“You could-” The offer to stay with her began to tumble from Connie’s lips before she could reign the words in, fuelled by wine and loneliness and yet she managed to stop herself before she made a total fool of herself. What on earth would the other woman think? Miss Cramming had a knack of noticing things that unnerved Connie just as much as it thrilled her to be around somebody that actually noticed. She didn’t suffer for company in general but being around somebody that was like her had become a thing of fond memory and perhaps…

Connie chastised herself. She was overwhelmed by Miss Cramming; her beautiful face with those eyes that made her want to drown and the curves hidden under the clashing pattern of robes, but most of all her mind. Since the summer expedition, no, before that really, since she had read her book last year Connie had been in awe of the other woman and astounded that others weren’t. How could anybody meet Carmelina Cramming and not think her the most fascinating, engaging woman?

Her whole body felt as though it were flushing as Connie reached up to lay her hand over where the other woman had steadied her, holding her hand there for a moment before smiling and taking both their hands away from her arm. Merlin, she was quite convinced that the other woman must be able to feel how warm she was!

“You could leave me here if it’s easier for you,” Connie said, holding the other woman’s hand for as long as she dared feel the soft fingers against her own. “I don’t want to keep you from your bed.”

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MJ made me beautiful