Wifely Duties

Word Count: 995



         Beth ran up the six flights of stairs to the loft.  All the swimming had certainly paid off.  She’d never have lasted two flights, six months ago.

         She and Drew were meeting a friend for dinner, and she needed to dress.  But as soon as she opened the door a crack she saw lights on and she could hear the low murmur of voices. 

         If Andrew was working she needed to be quiet.  But she could listen.

         “Natalia, why are you acting like this?  We were having such a pleasant afternoon.”

         “You should never have asked me about Sergei and that canister of nuclear waste.”

         “But, you’re the one who mentioned Sergei—I didn’t.”

         Beth could just see Natalia, as she finished typing off the knot she’d been working on.  She’d paused, as if she were trying to think who’d mentioned Sergei, before she shook her head vehemently.  “No!  Nice try, but it wasn’t me.”

         Beth peeped further around the doorway and had to put her hand over her mouth.  Drew was hanging upside down by his ankles from a block and tackle they’d found quaint when they’d rented the loft the month before.

         He was naked, with his wrists bound tightly behind him.  And even in this precarious position, he was trying to charm his way out of the situation.  Natalia, however, was not succumbing to his usual allure.

         Instead of listening to his pleas, she scriggled into a bright red dress as fast as she could.  She found her shoes and was reaching for her bag when Elizabeth crept up behind her and knocked her out cold.

         She found some duct tape and trussed up the unconscious woman before she turned her attention to Andrew.

         As soon as she looked at him, he flashed her a toothy smile.  “Very nicely done, dear.”  He squirmed a bit.  “I’m sure this appears strange, but I assure you, it isn’t what it looks like…”

         “It looks,” she smiled back at him, “as if you and your little playmate here were having a bit of an afternoon romp, you slipped up and asked the wrong thing, so she tied you up and would have killed you if I hadn’t come in.”

         “Well, yes, it’s exactly as it looks, but I can explain.  Now, if you’ll just let me down, I’ll give you a proper hello.  Then we can take care of Natalia and discuss this further over drinks.”

         “I’m not sure.”  Beth said with a grin.  “This is a very unique situation and I’m think one most women would think too good to pass up.”

         “Elizabeth, don’t be cruel.  I know you’re just teasing, but please.  My head is beginning to pound from the blood rushing to my head.  Please, sweetheart, let me down.”

         “We’ll see.  First I want to ask you a few questions—starting with why are you naked?”

         “Ah, well…we took a bath and…”

         “Which bathroom?”

         He looked wounded.  “The ‘business one’ of course.  You know I always follow the rules.”

         “Well, as long as she didn’t use our tub or bubbles, I suppose…”

         He gulped.  “But…we were out of bubbles in the other bathroom and Natalia always did enjoy a good bubble bath.”  She had moved from in front of him and he tried to follow her, but all he succeeded in doing was making himself begin to spin.  “We’ll go find some new bubbles—special new bubbles for us.  All right?  Please.”

         She frowned.  “What about this…I get dressed and meet Jack alone?  If she manages to free herself, she’ll kill you and escape—and Jack can get rid of your body later.  Or, you manage to get loose and take care of Natalia yourself and meet us for a late supper?  I suppose there’s always the possibility you both get free and kill each other.  But that would leave an awful lot of work for Jack and me.”

                "Beth..."

         “Or…” She gave a wide grin.  “And I think this is my favorite…neither of you manage to get loose and we’ll find you waiting when we get back.  Just think of the story Jack will have to tell.  He does so love a good story.  No matter how good it begins, he always manages to embellish it.  Can you imagine what he could make of this?”

         Andrew groaned.  “Don’t even tease me.  Please.  He’d spread this story around—I’d be forced to retire.  We’d have to retreat to some dismal Scottish moor, and live in exile.”

         “I don’t see why I would have to retire or move to the boonies.”

         “Bethy…” he crooned.  “Please let me down.”

         She looked at him.  He was becoming very red.  And she really was only teasing him.  She was trying to figure out how to let him down without dropping him on his head, when he spoke again.

         “Lauren Elizabeth Oliver, let me down this instant!”

         She scowled.  “Andrew…!”

         “If you don’t let me down this instant, I’ll…” He seemed to be searching for something, before he gave her a maniacal grin.  “or I’ll tell Jack your Copenhagen story.”

         “You wouldn’t dare!”

         “Try me!”

         She gave him a good spin and started for the stairs. 

         She was halfway up when he cried out.  “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have threatened to tell something you told me in confidence.”          

         “Supposing I was willing to let you down?  How would I do it without dropping you on your head—hard though it may be?”

         “She’s tied me to those three iron rings.  The easiest thing would be to lift them from the hook there.”

         She bent over and kissed him, “How did you get yourself into this predicament anyway?”

         “Let’s just say it was all in the line of duty and leave it.  The rest is rather embarrassing.”

         “Well, all right.  But only because we need to get dressed before Jack arrives.”

She reached for the rings, thinking how it isn’t always easy being married to a spy.