Rays of mid-morning sun danced through the curtains to the lids of Emilia's eyes, clenched shut in irritation. Not a breeze stirred the thick summer air outside the open window and the drapes hung limply. Emilia, a young woman of 23, felt so weary and stifled by the weather that any movement sounded tiresome. Still, insufferable temperatures or no, the summer house in upstate New York had to be run and cared for before her family moved back to the city. Peter, Emilia's new husband, had barely spent a week on their honeymoon before going back to her father's law office to work. Emilia had been so prepared for a summer of love only to be disappointed and sore after one quick meeting of amorous congress. Pulling up her damp negligee, she ran her long, delicate fingers down her smooth abdomen to the secret crevice between her legs. In spite of being alone, she had discovered a new favorite pastime with Peter away and found thinking of First Lady Frances Cleveland more than helpful.
Suddenly a knock at the door interrupted Emilia's cunny play and forced her to quickly cover herself again. Upon Emilia's vocal acquiesce Anne, a freckled and curvaceous woman of thirty entered the room with a silver tray. Her rosy cheeks and some loose, frizzy curls around her face were the only sign of the temperature on her person. As she set down the tray on the nightstand, Emilia rolled onto her side to see what Anne had brought. 'Surely it's too hot for coffee and toast," she thought.
"Oh Anne, you gem! You've brought me a cold compress for my head," Emilia cooed from the bed.
"Most fine ladies need some extra enticement to get out of bed on such a hot day," Anne said, "Strangely, the heat never bothered me much."
Emilia sat up, like a dog waiting for a treat, on the edge of the four post bed and waited while Anne soaked the cloth in the water basin. Emilia's thin nightgown clung to her slight body's curves as she watched Anne's rough yet elegant hands wring the excess water out. She felt a strong desire to be that hand towel, in Anne's strong, capable hands, and have the increased wetness wrung from her body. Emilia felt a chill shoot down her back as she watched Anne unroll the damp towel and turn towards her.
"Lay down, ma'am, and close your eyes," Anne commanded gently.
Emilia complied and felt the cool cloth lay down over her eyes and the shift of weight as Anne sat down beside her. She sighed in relief and felt goose bumps grow on her skin, but in response to what she couldn't be sure. The cold compress was a Godsend, but Anne's closeness stirred something in her as well.
"You would feel much cooler out of that nightdress, ma'am. May I help you out of it? You won't have to move," Anne whispered next to Emilia's ear.
