The Butler Really Did It

Elizabeth had a Friday from hell at work. If something could go wrong in the office today. It did and it did it in spades. She stayed cool, calm and collected on the outside as she tried to tie all the loose ends of the day's last-minute deadlines into a nice, neat bow leaving nothing for Monday or any reason to come back in over the weekend. On the inside, she was looking forward to the weekend. It was her Valentine's Day/anniversary weekend, and she was looking forward to some quiet time alone with her husband, Jason.

Jason wasn't the man of her dreams, but he had other talents. He could fix a leaky faucet, cut the grass and do the yard maintenance. He couldn't fix the car, but he knew how to call the Motor Club and get a decent mechanic. He was dependable and stable, most of the time, but he had his weaker moments. Besides, she liked the way he looked in his old Levi's and a sweaty T-shirt. That chest and those abs. He had absolutely shot her down with those guns he called biceps. Whew!

The day had been so bad that Elizabeth didn't even want to negotiate the traffic with the rest of the crazies in the rat race on a Friday afternoon. She decided to hang around her office for a while until most of the parking lot rush had cleared-out. She kicked off her heels, flexed her pedicured toes a few times and put her feet up over her extended bottom desk drawer on a square pillow she kept in the back of the drawer just for these occasions.

Flexing her ankles up, down and around and around, she began to feel a little some tension dissipate and more relaxed. It's amazing how much stress she could relieve in just such a fashion. Trying not to move her tender feet too much from their comfort zone, Elizabeth twisted in her chair to part the window blinds in her office window to check on the parking lot situation. Another minute or two and she'd be ready to go. She wondered why Jason hadn't called her today. Their anniversary was tomorrow, and he hadn't discussed any plans with her yet. They had purposefully gotten married on Valentine's Day, so they'd never forget the date. "I hope he didn't forget,... again. Men!" she thought almost loudly enough to be heard. She was almost angry about it all over again, and Jason hadn't done anything wrong... yet... this time.

She took the scenic route home and enjoyed the views in no hurry to get home, but didn't want to tarry too long. Home was where she could be herself, as a person; not the pressurized occupation she chose. She turned into her home driveway and parked. Jason was working on a motorcycle restoration project in the garage and had spare parts laid everywhere - organized, but everywhere. She wished he would finish it soon so she could have the use of her side of the garage again.

Elizabeth picked up her purse and her thin leather briefcase and walked toward the front door. As she approached the house, the front door opened suddenly. A man with perfectly trimmed hair, shiny shoes, tuxedo with tails wearing a pencil thin mustache bowed slightly and said, "Welcome home, Madam Elizabeth".

Startled, Elizabeth replied, "Who are you? How did you get inside my home? Where is my husband?"

"My name is Henry, Ma'am. I am at your service. Master Jason mentioned that he will be attending a wet T-shirt night with a few of his friends from his college days,... after the so-called, Happy Hour, at their usual watering hole that is. He also mentioned something about a certain strip club, but he did not go into details. He will be returning very late tonight, I suspect. He has arranged my services for you. I am to assist you tonight as you wish."

After a slight pause, Henry continued, "May I take your things and prepare a cocktail for you?"

As Elizabeth stood on the covered porch of her home, she wasn't sure about having a stranger in her house while Jason wasn't home. What would the neighbors say? After all, this middle-class neighborhood wasn't exactly Beverly Hills. She reasoned that apparently, Jason had arranged for Henry and had screened his resume and references very well before hiring him, she assumed. Still, she wasn't quite comfortable with all this.

Henry spoke again, "Ma'am,... I believe Glenfiddich is your preferred Scotch enjoyed over a small amount of ice. Is it not?"

Well, Jason had coached him well, she thought. Elizabeth responded, "Yes, Henry. That would be lovely. Thank-you." She stepped forward, presented Henry with her purse and her briefcase, which he carefully placed together on the small table in the foyer. He closed the door behind her and quietly disappeared into the kitchen to fix the drink.

One by one, Elizabeth balanced herself against the table and bent her knees backward to carefully remove her shoes. She paused to look into the foyer mirror and checked her makeup. She still looked pretty good considering the day she had. She had that kind of beauty. She wondered what Henry thought of her. That damned Jason! Going to a strip club with his frat buddies the night before their anniversary! He did that once before and she vowed she would never let him forget it. Well, at least this time, he made alternative arrangements that I am not alone. He better have big plans for tomorrow, though - hangover or no hangover. There will be no excuses.

