Chapter Five

“THIS IS AMAZING.” Veronica ran her fingers along the cherrywood shelf. Floor to ceiling shelves full of books complete with a rolling ladder covered three walls of the large room. Opposite the shelves three wide windows looked out toward the far mountains. A large overstuffed sofa that begged lying about with a book, a butler’s table, and two wingback chairs with matching ottomans completed the library of Veronica’s dreams. Millie stood with her hands clasped behind her back. She glanced at Veronica before she shifted her gaze to the carpet. “It’s my second favorite room in the house.”

Veronica studied the way a blush stole over Millie’s face. Not asking which one is her favorite. What room is it? What could make her blush from her collarbones to her hairline? She’s so damn cute when she blushes.

“I’m sure this will be my favorite. I’d go broke trying to keep my e-reader filled. I’ve already read through everything I downloaded before I left home and reread some of my favorites.”

“Mistress Lucia is an avid reader. She keeps the library stocked. If there’s a book you would like in the library, let her know and she’ll purchase it. She also insists on strict reshelving.” Millie pointed to a wooden chest next to the desk. “Returns go there. Tessa’s the librarian; she’s as much a hard ass as Mistress Lucia about the shelving. Be sure to return your books here. She’ll make sure they get back where they belong.”

Her blush deepened. “Sometimes the library is closed.” She looked up at the ceiling before she brought her gaze back to Veronica’s eyes. “Quite a few of our guests have librarian fantasies. There will be a ‘closed’ sign hanging from the door handle if it’s in use.”

Visions of what other activities took place in the library filled Veronica’s thoughts, and she chewed her lip as she tried to focus on Millie’s words.

Millie pointed to an antique oak card catalog. “That’s the catalog. Do you know how to use it?”

Veronica frowned. “What? Of course. I’m older than I look.”

Millie laughed. “Sorry. So many of the women who come here are so young they’ve never seen one. My apologies.”

“Do you really have women that young who work here?”

“No one under twenty-one.” Millie pursed her lips.

Veronica walked to the leather sofa and sat down. “How does it work?”

Millie traced her fingers over the top of the card catalog. “You can sign a book out for three weeks. If you need it longer you just have to let Tessa know. If you don’t bring it back on time, she will find you.” A sly expression crossed Millie’s face. “Some of the staff don’t even read what they check out, hoping Tessa will be in a mood to discipline them for their overdue books.”

Veronica huffed out a breath. “Not that. How does it work with the women who work here? Do they apply? How do you find them?”

“I don’t. The Mistresses hire the women. Usually they are referred to us from former workers or clients. Or they may have heard of us from other houses.”

Veronica forced herself to meet Millie’s gaze. “I was referred here.” A sudden rush of knowing filled Veronica. “Oh. Oh my.” Images of her former advisor and her partner filled her head. “Oh. Wow. They must have… Oh.”

Millie sat down next to Veronica. “You didn’t know?”

“I read the contract. I knew Miss Pomroy did background checks. I thought she knew about the house that way. Doctor Kerr.” Veronica flushed. “I feel so dense.”

Millie patted her knee, and then moved her hand up and rested it on Veronica’s thigh. “If it makes you feel any better, when Myfanwy recommended I apply for my position here, I was as clueless.” Her tone was gentle and laced with kindness.

Veronica stared at Millie’s hand on her leg, close to the junction of her thighs. Dangerously close. Her broad palm and thick fingers curled over the top of her leg. The warmth from Millie’s palm heated Veronica’s skin through her jeans and distracted her from their conversation. What would it be like to have those hands on me? To have her kneel and wrap her hands around my ankle and beg for my touch? She’s too much a top to kneel to me. She’s got Myfanwy. Stop. Stop wanting what you can’t have and shouldn’t want.

She stood up abruptly, breaking contact with Millie. “I have to get Luna ready for Elaine. I’ll come back and find something to read. Thanks.” She rushed from the library. She must think I’m so dense. How could I not get it about Dr. Kerr? And Ms. Pomroy. Damn.

 

MILLIE PULLED THE cover off the saddle and placed it on the saddle rack. “Will this do? She had a different saddle she said we could lease if this wasn’t right.”

Veronica examined the therapeutic riding saddle. “This should be fine. It’s got the leg straps and the stabilizing padding in the back.” She unfolded the picture she had printed out from the client’s email and compared it to the saddle in front of her. “She sent me this today. Sorry I didn’t have it for you to take with you. Did they send the safety stirrup converters with it?”

“Aye, they’re here.” She held up a cloth bag and placed it on the shelf under the saddle rack. “Have you thought about how to coordinate their request?”

Veronica chewed her lip. “Yes. But I’m going to need your help. Will you be able to assist the client with mounting the horse? She’s told me she’s too unsteady to use the mounting block alone. You’re the only one I trust to be able to assist her with the transfer. We’ll both need to be there to stabilize her in the saddle until we get the leg straps in place. Once she and her wife arrive at the fire ring we’ll both need to be there to assist her off the horse. I’ll make sure there is an adequate chair for her to transfer to. Her partner will take care of whatever she needs after we’ve helped her dismount.” She busied herself with replacing the cover over the saddle. “It also means we need to make ourselves scarce while they scene but we need to remain close enough we are available if they need our assistance. When they’re ready to ride back to the house, we’ll need to lift her back on to the horse.”

Millie held her gaze a moment and then glanced away. “Mistress Siobhan and Marilyn have been clients of ours for years. Last year, after Mistress Siobhan’s stroke, I thought I’d never see them again. If no one else has said it to you, thank you for working out how to make their request come true and being respectful of them.” She turned her gaze back to Veronica.

Millie’s praise sent a rush of warmth through Veronica. “I’d want someone to do the same for me. Horses are the best medicine.” She shifted her gaze away from Millie’s eyes, unsure of what she would see, unwilling to risk exposing herself even more than she already had with her confession. “I struggled with anger and depression. The inmate equestrian program was life changing. Horses saved me.”

“And for that I’m eternally grateful.” Millie reached out and placed her hand on Veronica’s shoulder. The skin exposed by her sleeveless T-shirt blazed under Millie’s brief touch. Dropping her hand to her side, Millie turned away. “I’ve got an errand to run for Cook. See you at dinner?”

“Yeah. See you then.”

Veronica watched as Millie strode from the tack room. She touched the place Millie’s fingers had rested on her skin and cursed herself for being so caught up in a woman so unavailable.