attend to this night.”

There wasn't. I was dying to get home.

“Yes, I think I feel satisfied.”

“
Okay, I shall leave you to relax,” I said, and I gathered my things to leave.

“
Just remember, if you know who she is, let me know. Okay? I only want to help her. She can help me greatly. She would be rewarded too. Very well rewarded. She could help me immensely. I'd pay over the odds. Well over. Even just for one night.”

I wondered whether he was suspicious of me. I wondered. I brushed that terrible feeling away.

“I really would like to help, but she is so secretive. None of the other girls have ever mentioned her to me. Sorry I cannot be of any more use.”

“
Okay,” he said softly, taking another puff on his cigar.

I left the house on a cloud of fear and I swished out of there as if I were leaving just any old job. I was as calm as a cucumber. When I was ten miles down the road, I felt safe, finally. I pulled in a lane and parked up the car. I ran up into the middle of an abandoned field. Feeling sure there was nobody around for miles, I screame
d at the top of my lungs. I fell on the earth, on my knees. I wept. Every pore shed tears or sweat.

That thing was his brother
.

The possibilities terrified me.

Flo mirrors the fear I felt that day. The fear I still carry and obviously exude as I tell her that tale.

“If He ever calls again, don't mention it to him, Flo. Do not ever mention anything about that to him. It would kill him. Apparently one of his brothers slept with his wife.”

“
I won't,” she assures me, gathering me in her arms. I rest on her shoulder and breathe my shame away.

“
We need to get away. You know now, we really need to get away.”

“
I understand. He would be so hurt to hear you serviced his brother.”

My brain i
s whirring with questions and possibilities.

“
Exactly. Let me ask, Flo, did you know the Grandmaster was dead?”

“
In passing, I'd heard about it, yes. But I think I pushed it to the back of my mind. It was just another thing that reminded me of my own time at the Lodge and I don't need any more reminders.” She shrugs and folds her arms tightly behind my back.

“
He never spoke of his father. Never.”

“
Mark said they were estranged… Edward Yeardley and his eldest, I mean.”

“
This is starting to make sense, Flo. It's all starting to make sense.”

“
The twins, they were from a different marriage.”

“
There's so much about my lover's past that he never wanted me to know. It's killing me not knowing…” I say, taking deep breaths to control myself.

“
Which was it? Did he have dark hair or blonde?”

“
Dark,” I say.

“
Ah. Jarrod.”

“
Fuck,” I say.

“
Fuck indeed,” Flo replies, holding me close.

The Author

Sarah Michelle Lynch
is the author of five novels.