Silently, Henry reappeared with a tray, napkin and a short glass of Scotch over ice. It was just what she needed now. She picked up the glass and took a big sip. It was cool going down followed almost immediately by an overall calming and relaxing effect that took hold on her whole body from the top downward. Perfect. She looked at Henry and said, "Do I smell something cooking, Henry?"

"Yes, ma'am. I'm preparing dinner for you. It should be ready in about one hour. Would you like to freshen up before dinner is served?"

"Yes, I would. I think I'll take a nice, hot bath. Would you draw me a bath, please? I'd also like another drink, if you don't mind, Henry."

"It is already done, ma'am. I've taken the liberty of preparing it ahead of your arrival and have been maintaining the water temperature at a comfortable 104 degrees. It should be just about cooled to your liking by now. I have also included a rose scented water soaking treatment for your pleasure. I believe it is your favorite." He handed Elizabeth a small black box with a small red button on it. "Should you require anything while I am attending dinner preparation, please use this call button. I'll have your drink ready shortly."

"That's very thoughtful, Henry." As she turned to go upstairs and get into the tub, Henry bowed and returned to the kitchen. Elizabeth could get used to all this special service. She wondered what else Henry could do. He wasn't bad looking and she was furious with Jason right now. She wanted the whole weekend together. It's a small wonder he hadn't ordered a pizza delivery for her dinner. "Hhmm.", she thought.

She turned from the upstairs hallway and into her bedroom. The bed was covered in rose petals, six large candles were lit and a trail of rose petals were strewn from the bed into the bathroom toward the large, sunken bathtub that she had insisted upon when she and Jason had the house built. She leaned down to test the water temperature under a four-inch layer of scented bubbles. It was just right. Elizabeth took her time removing her stockings and clothes and walked nude over the rose petals and into the bath without thinking. Pointing her toes into the water, she tested the water again before slipping her foot under the bubbles. Then with the other foot before submerging her body full length into the warm water. It was a little warm at first, but she quickly became used to the feeling. It felt comfortable, liberating and safe in her cocoon of bubbles. If there is Heaven, this must approach something like it.

This would be a good time to finish her drink, but she left Henry's call button on the bed with her clothes and her drink on the nightstand. She was just considering yelling for Henry or forgetting the whole idea, when suddenly Henry appeared in the bathroom doorway, wearing a blindfold and holding the serving tray with a fresh drink and the call button. "I'm sorry to intrude, madam, but I've taken the liberty of preparing another cocktail for you should you require it."

Without appearing grateful or impressed, Elizabeth said, simply. "Thank you, Henry. Bring the seat from my vanity and put the tray over here, near the tub." She should be a bit afraid, but she was covered by the bubbles and Henry was blindfolded. After all, he had shown only professionalism up to now with no hint of impropriety. He did it quietly and said, "Will there be anything further, Miss Elizabeth?"

"No, that will be all for the moment, Henry."

"Very well, ma'am. Dinner will be ready when you wish." Henry turned and walked toward the bedroom door and stumbled into it before removing the blindfold and pulling the door almost closed behind him. Elizabeth snickered softly before sipping some Scotch and sinking deeper into the tub up to her neck. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the warmth, the rose petal scent and the softness of her own skin. She dared to let her mind wander and wander, wildly but tenderly. She finished her drink and relaxed. The stress knots in her shoulders were dissipating.

Almost to the point of falling asleep, Elizabeth concluded that it was time to get out of the tub. With no clock in the bathroom, she'd lost track of time. In her haste to enjoy the hot tub, she had forgotten to grab her bathrobe from the closet. Now what? Drip water all over the floor and tiptoe across the carpet? In her relaxed state of mind with a small alcohol buzz, Elizabeth pushed the call button for Henry.

In short order, Henry once again appeared blindfolded at the bedroom door. "Yes ma'am. How may I serve you?"

"I need my white terrycloth bathrobe from the closet. Will you bring it to me, please?"

"Yes ma'am, but I'll need to lift my blindfold to locate it in your closet."

