Peter loved Kate with all his being, but that didn't mean he'd tolerate an ultimatum from her.
Welcome to another offering for Frisky Friday, where we hope you're getting as excited about the weekend as we are.My submission for this week is from my 5th book, Acting Lessons.
He was a strict and demanding college professor turned professional director who excelled at giving acting lessons. She was his shy and uncertain former student who became a professional actress under his tutelage. They fell in love, married, and won two Tony Awards before tragedy struck and a simple kiss ripped them apart.
After a six month separation, Peter Thorton decides to take matters into his own hands by making his famous wife, Kate, an offer she wouldn't refuse. Plainly put, he wants her back and he intends to do whatever is necessary to achieve his goal, even if it means giving his stubborn, willful leading lady a daily reminder over his knee that she promised to obey him.
In this scene, which occurs at the beginning of Chapter Four, Peter Thorton is attempting to get his wife ready for a trip to a college camp ground in upper New York, where they will appear together in a summer stock production of "Kiss Me Kate." Kate has agreed to help Peter teach the drama students who have auditioned and been selected personally by him for the course he is teaching. Though Kate isn't sure she can trust Peter with her heart again, since she believes he's been unfaithful to her, she's never stopped loving him. And despite having Domestic Discipline originally play a part in their marriage, their last two years together had them living like polite strangers sharing the same house.
Now, however, they are temporarily reconciled with one small problem. After suffering two miscarriages, Kate is afraid to try again. Afraid she'll fail. Peter understands, but because they both want children, he's against her using birth control. Unfortunately, Kate doesn't agree. However, hiding contraceptive sponges in her luggage isn't going to be as easy as she thought, especially when their motherly housekeeper Consuelo enters the room to check on her. Kate does her best to cover the evidence, but Consuelo isn't fooled. Pulling Kate aside, Consuelo informs her what life was like living with Peter after she left him, and then asks Kate if the items she's attempting to hide in her luggage are worth risking her marriage.
"Maybe.
I don't know," Kate admitted,
getting up for a box of facial tissues.
"He is so adamant about certain things, Consuelo, he refuses to
discuss options, which leaves me no choice but to go behind his
back." She blew her nose.
"It
is that serious?"
Kate
nodded. "He would be furious if he
ever found out you knew. So, please, let
me do this part alone. All right?"
"If
Mr. Peter ever found out I let you pack by yourself with your knee hurting, he
might do worse than fire me."
Kate
smiled. "He wouldn't. He needs you too badly. But I don't want you caught in the middle of
our disagreement. Please?"
With
a sigh, Consuelo stood up. "All
right. I guess I can't help if I never
heard you request a second suitcase.
However, if I hear rumors you repacked your suitcases by yourself, I'm
going to be most upset with you, chica."
Kate
took the other woman's hands in her own.
"Thanks."
Though Kate harbors some guilt about using a contraceptive against Peter's wishes, especially one that he could possibly ingest, she feels he has no right to dictate whether or not she can prevent pregnancy. However, attempting to keep a secret like that, from a husband who's determined to ensure you take good care of yourself, carries its own risks. And risks incur casualties.
If you're 18 or older, you can read the first three chapters at Acting Lessons
Buy the book directly from Blushing Books
Thanks for visiting. I hope you enjoyed this brief excerpt and wish you and yours a very Frisky Friday.
What a lovely scene between them Kathryn. Consuelo is more than a housekeeper, she cares about Peter and Kate. It's sad Kate doesn't feel she cwn discuss such an important issue with Peter. I really hope she does talk to him in the end.
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