“At once.” The footman hurried off, documents in hand.
Miss Oak and her orphanage thus sorted, Stephen returned to his cousin’s accounts and correspondence. Little was urgent, but Stephen had discovered he was extraordinarily efficient with the promise of a rendezvous with a beautiful woman pending. He made quick work of the matters that remained.
The next time he lifted his head, it was six of the clock. The sun would not fully set for another two and a half hours, but already a chill breeze had rolled in over the chalk downs and limestone ridges.
Or perhaps Stephen was especially sensitive because his chest and arms were naked beneath his waistcoat.
He rose from the desk to go and close the windows. When Stephen turned around, he was no longer alone in the study.
Elizabeth stood in the doorway, a sword stick in hand and a mischievous expression on her face.
“Our rendezvous begins now?” he asked.
She inclined her head. “This very moment. Unless you are too busy?”
“I would walk away from being crowned King of England to spend one more minute with you.”
The corner of her mouth quirked. “We’ll see if you say the same thing after you’ve seen your surprise.”
Intrigued, he joined her in the corridor. “Should I put on more clothes?”
The look she sent him was withering.
“Should I… remove all my clothes?”
“We’ll see,” she replied loftily.
His cock twitched in anticipation. But it grew three sizes the moment Stephen realized where Elizabeth was leading him.
“Your bedchamber?” he asked hoarsely.
She arched an eyebrow outside the door. “This time, I’m inviting you. Don’t make me regret it.”
He shook his head earnestly. “Never.”
She opened the door and pulled him inside, then waggled her brows. “Tonight, I’m at seventy-five percent.”
A low fire burned behind the grate. Several cushions and pillows were strewn artistically before it. The bed was made, the entire chamber impeccably clean and orderly… Except for a horrifically lopsided tower of miscellaneous rubbish nailed together in listing, slapdash fashion in the center of the room.
“And what,” Stephen asked as politely as he could, “is that wooden abomination?”
She dug an elbow into his ribs. “Behave, or you don’t get your surprise.”
“It’s beautiful,” he said at once. “Excellent craftsmanship. You should design all my devices.” He considered the monstrosity from all angles. “Just one small question.”
She rested her sword stick against the wall. “Ask.”
“Um.” He would have loosened his cravat if he were wearing one. “What is it?”
“A custom contraption,” she said brightly. “It’s your gift. I made it for you.”
“You shouldn’t have.” He stared at it even more dubiously. “Thank you?”
She curtsied. “It was my pleasure.”
“Er… What does it do?”
She pointed with a finger. “Press that lever and find out.”
