She moved closer to him and put her arm around him. She slowly let her hand glide down to the place she had been longing to touch all evening.
Emily, please stop, I'm tired.
But Peter, we haven't made love for such a long time. I want you. Please take me.
Peter didn't reply, he rolled onto his side, and closed his eyes. Emily played with his manhood for a while, but when she got no reaction, she rolled over, frustrated.
When the first shades of winter light began to fall through a gap in the curtains, Emily still hadn't managed to fall asleep again. When Peter woke, she watched as he got out of bed. He was a handsome man. The moment she had met him, she was attracted to him. Unlike her, he was dark and his skin was brown. When he stood naked at the foot of the bed, she noticed that he seemed to be leaner than when he'd last allowed her to look. When he slipped into his underwear, she saw how taught his buttocks were, and how strong his thighs looked. He left the room without saying anything.
When Emily came downstairs, she walked into the breakfast room. Good morning, Peter. she said, as she sat down at her end of the long table. Joseph put a pot of fresh tea in front of her, and a plate of toast. Peter always had eggs and bacon, but Emily's fine constitution wouldn't allow her to eat fat. Her day always began with toast and jam, followed by an apple.
What have you got planned today, my dear? she asked Peter.
I'm going up to London. I have a meeting. I won't be back until tomorrow. I'm dining with clients and then I'll sleep at my club.
You seem to be spending a lot of evenings in London these days.
It seems everyone is too busy to talk to their stock broker during the day. It is far easier to make appointments in the evening. After talking business all evening, I really do not feel like taking the journey home. It's very comfortable at the club.
After Peter had gone, Emily finished her breakfast and put on her coat and walking shoes. Emily enjoyed walking the grounds of the Manor. In the frost and snow, everything looked quite spectacular. As Milly and Flossy bounded around the lawn, Emily looked at the house she had bought for them.
The front door was blue, and it had an enormous brass knocker in its middle. Emily made sure it was polished daily. Joseph was used to the phrase, it's the first thing visitors put their hands on. To each side of the door were four windows. On the left, the drawing room and on the right a small library, and Peter's study. Below the windows were flower beds, which at this time of year were empty and frozen.
Hello, someone said, making Emily jump.
Sir John, you really mustn't creep up on me like that. You could give me a heart attack.
Sir John, Emily’s neighbor, was around Peter’s age and almost as handsome. He was a rugged type, always with his cravat loosened, his hair slightly tussled. Had Emily not been so in love with her husband, lonely at night, she could have easily fantasized about Sir John’s body that she imagined underneath his shirt.
“I was just out for a walk, and thought I would say hello. he said enthusiastically.
I thought you were in the middle of having that enormous house of yours redecorated? Emily asked.
I am, but the place has got sixteen bedrooms and countless other rooms. It's taking forever. It's full of workmen and if I didn't get out for at least an hour a day, I would go mad.
Are you sure they won't pinch any of your valuable furnishings? All they would have to do is steal one of your statues and they wouldn't have to work ever again.
Quite true, but Patterson is keeping an eye out.
How is he? He wasn't very well I heard.
Do you know, he's seventy five. He served my grandfather when he was a young man and he's remained faithful to the family ever since. He’s the most marvelous butler a man could wish for.
Well please treat him well. He is very old still to be working.
Where is Peter? John asked.
Gone to London, to his office, and then on to his club.
Will he be away this evening?
Yes.
Splendid. Then you are free to come over to Eagle Lodge for dinner.
Thank you for you kind offer, but I have many things to do here. Please do not be offended. Emily was loathe to refuse because she knew how lonely Sir John was after his parents had been killed in a boating accident while on holiday in the South of France.
Of course. Well, I'll be off.
Emily watched him walk through the gate, and over the fields in the direction of his property.
Peter looked out of his office window across Trafalgar Square. As usual there were hundreds of pigeons walking around, pecking at the ground. There were at least ten perched on top of Nelson's hat. He turned back to the room and sat at the enormous oak desk his father had bought, when he'd started their stock broking business, fifty years ago.
There was knock at the door and Jackson, Peter's clerk, came into the room. I just wanted to check on the fire, it's bitterly cold outside, and we shouldn't let it go out, he said, as he picked up a brass topped poker.