Free A Changed Agent by Tracey J. Lyons Page A

right. I probably wouldn’t have even noticed them if my trunk hadn’t fallen from the porter’s wagon! There I was, standing with my clothing strewn at my feet! Their uncle came to my aid.” She felt her face burning as she thought about how he’d handled her delicates.
    Across from her, Amy chuckled. “Let me guess, you had some of your silk stockings in the trunk and this Mr. Benton saw them.”
    “Worse. He picked them up and handed them to me.” Shaking a finger at the grin on Amy’s face, she scolded, “This is not funny!”
    “I’m so sorry . . . Elsie, I’ve seen your chemises and know about your fondness for those silk stockings.” She managed to stifle the next giggle.
    Leaning in close, Elsie lowered her voice even though there was no one else in the shop at this hour. “It isn’t proper for a gentleman to see a lady’s unmentionables. Or have you forgotten your manners, Amy?”
    Wiping her eyes, Amy shook her head, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief. “The image of you and Mr. Benton together picking up your unmentionables .”
    “You wouldn’t find the situation funny if it had been you, Miss Amy Montgomery!”
    Remembering the incident set Elsie to blushing again. The man’s grin had told her he liked what he saw. For all her innocence, she recognized desire when she saw it. She imagined he was the sort of man who could have a woman swooning at his feet with just a glance. Elsie wished she could say she’d been immune to his look, but that would be a lie. The minute he’d picked up her stockings and looked at her with those dark eyes, she’d felt something akin to a storm brewing in the pit of her stomach.
    And now she’d agreed to reside in the same house with him and the children. The children needed her. No matter what, deep in her heart, she knew her thoughts and actions were for the benefit of Minnie and Harry. They needed her . Even if she did feel the slightest bit of interest in their uncle, she would keep her distance from Mr. Benton. To Amy she said, “I’ve prayed hard about this family, and I feel the Lord wants me to be with them.”
    Amy reached across the table, patting her hand. “Then that is where you should be. You also need to be honest with yourself. Are you sure there isn’t something else going on?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I mean are you attracted to Mr. Benton?”
    She shook her head. She wouldn’t let herself think about the man as anything other than the children’s uncle. “Don’t be silly, Amy. I’m only there to help with Harry and Minnie.”
    Amy began to clear up their dishes. “So where does this leave you and Mr. Jensen?”
    “I’m going to continue to keep him in my prayers. I fear he’s fallen on some very hard times. And I suppose I’ll keep his packet in a safe place until he comes for it.”
    The bell above the bake shop’s door rang as a customer entered. Elsie caught the way Amy checked her hair, then quickly changed her dust-covered apron for a clean one.
    She saw John Oliver striding over to the service counter. Taking the dishes from her, Elsie nudged her arm with an elbow. “You go on and take care of him. I can see to the dishes.”
    Pulling her into a quick hug, Amy thanked her.
    After clearing their tea service, Elsie walked out from the back room and Mr. Oliver bid her good morning.
    “I hope you found the apartment to your liking.”
    “I did. My father helped me bring my things over earlier this morning.”
    “Good. I’m pleased everything is going to work out for you and Will.”
    Anxious to see how Minnie and Harry had fared last night, she gathered her things. The wall clock struck eight times. “Oh dear! Look how the time is getting on. I have to go open up the schoolhouse. Thank you again for tea, Amy.”

Chapter Six
    Stepping outside, Elsie was hailed by the town’s postmaster, Avery Scott, a short, balding, bespectacled man. Crossing the street to see what all his fuss was about, Elsie said,