It was a whole five days later that Natasha was able to have an afternoon off for herself.  The day after Crystal arrived, Natasha had to wash and iron Crystal’s laundry, because Crystal was still exhausted, though as soon as Natasha had completed the ironing, Crystal suddenly had a burst of energy, and insisted on visiting her friends and demanded Natasha accompany her.  Attending tea parties and inviting friends over had taken up the rest of the days.  If that was not tiresome, every night Natasha had to listen to how Crystal could not tolerate her fellow students.  How this one was too fat, or that one had no dress sense, or the other one was undeserving of the gorgeous gentleman that was courting her.  The one bit of news that had devastated Natasha was Crystal’s confession, that she had compromised herself with a young man in London.  Crystal would not say who he was, only that he was handsome and irresistible and she had not been able to say no to him. 

When Natasha got to the lake she was most pleasantly surprised.  On the boundary wall of the marquis’s property, a fence, made of sturdy railway sleepers had been erected for protection possibly from the wild dogs.  Around the entrance to the lake, bamboo sticks had been cleverly constructed like a doorway providing seclusion.  More bamboo had been used to erect a makeshift shed that could be used as a change room.  There was also a wooden table with benches constructed under the huge oak tree. 

Did Benedict do all this for me? 

Natasha ran to the little shed and peeped inside, it had a tiny table, and hooks on the wooden walls where one could hang up clothing.  She twirled around and around feeling like a princess in her very own castle.  She ran outside again, running the palms of hers hand over the bamboo wall, loving the privacy it offered. 

I can’t believe he did all this for me.

‘Does it meet with your approval?’

Natasha spun around to see the marquis leaning against a willow branch.  ‘My lord, did you do all this for me?’

‘I didn’t want the wild dogs ravishing you whilst you were enjoying your swim,’ his tone was soft enough, but there was no smile on his face.  She was not afraid of him anymore.  If he could do all this for her, then she need not ever fear him again.

‘Thank you my lord, you even built me my very own change room,’ she laughed.

‘Now that my grounds men are aware of this part of the estate, I wouldn’t want them surprising you, whilst you are in a state of undress.’

‘Thank you,’ she smiled shyly.

‘Are you thirsty?’

She was not but she answered in the affirmative.  He strode to his horse, removed his flask and brought it to her.  Natasha took a long swallow, her eyes trained on him all the time then handed him back the flask.

‘Thank you.  It’s very tasty,’ she smiled again.

The marquis tilted the flask to his mouth and drank as well, then slipped it into his pocket.  Natasha stood staring at him, admiring his long wavy hair, and his handsome face.  He had strong shoulders and a broad chest, as if he did hard manual labour each day.

‘Are you going to swim?’ he asked.

Natasha turned around and looked at the cool enticing water, ‘yes,’ she murmured.

‘Okay, enjoy your swim.  I will be back in thirty minutes to give you a ride back to your cottage.

Natasha’s heart leaped.  She would be on his horse again.  He would have his arm around her again.  She would be able to feel those muscles on his chest press against her shoulders.  ‘No, my lord, you don’t need to.  I can walk back.’

‘I want to,’ he tipped his hat.  ‘I’ll be back in thirty minutes,’ with that, he hopped onto his stallion’s back and galloped away.

Natasha ran into her change room, removed her clothing and dived into the water.  Impatient for the marquis’s return, after fifteen minutes, she changed again, and paced around waiting for Benedict.  This time she sensed his presence, and looked up and there he was. 

How was it that he arrived so silently all the time? 

Without a word, he extended his hand.  Silently she walked to him, used his hand as leverage and hopped on in front of him.  She gripped the stirrup and relaxed against his chest.  Benedict breathed heavily when she leaned against him.  He could feel her cool body through the fabric of her shirt waist. Her shirt was damp.  She must have hurriedly put it on, without wiping herself off.  It felt refreshing against his body that seemed to be on fire. He cupped his arm around her trim stomach.  She stiffened momentarily, then relaxed.  Her skirt rode up revealing her upper leg, she ignored it.  A few moments later, she removed one hand and closed it over his arm.  She heard him gasp, he pulled her closer against his chest. 

During the entire journey back to her cottage neither of them spoke.  Each one was experimenting, testing, savouring, the presence of the other.  When the horse stopped, she reluctantly, removed her hand from his arm.  He slid down and helped her down.   This time she did not resist.  He did not speak a single word, just tipped his hat and was off like a shot of lightening.  With an excited swagger, Natasha ran inside the cottage.

‘Was that a horse I heard?’ Crystal enquired, peeping out the window.

‘Horse?  There’s no horse outside,’ Natasha murmured, which was the truth, because its rider had hurriedly sped away.

‘I’m bored to death.  What on earth do you do around here every day?’ Crystal complained.

‘Oh not much.  Go for long leisurely walks, swim in the lake.’

