Claiming Her Innocence Read Online Free PDF Page B

her ear. “Make yourself come for me. I want to see.”
    Betsy was working herself with both hands now as the footman watched, his chin resting on her shoulder. One of his hands had disappeared between them, and Penelope could not see what the valet was doing with it, but now he was groaning as Betsy spread the fleecy outer lips of her pussy with the fingers of one hand and worked the slick inner folds of flesh with the other.
    “Ah, that’s it,” the valet coaxed, moving his mouth to her ear. “Oh, Betsy. You’ve got me so hard.”
    After a few moments, Betsy cried out and slumped in her partner’s arms. Startled, Penelope stepped back so suddenly that she upset the fern. There was a flurry of motion in the alcove, and the sound of the valet’s concerned voice. But Penelope did not stay around to listen to what he had to say. She ran for her room, fearing for her maid even as her slippers pattered down the moonlit hallway. When she entered her chambers, she found an older woman sitting by the fire. She stopped, staring.
    “Who are you?”
    The old woman stood. “Mrs. Colbert,” she said with a smile. “Your maid has been given the evening off, so I’m here to help you dress for bed.”
    For a moment, Penelope just stood there dumbly. “Right,” she finally said.
    She considered refusing the woman’s offer of help, but realized that her hands were shaking too much to undo her own buttons anyway, so she stood there, letting the chatty maid remove her dress and replace it with a nightgown, all the while wondering if she should tell the old woman what she’d seen. Her mind replayed the last of it—Betsy’s spread legs, the fingers stroking the dark pink folds, the maid’s cry before she fell against the footman. Was she all right? Had she fainted?
    As Penelope climbed into bed, Mrs. Colbert asked her if she needed anything. Penelope paused, and was on the verge of telling her what she’d seen when the door opened and Betsy walked in.
    Penelope was rendered speechless by the appearance of the young woman she’d fancied was passed out on the floor of the alcove.
    “I thought you were out, Betsy?” Mrs. Colbert said.
    “I was, but thought I’d pop in on my way back to my quarters.”
    “Very good.” Mrs. Colbert nodded, bid both women a good evening and left. Penelope said nothing, but continued to stare at Betsy.
    “Are you all right?” The maid gave her a lopsided grin. “You look as if you’ve seen a ghost, m’lady.”
    Penelope sat up, clutching the blankets to her. “I’m… I’m fine… Are you?”
    Betsy took a seat in the chair by the bed. “Yes, m’lady. Never better, in fact. Why wouldn’t I be?”
    “Because… never mind.” Penelope flushed, realizing that whatever had transpired in the alcove, the maid was none the worse for wear. If anything, Betsy looked relaxed.
    “Did you have a good dinner with Lord Westcott?” Betsy asked.
    For a moment, Penelope considered continuing with the small talk. Then, in a rush of boldness, she changed her mind.
    “Why did you give him my undergarments?”
    Betsy regarded her mistress for a moment before answering. “If you were a maid in a house and the great lord ordered you to do something, would you disobey him?”
    Penelope looked down and smoothed the edge of her blanket. “No. No, I suppose I would not. But still… what manner of man is he, that he should ask such a thing?”
    “It’s not my place to say, m’lady.”
    “That’s not fair!” Penelope pushed the covers back and rose from her bed. In the middle of the room, she stopped and turned back toward Betsy. Crossing her arms, she faced the maid. “If you have been hired to be my maid, then my maid you will be. I’m not asking you to betray Lord Westcott, Betsy.” She paused. “I only want to know more of him. All I can divine of him now is that he means to have me—me, a woman who but a fortnight ago dreamt of becoming a nun.” She put a hand to her mouth to stifle the