13th August 1103

“Just a teeny, weeny smidgen more and you’ve had enough good Sir,” Alexis mumbled to himself eyeing the bottle of wine on the desk.

Certainly he had paperwork to attend to, the running of the Kingdom and such, but good Lord it was boring business. So it was that he found himself a tad sozzled though it was still early in the afternoon. He had thought a cup of wine would help ease the pain and had found that a bottle worked even better.

He was startled by a booming knock on the door just as he took a gulp from the bottle. Before he could tell whoever it was to go away the door was flung open and a deliciously plump girl bounced in. Everything jiggled in all the right ways, from her round thighs to her wonderfully full breasts. He almost spluttered wine all over the table and ended up coughing and choking and red in the face while trying to still look debonair. It didn’t work very well.

“Hello Sir Harty… am I pronounciating it right… ooh yer drinking wine… sorry to be startling yew. I’ll just grab myself a chair. No don’t get up,” she chattered turning to slam the door shut behind her.

She plonked down onto a chair with a contented sigh as he tried to regain his composure.

“I’m Dessini, Dessini Cade… but yew can call me Dessy if yer liking,” she said before he could regain breath enough to ask.

She was rather plain in some ways, freckled, ruddy skin but with a healthy glow to it. Her hair was thick and chestnut, with curls that bounced when she turned her head in a saucy way he rather liked. And she smiled. A lot, and with each one her face lit up like summer sunshine, her eyes sparkling.

He was beginning to regret the last swig of wine.

“Yes… well… Dessy is it? Why are you here again?” he asked, feeling rather foggy and confused, “Did we have an appointment I’ve forgotten?”

“Lan sakes no, I just showed my old self in I did,” she grinned at him warmly and he couldn’t help but smile tentatively back.

“Er… so why are you here then?”

“”Well now, I thought to make myself useful. There’s a damn sight too many… oh pardon… that’s to say, there’s being too many of us packed in at Steen’s place so I decided to get myself some employment,” she said happily as though that was all the explanation needed.

“I see, and am I to assume you were hoping to secure employment with me?” Alexis asked slowly, trying not to slur.

Good Gods! Was this woman bouncing in here and offering him services just like that. Hepsie would kill him if he touched her.

Alexis… do not touch the girl.

But goodness she was touchable. Maybe he should just reach out and pinch her cheek… it looked so delectably chubby.

“Uh… I’m not sure that would be the best idea. You see, I know your sister-in-law very well and I’m not sure she would…”

“What’s it like then?” Dessy asked ignoring him.

“What’s it…” he almost choked and then he saw her staring at the wine.

“Oh, well… it’s alright. Not the best I’ve had but you do know that’s the life when you are stuck in exile on a ruddy island. Ah for a fine Ulaanbaatese firewine.”

“Can I try some,” she grinned up at him cheekily her eyes twinkling, “I’ve never been drinking wine.”

God help him.

“I suppose so, here, let me uncork it for you.”

He passed it to her. She took a large swig, her plump lips closing over the neck of the bottle.

If Alexis could have kicked himself under the table he would have.

He watched her neck as she drank, the muscles contracting as she gulped it down. The skin there looked smooth and soft. He would have liked to kiss it, to nip at it a little. A trickle of wine ran down her chin.

Keep it together man. This one is not for you.

She thumped the bottle down on the table and heartily wiped her mouth with a tattered sleeve.

“It wasn’t what I was expecting… burned a bit on the way down. I rather liked it though,” she smiled up at him, her pouty bottom lip stained dark red with wine. He would have liked to lick it off.

“I’m glad you liked it. It isn’t the best there is but it’s a damn sight better than nothing.”

“So, on to business then,” Dessini grinned.

“Yes… about that…”

“Well… I was asking around thinking I might fare well as a nanny type. I do like the children an’ they seem to like me well enough. An’, well I heard yew was having more than most so I thought to ask yew first.”

A nanny! Thank the stars.

“Yes, well, that is certainly true. I have been blessed with three strong boys,” he smiled though it grew a little brittle when he thought of Colthan.

A nanny, that wasn’t so bad now. Though he couldn’t take his eyes off her as she fidgeted on the chair completely unaware of how enticing she was. No… it was a bad idea. He did not want to incite the wrath of small, stern midwives and he had an inkling that Morven wouldn’t be all that fond of the girl, as dear as she seemed.

“Well now, I’m don’t think my wife is really needing all that much help. Thank you for your kind offer though.”

There, it was done. Now she would leave and Alexis would go find some entertainment elsewhere. And not think about the midwife’s sister-in-law.

“Oh… oh… I see,” her smile fell, her bottom lip trembling a little.

She almost looked like she would cry. For a moment Alexis saw something deeply sad, something tragic behind her childish facade.

“I really thought yew would be saying yes. I got my little hopes up an’ everything,” she sniffled.

Goddammit she had got her little hopes up. And he hated dashing little hopes.

“Perhaps you’re right. Three’s a little many for Morven to manage and she does like having some time for reading. You’re hired,” he grinned woozily at her his stomach churning.

“Oh thank yew, thank yew dear Sir Harty!” she squealed, “Yer just the best.”

She threw herself out of the chair gave a startled Alexis a hug and bounced towards the door.

“I’ll be the best nanny ye’ve ever had,” she giggled.

Alexis hoped it wouldn’t come to that. He had had a few nannys in his time. They rather reminded him of old fat Flora who had rasied him and there was something a little naughty about that. But Hepsie would kill him. And death by midwife was surely not worth acting out a saucy fantasy or two. Alexis imagined she had plenty of creative ways to make him suffer.

“Bye then,” she bounded out the door like an excited puppy, curls flying behind.

Oh God… and Morven was going to kill him too.

Cade, Hwratar