‘Swim?’ Crystal frowned distastefully. ‘My hair will get ruined.’

Natasha shrugged her shoulders, ‘excuse me I need to wash and help Cook.’

‘I’ve bought some pretty patterns,’ Crystal exclaimed.  ‘Let’s rather cut some designs for a new gown.’

That meant Natasha would be doing all the cutting, whilst Crystal twirled in front of the looking glass.  Sometimes Natasha wished the looking glass would crack.  Crystal spent three quarters of the day in front of it.

‘Not now Crystal.  I can help you tonight after supper,’ Natasha walked upstairs to her washroom.  She did not want company right now.  She wanted to dwell on the ride she’d just thoroughly enjoyed with Benedict. 

Will he be there again tomorrow?

‘Why can’t you spend time with me?’ Crystal scowled.  ‘Cook can do the cooking.  That’s her job.’

‘Why do you not go visit one of your friends, whilst I finish my chores?’ Natasha suggested, washing her face, neck and arms. 

‘No, I don’t feel like going alone,’ she pouted.

A few days later, when it was overcast, too cold to swim, Natasha decided to explore parts of the estate, she had not walked through for a long time.  She had been walking for a while, when she heard this incessant tweeting. 

Natasha stopped, listened to where the sound came from and followed it.  She found a tiny eaglet, on the grass.  It seemed his wing had been slightly damaged.  Natasha looked up, wondering if its mother would pounce on her if she dared try to help the little blighter.  Overcome by the eaglet’s cry for help, Natasha picked him up very gently, and softly ran her little finger over his head.

‘Oh you poor little thing.  You need a bandage and a warm blanket, and perhaps I should find you a worm,’ Natasha cooed, holding him against her chest.

‘What the blazes are you doing in the woods?’

Natasha spun around, but quickly hid her hands behind her back.  She silently prayed she had not done more damage to the eaglet.

‘N---nothing my lord,’ she stammered.

‘What do you have there?’ his eyes narrowed suspiciously, pulling her hands roughly.  Natasha held onto the bird securely, as Benedict studied the creature in her hand.

‘Please---please do not hurt him.  He needs help,’ she begged, her eyes becoming glassy.

Natasha watched as Benedict’s grey eyes became soft and gentle. It no more resembled the eyes of a dead man.   He removed his neck cloth and placed it over his open palm, and urged her to place the bird there.  Gently he handed it back to her, and opened a flask from his pocket, and tipped the contents into the palm of his hand.

‘My lord you cannot feed the eaglet lemonade.’

‘This is water,’ he gave her a rare smile, as he plucked a leaf from a tree and used it as a beaker to feed the eaglet, who drank greedily from the leaf.

‘Oh he is so thirsty my lord,’ Natasha sighed.  ‘I bet he’s hungry too.’

‘I think we need to fix his damaged wing rather urgently,’ Benedict examined the bruise there.

‘Will he---is he---will he make it?’ Natasha sobbed.

‘Yes,’ Benedict held her eyes convincingly.  ‘With the proper care he’s going to fly very soon.  Will you trust me to take care of him?’

‘Yes,’ she spoke unhesitatingly.  ‘Take him,’ she very carefully placed him in Benedict’s palm.  ‘Hurry my lord, I am not far from my cottage, I will walk back.’

Benedict nodded and exited, the way he had come into the woods.  Natasha felt forlorn.  She felt sorry for the poor mother eagle that lost its baby.  She also felt sorry for the baby who needed his mother. 

Do not worry, Benedict will make everything right.  He will. 
She spoke to the absent mother eagle and its baby.

Natasha peeped through the kitchen window and watched as the soft rain thudded gently against the window pane.  It was two days since she had rescued the little eaglet.  She wondered how he was doing.  She could not go for a walk in the rain and positively felt like she had cabin fever.  She also missed Benedict.  Surprisingly, a carriage with the Crowcombe emblem stopped rather hurriedly outside the cottage, Natasha felt a surge of joy strike through her entire body. 

‘Papa!’ she said disappointedly, as Sophie and Crystal also curiously ran to the lounge.

‘What is it Daniel?’ Sophie enquired.  It was the first time Daniel had ever come home with the Crowcombe carriage.  Besides it was just after breakfast time.  He was home too early.  Something was wrong.

‘Has something happened papa?’ Natasha wondered if the eaglet had perhaps died.

‘Lord Brinley requests some help.  He asked if one of the girls could temporarily help nurse his father.  The current nurse had to urgently go home to Scotland, to attend a funeral.’

Was Benedict wanting her because he saw she was gentle and caring with the little bird?

‘Crystal is just right for the job,’ Sophie announced.

Natasha’s head swung up, she almost choked. 

It’s me that Benedict wants.

‘Nurse!’ Crystal squealed, ‘what do I know about being a nurse?’

