Literary Lunches!; Lakewater cont.

I actually typed this one up yesterday, and forgot to post! Another one later today too, hopefully! :)

Lakewater
© M. Harley 2011

"I do not want to hear a single word from you." Elaine's finger is level with Lem's eyes, and he closes his mouth obediently. From past experience he knows full well it is much easier to merely comply until her temper cools, however uncomfortable it may be in the meantime. Elaine's eyebrows continue on their skyward march. "Two hours! Two hours I have been waiting for his lordship to make a reappearance. Two hours! Do you think the rushes replace themselves? The common-room is a sty, and I have not even dared to think about dinner! There is a pile of carrots through there-" She pulls a wooden spoon from her apron and brandishes it in the direction of the scullery;"-as high as my-"
"Elaine-"
"Elaine is it?!"
Lem sets his jaw. "My lady, I was only following your explicit directions from this morning."
Elaine refolds her arms, eyes narrow as arrow-slits. "I do not remember instructing you to disappear for the greater portion of the day, young sir."
"I went for a bath. As per your request." He indicates his still sodden hair, brown-black with damp and plastered against his jaw. Elaine gives him a searching glare and Lem furrows his brow in reply. He begins to edge closer to the door, now unwilling to waste further time with this daily confrontation. Elaine's arm blocks his way suddenly, and he bumps against it in his blithe desire for escape. He is a full head taller than her, but Lem is no fool. No-one in their right mind would dare provoke Elaine further, unless they wished to clean the chimneys with bare palms for the next fortnight. She glares up at him, cheeks coloured with blotchy fury, and Lem screws his eyes shut for a heartbeat before acquiescing, and doing the necessary.
"I am sorry, my lady," he says, and if his fingers are crossed behind his back then Elaine either does not see or makes no allusion to it.