Mr Norrell sent a note the next day, via Childermass, suggesting that both of them would like to come for dinner in a couple of days. This being quite uncommon for Mr Norrell, it suggested he was indeed interested. A PS specified that they would bring a change of clothing and a few necessities for an overnight stay.
After the end of his lessons that day, Jonathan took the chance to draw Childermass aside. "Have you heard of my wife's unlikely proposition?"
"Aye," said Childermass heavily. "I have that."
"We have no intention of coming between you if you're closely involved," said Jonathan.
"We never really troubled to work out what it was," said Childermass. "It was our business, I could do a fair job of keeping him safe from harm, and nobody else needed to know. Then he fell in love with you, and your wife considered some frankly havey-cavey scheme for her own entertainment."
"So are you about to warn me off or offer to join in?" Jonathan asked.
"I'm most concerned with keeping him safe, sir," said Childermass. "I've been with him a long time, as a servant, a friend, maybe more than that. Doesn't need his heart broken by the next magician to come along."
"Has he spoken to you about having feelings for me?"
"He doesn't need to. After I saw him look at you as if you hung the moon and stars, I knew I might have to look out for him."
Jonathan felt rather uneasy, hoping not to offend Childermass.
"I'd happily have managed without him falling in love with someone else," Childermass went on, "but I make no doubt that there's a difference between a flush of sudden passion and an attachment that took years to form. You have a wife to go home to, and he has me." He lookt Jonathan direct in the eye. "Since we left Hurtfew, I'm the nearest to a home he's got."
"So you're not jealous?" said Jonathan, to make sure.
Childermass chuckled deeply. "If you were in a magic prison where you shared all his work with him, and you were alone together for years, then I'd be raging-jealous. But the love he has for you is a spring fever, fast and hard, and when it fades I shall still be there."
Jonathan nodded. That was definitely the best way all round, and he and Arabella might have been slightly irresponsible taking this so lightly.
"But he's attracted to me?" Jonathan said, just to make sure.
"I think he's tempted by your offer, Mr Strange. Hasn't got his leg over me for a month, what with travel and lack of privacy, and he's started asking me what I think of you."
Jonathan said, "I assure you, Bell believes she would derive great pleasure from our pleasure, but she would never put pressure for any of us to participate if we have the slightest reluctance. If you're not interested we'll say no more about it."
"Didn't say that, did I?" Childermass offered a slightly shark-like grin. "Wouldn't kick either of you out of bed, you or my master. Wouldn't mind watching, either. Especially when he goes from being all modest to being desperate. You've got a fair chance of him just spreading himself out on the bed and begging for your cock."
Jonathan swallowed. His wife's madcap idea was beginning to sound more than a little appealing.
"So we'll come for dinner, and stay, and see how it goes," said Childermass.
FILL: Ménage à Quelques (Norrell/Strange/Childermass, Arabella watching), 4 of 7
After the end of his lessons that day, Jonathan took the chance to draw Childermass aside. "Have you heard of my wife's unlikely proposition?"
"Aye," said Childermass heavily. "I have that."
"We have no intention of coming between you if you're closely involved," said Jonathan.
"We never really troubled to work out what it was," said Childermass. "It was our business, I could do a fair job of keeping him safe from harm, and nobody else needed to know. Then he fell in love with you, and your wife considered some frankly havey-cavey scheme for her own entertainment."
"So are you about to warn me off or offer to join in?" Jonathan asked.
"I'm most concerned with keeping him safe, sir," said Childermass. "I've been with him a long time, as a servant, a friend, maybe more than that. Doesn't need his heart broken by the next magician to come along."
"Has he spoken to you about having feelings for me?"
"He doesn't need to. After I saw him look at you as if you hung the moon and stars, I knew I might have to look out for him."
Jonathan felt rather uneasy, hoping not to offend Childermass.
"I'd happily have managed without him falling in love with someone else," Childermass went on, "but I make no doubt that there's a difference between a flush of sudden passion and an attachment that took years to form. You have a wife to go home to, and he has me." He lookt Jonathan direct in the eye. "Since we left Hurtfew, I'm the nearest to a home he's got."
"So you're not jealous?" said Jonathan, to make sure.
Childermass chuckled deeply. "If you were in a magic prison where you shared all his work with him, and you were alone together for years, then I'd be raging-jealous. But the love he has for you is a spring fever, fast and hard, and when it fades I shall still be there."
Jonathan nodded. That was definitely the best way all round, and he and Arabella might have been slightly irresponsible taking this so lightly.
"But he's attracted to me?" Jonathan said, just to make sure.
"I think he's tempted by your offer, Mr Strange. Hasn't got his leg over me for a month, what with travel and lack of privacy, and he's started asking me what I think of you."
Jonathan said, "I assure you, Bell believes she would derive great pleasure from our pleasure, but she would never put pressure for any of us to participate if we have the slightest reluctance. If you're not interested we'll say no more about it."
"Didn't say that, did I?" Childermass offered a slightly shark-like grin. "Wouldn't kick either of you out of bed, you or my master. Wouldn't mind watching, either. Especially when he goes from being all modest to being desperate. You've got a fair chance of him just spreading himself out on the bed and begging for your cock."
Jonathan swallowed. His wife's madcap idea was beginning to sound more than a little appealing.
"So we'll come for dinner, and stay, and see how it goes," said Childermass.