Silken sheets and lonely hearts

The Baron's soft murmuring stirred Christelle in her sleep. She always had been a light sleeper in the company of another, but the tone in the Baron's whispers worried her.
Oh my... Mister Baron. We can't have you worry about nightmares under my care.
Carefully she inched closer to him and craddled his shoulder in her bosom, laying a hand against his cheek. When the warmth of her hand started to spread, she turned her hand in a gentle caress and let it slide to his temple.
This usually works. Tomorrow you shall awaken, refreshed and relieved.
For a brief moment the Baron seemed to relax, but before her sleep could continue, his murmuring returned. He turned his head away from her hand. Judging the risk too great to continue there, she let her fingers trace his chest under the covers instead. He was young still, for a Baron, and seemed no stranger to the necessity of physical training. She imagined him a skilled master with the rapier. Meanwhile her warm care seemed to work. A peaceful expression returned on the Baron's face and his breathing indicated a deeper sleep.

She enjoyed the moment and in fact the whole night. In this luxurious establishment, with Dalaran's finest clothing, she was permitted to stand alongside the highest class of society.
Not as equals! she reminded herself. But it was closer than any woman of her age and heritage could dream off. She was permitted to be the dream of these unique and powerful men, even if for only a brief time.

Looking at the Baron in the pale moonlight, she imagined women like her would line up to be with this man. Even now, without the outer masquerade of his impeccable clothing and marks of wealth, his hair loosened and his face deeply lost in a dream, he still had a refined look that would make him stand out in a crowd. Even as he was now, she wouldn't see that line of women become less. With a mild blush she continued to stroke his chest. This job certainly had merrits.

The Baron stirred again, trouble marked on his face. With a mild frown she ran over the checklist in her mind. The scented candles had left the room in an enjoyable atmosphere. The mild breeze cooled the room comfortably, and ensured the guest would enjoy her warm company. The bottle of wine wasn't finished but he did drink more wine before this bottle... She knew as she had served him. The relaxing oils for the massage, the silken sheets, the feather stuffed pillows.. All seemed right. Yet something was amiss. He turned his head, murmuring something incomprehensible.

She pulled her hand back, worried, but to no avail. He turned his head back to her and gasped as he woke up, staring right at her. His wide open eyes still needed time to focus from the deep slumber and temporarily revealed more emotions than she had been able to read from him all night. With a tender look she stared back, her mind scrutinizing him for as many emotions as she could read before this man's well trained emotional shell would wall it off once again: profound sadness, sorrow maybe, somewhat hurt, loneliness and a strange determination. She wanted to read more but he backed away.
That was fast. she thought, mixed between impressed and disappointed that the man had shut off his emotions from her so quickly. She sat up.

"Oh pardon me, Sir. Have I awoken you? You seemed to sleep uneasily. I just wanted to make your worries fade." She bit her lip and lowered her head appologetically. If she guessed right, he'd graciously try to take away her blame. That would be her starting point to get him talking.

- "Such a precious pearl should not loose sleep over this." He appologised in his usual refined manner. He sat up straight and breathed deeply to gather his thoughts.
"Oh no, Sir. I would sleep better knowing that you are relieved of your worries, if only for tonight."
He looked at her with the same stare he'd given her before. It was unfocused on her eyes, yet it felt as if he could reach far deeper into her eyes this way and at same time absorbe her entire image. A part of her wished that he wouldn't be impartial to what he saw. But the stare didn't comfort her. His emotional wall was recovering too fast and his emotions were locking up. She'd have to move first, to avoid he could shut her out with words.
"Please allow me, Sir. Something to help us sleep better."
He returned a gentle nod.

She slipped out of the bed into a mildly transparent, silken night gown that didn't conceal much... Intentionally.
Normally she'd go for a boiling drink, but that plan was foiled. No stove would be found in this establishment, she knew. The mages of Dalaran had other means to heat their drinks and took pride in lacking the comfort for commoners like herself. But Christelle possessed a little magic of her own. A very different kind of magic. With a hollow spoon she heated some honey above a candle till some bubbles arose on the surface, adding a lightly caramelized flavor. She poured the hot liquid in a small cup with a bit of water and stirred it with a clean spoon. This was enough to heat it comfortably. She pressed a few leaves of chamomile against the side.

She walked to the baron, letting the gown flow around her and handed it to the Baron, leaning a little forward with a tender smile. He had taken position on the side of the bed and accepted it with his right hand. He gave her his penetrating stare with a difficult smile.
So he isn't impartial. She smiled inside. But the difficulty to smile had not gone unnoticed. This wall will not come down easily. Better use it against itself.
She took position on his right side, and placed a hand on his right leg. His right arm was trapped by the cup it was holding. She swung her left arm around him and caressed his left arm. Now that one was trapped with warmth as well.

He could talk his way out of it, or succumb to her to avoid having to talk. The walls he had built around him and his impeccable manners would not permit him to refuse her entirely. Certainly not if he was offered such a generous, unspoken choice.
And now for the coup de grace.
"Such a great man as yourself deserves some peace of mind, kind Sir. Will you not let your heart find rest for one night?"
She gave his right shoulder a kiss and laid her head against it, gently caressing his left arm in silence.
The teacup will grant him some time to make up his mind. Either choice he'll make, the Baron will find relief tonight... Compliments of the house.

You have a way with words. I've the feeling the lines are being sung to me. Beautifully written.

Thank you