Without extra words Elizabeth acknowledged.

Henry lifted the blindfold from his right eye, located the walk-in closet and the bathrobe then returned to the adjoining bathroom pausing slightly before entering to readjust his blindfold. Henry held the robe open with both hands so that Elizabeth could stand and reach into the robe from behind before closing it.

Before she reached into the arms of the robe, she bent down and flipped her long blond hair upward so that it wouldn't get caught in the neck band of the robe. When she did, Henry's blindfold was brushed up over his forehead and he beheld her beauty, curves and aroma of her. Rose water was glistening on her lovely female form in the two mirrors adjoining both walls of the corner tub.

A small dab of bubbles was sliding slowly down her perfectly pert and slightly weighted breasts toward her erect left nipple. He hoped she would take her time before closing the robe, but the odds were against it. As she reached back to slide her arms into the robe and gather the sides to close it, she glanced into the mirrors to see Henry's eyes reflected at her. The gaze lasted only a few seconds, but it seemed like a long time. Neither of them said a word.

Henry cleared his tightened throat to speak, "Dinner will be served at your leisure, ma'am."

"I'll be down in a moment, Henry."

"Very good, ma'am."

Standing barefoot in her walk-in closet still wearing her white bathrobe and looking puzzled, Elizabeth pondered what to wear. It was, after all, Friday night and she and Jason had always stayed in to decompress after a busy work week. Friday night was their time to be together alone. It was their time to reacquaint themselves to each other - to recharge and re-bond after a harried week of disjointed careers. Usually, she just put on some soft, comfortable flannel-type loungewear set and so did he. Having a formal butler in the house changed things.

Sometimes, after a light, quick-to-fix, dinner or snack, they would just sit closely beside each other on the overstuffed sofa in the living room and watch a romantic movie on their new wide-screen TV. Jason would even sit still for those types of DVDs if Elizabeth was in the mood or if the female leading character was attractive and the story promised at least a semi-nude scene or two. Romance got Elizabeth in the mood; the nude scenes got Jason in the mood - not that he really needed that type of motivation with Elizabeth. It's just the nature of being a man. The goal for each was the same. They just found different ways to get there. They loved each other very much and often found new ways to over-indulge the other. It was always a give-give relationship between Jason and Elizabeth, but never a contest.

With Henry in the house, Elizabeth supposed the flannel jammies were not going to be appropriate and since he was dressed in Tux with tails, she should probably dress up a bit. She selected that little black dress that every woman has at least one of. This one was a classic, selectively revealing and hugging her body in all the right places. It had been some time since she and Jason went to a Symphony Concert when she wore it last. She hoped it would still fit. As she walked out of her closet, the aroma of Italian food came wafting through her bedroom suddenly caused a rumbling sound in her tummy. She looked at her alarm clock on the nightstand of her side of the bed. Her nightly bathtub soak went well into overtime, but she enjoyed the extra relaxation. Who worries over time in their own home with no other plans?

She quickly put on a pair of black pantyhose and stepped into her dress, slipped it up past her hips, slid her delicate arms in and positioned it, just so, before zipping it up the side. "Whew. It still fits." she whispered to herself.

She looked scrumptious and she knew it. Without sitting down in front of her vanity because the stool was still in the bathroom - she brushed out her hair, applied a light hairspray and added a few finishing touches of lipstick. Then she found the special box containing a single strand of pearls that Jason had given her last Christmas and put them on. She looked and felt feminine and special.

Choosing her favorite perfume, she carefully dabbed some underneath her earlobes and her wrists then rubbed them together. Then, out of habit, she added some extra to her cleavage area and behind both knees - a naughty idea she thought of especially for Jason. It drove him crazy sometimes.

Henry was waiting at the bottom of the stairway as Elizabeth walked down. "May I escort you to the dining room, Miss Elizabeth? May I also say you look very lovely."

"Thank you, Henry."

The dining room was dimly lit by candlelight and the soft glow from the chandelier in the mirrored ceiling added extra ambiance. She was glad that Jason had installed the dimmer switch just last week, although they hadn't used it yet for themselves. The table was set appropriately and looked just like a page from Bon Appetite magazine. It couldn't be a more perfect setting for a dinner for one or two.

