A Man For All Seasons Read Online Free Page A

whispered her name into the darkness. He hugged the prospect of seeing her in the morning to himself like a lucky charm. Her image danced behind his closed eyes. So desirable. So unobtainable.
    Finally he slipped into sleep. He dreamt that she was at home, riding out to muster on a big bay horse, but her long black gown kept tangling in the animal's legs. He told her to put on pants, but she laughed and said she wasn't brought up that way. Then it began to rain. It came down in sheets. The river rose like a tidal wave and swept her away.
    He awoke abruptly. In the pitch black of the room his eyes stared blindly around. To his surprise his keen ears picked up the distinct shrill bark of a fox and he felt strangely comforted by the familiar sound. But then he froze when he realised that someone or something, was moving softly toward him. He could just make out the soft rustle of material and the faint intake of breath. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up in apprehension.
    It was probably a ghost. Then as he recalled his somewhat sketchy study of Jane Eyre back in
    school and decided it was more likely some crazed Driscoll relative come to burn him in his bed. He sat up, his body taut, adrenaline rushing through him like sherbet.
    The entity stilled. “Chad?” it whispered.
    The mattress sank slightly as the ghost slid softly into bed with him. His confusion was considerable. What the hell was going on? Who the hell was it? Could it possibly be Seraphim? The idea left him both wildly optimistic and strangely disappointed.
    “It's me, Chad. Shelley.”
    Oh my God. It was the maid.
    A hand slid softly across his bare chest. “Mr Driscoll asked me to wake you early.”
    “Erm… thanks.” He tried to hold off the wandering hands, largely unsuccessfully. Bloody hell! Finally he slid out of bed and stumbled over to the wall, groping for a light switch. He snapped it on. Light flooded the room and he squinted in the glare. Shelley smiled at him, eyes wide, full breasts boiling over the top of a filmy nightgown like two delicious dumplings.
    “I'm awake now, Shelley,” he said. There was an understatement. For a moment he wondered if he were mad to knock back such an eager, willing partner. But he shook his head. Those days were long gone. At twenty-six he wanted something more than a casual affair. It took considerable willpower to push away the dark eyes and laughing mouth of Seraphim; he wasn't going there either.
    “Perhaps, you should go now.”
    Shelley artfully crossed her arms beneath her chest. The effect was quite profound. “If you're sure.”
    His mouth went dry. “Yes, I'm quite sure.”
    She didn't appear to take offence as she slowly pulled back the covers; the silky nightgown leaving little to the imagination. She sashayed over to him and smiled up into his face. “Let me know if you change your mind.”
    He grinned, amused by her phenomenal face. “Thanks, Shelley.”
    But his amusement swiftly changed to dismay. Both he and Shelley looked at the door in response to a soft tapping upon its outer surface.
    Someone rapped louder. “Chad, are you awake?” It was a soft, clear, feminine voice.
    Chad felt as if his tongue had been glued to the roof of his mouth. Shelley giggled. The sound carried high and girlish in the heavy silence of the room. He could have happily strangled her. Any hope of concealment effectively washed away. With a sigh he slowly opened the door.
    Seraphim smiled. “Morning. I thought I'd check you were up and about, it's just gone six. Shelley is a dear girl, but not always terribly relia…”
    “Morning Miss,” said Shelley cheerfully.
    High colour stained Seraphim's cheeks. A hand hastily covered her open mouth. “Oh, please excuse me,” she gasped. “So sorry. I'll… see you in the morning room.” She backed away hurriedly and disappeared swiftly down the corridor.
    Chad hustled a still giggling Shelley out. He shut the door softly, sank down onto his bed, and let out