‘You will just need to help with his meals and give him his medication.  Her grace and the marquis will take care of the duke mostly,’ Daniel informed her.

‘It’s only temporary Crystal,’ Sophie prompted.  ‘Besides I am sure the marquis will pay handsomely for your services.’

‘The marquis,’ Crystal’s eyes lit up.  ‘So when should I start?’

Sophie’s eyes glittered as well.  Natasha could just guess the machinations of her brain at work.  Why hadn’t the marquis himself come and demand that it was Natasha he wanted there?

‘That is why I have come with the carriage.  You are to start immediately,’ Daniel smiled.

‘Oh I should change,’ Crystal ran upstairs.  Her dress was perfect.  There was absolutely no need to change.  ‘Natasha come and help me,’ Crystal demanded.

With a heavy heart, Natasha walked upstairs.  Saints of heaven, you’re going to be a nurse.  You’re not going to a ball.

‘Can you believe it Natasha?  I am finally going to meet Lord Brinley.  Oh I knew it was just a matter of time before he would notice me.  Should I wear the lilac lace dress or the red silk one?

‘For heaven’s sake Crystal.  You are going to attend to the duke.  Just wear anything,’ Natasha could not contain her irritation.

‘They say the marquis cannot resist a lady in a glamorous gown.  I am going to make sure he notices me,’ Crystal determined.  With a sinking heart, Natasha watched as Crystal draped the lilac dress on her slender body.  She had not stopped talking since she walked into their bed chamber, and every sentence had been punctuated with the marquis or Lord Brinley.

Feeling like she had been violently thrown of a speeding stallion, Natasha completed her chores in a sombre mood.  She wondered what Crystal and Benedict were doing together.  Was he enjoying Crystal’s company?  She was very beautiful, and she owned extremely attractive gowns, perhaps he would find her irresistible, unlike she who was just plain and unsightly.  Natasha dreaded when Crystal would come home and brag about what a wonderful time she had with Benedict.

Her father was late coming home.  No doubt Benedict and Crystal were having a ball of a time, and had forgotten the time.  Natasha perched herself by the window and waited patiently for her father’s carriage.  She had not long to wait, about twenty minutes later the carriage stopped and Crystal strode in.  Natasha dreaded this moment like she did a tooth ache.

‘How did it go?’ Sophie came rushing in, and smiled enthusiastically, when she heard the carriage.

‘Boring!’ Crystal raised her eyebrows and stormed upstairs.  ‘Come and help me remove this gown Natasha.’

‘What do you mean boring?’ Natasha asked, unzipping Crystal’s gown.

‘The old man is on his death bed.  He refuses to eat or take his medication.  It seems it is only the marquis that can get any food into his mouth.  So with the marquis gone, he refused his meals today.’

‘Gone?  Gone where?’ Natasha felt her muscles began to relax for the first time that day.

‘He went to drop the nurse off in London.  I never got to see him.  I hope he is going to be there tomorrow.  I am only doing this menial job just to get close to him.’

‘So the duke did not eat at all today?’

‘I did manage to feed him some soup and give him his medication, with the duchess’s help.  She’s a sweet old thing… cries all the time.’

It was very rare for Crystal to pay a compliment about anybody.  The duchess must be a kind dear old lady.  ‘Is Be--- Lord Brinley returning tonight?’

‘He better be.  I’m looking forward to seeing him.’

‘Mother , how did it go with father today?’ Benedict kissed his mother’s cheek.

‘He ate a little, with the help of the new assistant.’

‘That is good,’ Benedict felt a warm energy rush through his body.

Victoria swung her head towards her son, ‘are you sure that young lady is capable of seeing to your father, Benedict?  She did not seem like she was interested in the job.’

‘It is no picnic taking care of somebody who is not your family mamma.  Do not expect the whole world to love father as we do.’

‘But you told me she has a caring heart.  I do not see it,’ his mother said intuitively.

‘Perhaps you make her nervous mamma.  She is a meek little thing.’

‘Meek?  She was more interested in where you where and what time you would be returning.’

Indeed? 
Did she like his company as much as he enjoyed hers?

‘I am going to take a bath and then have supper, mother. Why do you not retire to your room?  I will return to sit with father after supper.’

‘Yes darling, go ahead,’ the duchess smiled, and walked to her chamber.

‘Who are you?’ Benedict demanded the next morning when he walked into his father’s chamber.

‘My name is Crystal, my lord,’ she fluttered her eyelids at him.  ‘My step father Daniel, said the duke needed a temporary nurse, until you find a replacement.’

Where the hell is the waif?  Who the hell is this wanton woman in a girl’s body?

Benedict helped his father up, fed him his porridge and stormed out.  At lunch time Benedict returned, fed his father his chicken broth, and left again without speaking a word to Crystal.  He dismissed her before the evening meal, saying she did not need to stay late.  He would attend to the duke in the evenings.

-end chapter four-