Read Online A Love All Her Own by Janet Lee Barton - Free Book Online
Authors: Janet Lee Barton
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impurities, relaxed in the bath, and been rubbed down by our attendants.”
By the time they arrived back at the front desk, they’d seen several people emerge from their rooms, some looking invigorated and others quite drained.
“I assure you that those who look a bit the worse for it will be feeling totally different after a rest.”
Abigail certainly hoped so. She might be looking into this business venture for her father, but after this morning, she had no intention of trying it out for herself. She thanked the manager for his time, and she and Marcus walked out into the bright sunshine.
“Do you want to go to the next bathhouse, or would you like to take time for lunch?” Marcus asked. “There is a restaurant down the street a little ways that I think you’d enjoy.”
“Yes, I think I’d like that. Thank you. I feel a little drained myself.”
“It’s because of the heat and the humidity inside the bathhouses. There’s no way to get around that.”
“I suppose not, with the water so hot. I don’t think I realized just how. . .muggy it would feel inside one of those rooms.”
Marcus led her farther down the street to a small restaurant, and Abigail breathed a sigh of relief that it felt cool inside. After looking over the menu, she chose a French salad, a cup of bouillon, and tea.
After the waiter left, Marcus turned to her. “We have several more bathhouses. Do you want to continue to visit them today?”
“Maybe one more, if we can see the manager. The rest can wait until tomorrow or the next day. I’m sure you have other things to do.”
Marcus looked at her and shook his head. “Whatever else I might need to do can be worked around you.”
“But—”
“Abigail, are you trying to get rid of me?”
His dimple flashed, and her heartbeat sped up. “No, of course not. Besides, I know that if I should go anywhere without your knowledge, one of your agents will be right behind me.”
“I’m glad you realize that. It will make me worry a little less when I’m not there.”
“Then I take it that I can leave the hotel should I need to do some shopping?”
“Of course you can. I don’t want you to feel as if you are a prisoner, and I’m certain that’s the last thing your father intended when he asked me to make sure you are safe while you are here.”
“Good.” Abigail found herself smiling at him. “I’m glad you realize that.”
Marcus threw back his head and laughed. “I think we are beginning to understand each other. I will be accompanying you to any events you may want to attend, though. Parties, the opera—that kind of thing. We need to be clear on that.”
Somehow the idea of him escorting her only gave her a warm feeling and a sense of safety. “We’re clear. I suppose you need to know that I’ve hired one of the part-time maids to work for me on her off days. And should I go out to the post office or shopping, she will most likely accompany me.”
“I’d like to have her credentials checked out.”
“All right. I’ll get them to you. She seems very nice and has been quite helpful to me. I’m sure she will check out just fine.”
“In the business I’m in, I’ve found you can never be too sure. I hope she does check out.”
Abigail did, too. While she didn’t want to go home, she was used to a life filled with friends and family. To her surprise, she even missed her housekeeper. Abigail had confided in her from time to time, and although she never really asked for her opinion, still she was someone to talk to. Now, Abigail found that she did miss all that. She liked Bea and was looking forward to have someone to talk to when she wasn’t with Marcus or his family.
And she was relieved that she would be able to come and go from the hotel for more than one reason. She didn’t want to count on Marcus for everything. She’d looked forward to seeing him much too much today, and she didn’t welcome that feeling. . .not at all.
Six
Abigail gave
By the time they arrived back at the front desk, they’d seen several people emerge from their rooms, some looking invigorated and others quite drained.
“I assure you that those who look a bit the worse for it will be feeling totally different after a rest.”
Abigail certainly hoped so. She might be looking into this business venture for her father, but after this morning, she had no intention of trying it out for herself. She thanked the manager for his time, and she and Marcus walked out into the bright sunshine.
“Do you want to go to the next bathhouse, or would you like to take time for lunch?” Marcus asked. “There is a restaurant down the street a little ways that I think you’d enjoy.”
“Yes, I think I’d like that. Thank you. I feel a little drained myself.”
“It’s because of the heat and the humidity inside the bathhouses. There’s no way to get around that.”
“I suppose not, with the water so hot. I don’t think I realized just how. . .muggy it would feel inside one of those rooms.”
Marcus led her farther down the street to a small restaurant, and Abigail breathed a sigh of relief that it felt cool inside. After looking over the menu, she chose a French salad, a cup of bouillon, and tea.
After the waiter left, Marcus turned to her. “We have several more bathhouses. Do you want to continue to visit them today?”
“Maybe one more, if we can see the manager. The rest can wait until tomorrow or the next day. I’m sure you have other things to do.”
Marcus looked at her and shook his head. “Whatever else I might need to do can be worked around you.”
“But—”
“Abigail, are you trying to get rid of me?”
His dimple flashed, and her heartbeat sped up. “No, of course not. Besides, I know that if I should go anywhere without your knowledge, one of your agents will be right behind me.”
“I’m glad you realize that. It will make me worry a little less when I’m not there.”
“Then I take it that I can leave the hotel should I need to do some shopping?”
“Of course you can. I don’t want you to feel as if you are a prisoner, and I’m certain that’s the last thing your father intended when he asked me to make sure you are safe while you are here.”
“Good.” Abigail found herself smiling at him. “I’m glad you realize that.”
Marcus threw back his head and laughed. “I think we are beginning to understand each other. I will be accompanying you to any events you may want to attend, though. Parties, the opera—that kind of thing. We need to be clear on that.”
Somehow the idea of him escorting her only gave her a warm feeling and a sense of safety. “We’re clear. I suppose you need to know that I’ve hired one of the part-time maids to work for me on her off days. And should I go out to the post office or shopping, she will most likely accompany me.”
“I’d like to have her credentials checked out.”
“All right. I’ll get them to you. She seems very nice and has been quite helpful to me. I’m sure she will check out just fine.”
“In the business I’m in, I’ve found you can never be too sure. I hope she does check out.”
Abigail did, too. While she didn’t want to go home, she was used to a life filled with friends and family. To her surprise, she even missed her housekeeper. Abigail had confided in her from time to time, and although she never really asked for her opinion, still she was someone to talk to. Now, Abigail found that she did miss all that. She liked Bea and was looking forward to have someone to talk to when she wasn’t with Marcus or his family.
And she was relieved that she would be able to come and go from the hotel for more than one reason. She didn’t want to count on Marcus for everything. She’d looked forward to seeing him much too much today, and she didn’t welcome that feeling. . .not at all.
Six
Abigail gave
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