Henry stood by the chair at the head of the table and held it for Elizabeth to be seated. As she seated herself, Henry took the white linen napkin, shook it out, and placed it squarely in her lap. He then positioned himself where he could be easily seen and asked, "May I serve you dinner?"

Elizabeth was overwhelmed, but she didn't let on. Henry was such a nice gift idea. "Yes, Henry. If you please."

Henry continued, "The dinner menu this evening is Chicken Saltimbocca with side dishes of angel hair pasta in a light cream sauce and grilled asparagus. The lean. chicken breast is flattened very thin. Then a layer of lean prosciutto ham with herbs is added with a third layer of mozzarella cheese and a dab of marinara sauce. It's then rolled in Italian bread crumbs and parmesan cheese before baking. It's a family recipe handed down from my mother's side. I hope you enjoy it. Would prefer Alfredo Sauce or Marinara for your pasta?"

"The light Alfredo cream sauce will be fine, I'm sure," Elizabeth replied.

"Very good, ma'am. Would you prefer the chilled Pinot Grigio or the Chianti Classico Reserva?

"The Pinot will be fine."

"Of course." With that, Henry took away the red wine goblet and left the white wine glass on the table, then bowed to excuse himself to the kitchen.

Quietly and softly, music began to play in the background. Elizabeth didn't recognize the piece of music, but she liked it immediately. It sounded classic, but it wasn't classical... more like a smooth jazz melody with more instruments. It had a soft melody which wasn't repetitious, so it wouldn't interfere with the ambiance by calling attention to itself, but it wasn't elevator music either.

In no time at all, Henry returned with a small plate of Bruschetta and a Caesar salad, then poured a taste of the Pinot Grigio into the glass. Elizabeth tasted it, took a sip, then nodded in the affirmative. Jason spared no expense on the wine. It was definitely not from the grocery store shelves. Henry filled the glass to half, then wrapped the bottle into a white linen napkin and placed it in an ice bucket. He took his place behind Elizabeth, near the dining room wall to await further instructions, should there be anything further required.

The dishes were cleared and Henry brought out the main course. It looked and smelled fantastic. It tasted better than it looked, if that was possible.

The food was delicious, but Elizabeth could only eat about half of it. The wine, however, needed an occasional refilling and Henry was immediately on-hand to perform his duties. She didn't know if she should complement Henry or not. Servants were supposed to know and perform their functions in quiet, efficient and competent fashion without need for complements, she thought. She said nothing, but she was thinking about it. Feeling ashamed, she spoke, "Henry, dinner was absolutely divine. Thank you."

As she indicated she was finished with her main course, Henry asked, "For dessert, ma'am, would you prefer chocolate mousse or Spumoni ice cream with chocolate sauce?"

"Everything has been so perfect, Henry. I would like it if you would decide."

"Very well, ma'am." Henry, once again, quietly disappeared into the kitchen with the dinner dishes. He quickly returned with a dessert dish of chocolate mousse, a plate of strawberries and some whipped cream then set them down on the table in front of her.

Elizabeth's eyes grew wide as Henry spoke, quite inappropriately... for a butler. "It would be my privilege to feed you dessert, ma'am? May I?"

Elizabeth thought, without saying. "Feed me dessert? What kind of butler are you?" By then, the royalty treatment, music, lighting, dinner and the wine were beginning to have their way with Elizabeth - breaking down all her normal defenses. Henry was being the perfect gentleman without subterfuge, and she somehow felt comfortable enough to say in a soft voice, "All right."

Henry slowly removed his tuxedo jacket and hung it on the back of another chair at the opposite end of the table, removed his cuff links and rolled up his sleeves while walking back toward Elizabeth. He pulled a chair alongside hers at the head of the table and sat down. He placed a large clean linen napkin loosely tucking it around her neck and tied it carefully in the back. Elizabeth's heart was already racing. She didn't know what to expect, but she wasn't sure she could stop it now... even if she wanted. No, she was sure she didn't want to stop.

Then slowly, Henry reached for a nice medium-sized strawberry, swirled it deliberately and slowly in the chocolate mousse by the green leaves and then lightly dipped it with only the tip of the strawberry in whipped cream and held it in front of Elizabeth twirling it by the greenery so she could savor the thought of it before the taste. "Please, ma'am. Close your eyes and open your lips."