She crossed back to him to run her hands down his chest and stomach all the way down to grip his hard cock.No one should be allowed to be this gorgeous.“I think perhaps I like your plan for the day after all.”She bent to lick one of his nipples.“But we must be quick; I do have things to do today.”
“That I can’t promise.”He threw her over his shoulder and smacked her backside as he strode over to the bed.She cackled with glee, the laughter cracking open her chest and releasing the last of her doubts.There was no other place she would rather be.
*
They were latefor breakfast.Matthew explained that because the club was closed, even the chef had the day off.Ben and he shared the task of making food for the group that lived at the Angel full-time.Ben had breakfast duty this week.When they arrived in the kitchen, the big man was bustling around the kitchen, handing plates heaped with potatoes, sliced hard-boiled eggs, and toast to those who trickled in.
Mrs.Todd sat at the table with Robert, supervising his use of his fork and knife.She frowned at Ben as he moved around the kitchen.
Ben’s head turned and he smiled at them.“Coffee, boss?And you, Miss Harper, tea?”
“Thank you, that would be lovely.”Elizabeth slid onto a chair next to Robert and gave the top of his head a kiss.“Good morning, darling.”
“Good morning, mama,” he replied with his mouth full of potatoes.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full.”She turned to Mrs.Todd.“What’s the matter?”she murmured softly.
“Ben won’t let anyone help him.Even though he was up just as late as all the others.”She didn’t moderate her voice at all.
Ben looked over at her, his hands full of two more plates of food.“Oh, it’s all right.I like taking care of people.”He set the plates in front of two of the dancing girls.
They fluttered their lashes at him and flashed him big smiles.“Thanks, Big Ben.”
The teakettle whistled shrill and loud.Mrs.Todd stood with a huff.“And who takes care of you, Ben?”She grabbed up a towel and pulled the kettle off the stove.She pushed Ben out of the way with her hip and poured hot water into the teapot on the counter.
Ben stared down at her with his mouth agape.Then he shook his head and reached for the canister of tea from a high shelf.He held it out.Mrs.Todd efficiently portioned tea into the sieve while Ben prepared Matthew’s coffee.They stood side by side, and Mrs.Todd dished food onto plates as Ben tended to the pan of potatoes frying in the cast-iron skillet.He kept sneaking looks over at Mrs.Todd, and Elizabeth’s heart melted a little.
Matthew slid into the spot next to her, vacated by Mrs.Todd, and Elizabeth bumped his shoulder with hers.She tipped her head at Ben.Matthew smiled at the goofy look in Ben’s eyes.He leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Mrs.Todd has just won his undying devotion.He turns into a puddle at the smallest kindness.”
Elizabeth accepted a plate of food from Mrs.Todd and then watched the two of them interact while she ate.They were adorable.Ben flushing red anytime Mrs.Todd took charge and helped him with some small task.Mrs.Todd bustled over to the counter with the sink and called over the two girls who had finished eating.“If you two are done, you can come help me clean up these dishes.”The girls glanced at each other in surprise but rose and cleared plates from the table.“Come, I’ll wash, and you dry and put them away.”
Ben picked up an apron and stepped up behind Mrs.Todd.He reached around her to tie the apron in place.“You don’t want to get your pretty dress dirty.”
Mrs.Todd tipped her head back to look up at him with a smile.“Thank you.”They stood like that for a long minute before Ben stepped back.
Elizabeth exchanged a look with Matthew, who waggled his eyebrows, making her laugh.“I need to go to the market to buy food for supper.Would you and Robert like to come and help?Sunday at Covent Garden Market is always fun.”
“Yes!Can we, mama?”Robert asked.
“Yes.If you don’t mind, I need to stop by my house to see what’s in the tip box, and I need to do a little bit of work.Then we could go shopping?”
“No problem.Robert, are there any other toys you’d like to bring from home?”
Robert screwed up his little face.“Maybe my blocks and another book.I’m tired of the one about the kittens.”
“How could you possibly be tired of kittens?”Stella swept into the room with Pitter-Patter cradled in her arms.
Robert ran over to her and hugged her legs.“Oh, I would never get tired of Pitty-Pat.Can I hold him, please?”
“Of course.That would be a great help while I put some food together for his breakfast.”She handed over the little cat, and Robert went over to sit with him on the rug in front of the hearth.
Elizabeth sighed.They were never going to get going now that he had that kitten to play with.She pulled out her pocket watch.It was already almost ten o’clock.
Matthew brushed his fingers across her cheek.“Why don’t you go ahead and Robert and I will come in a bit and pick you up to go to the market.”
“That would be lovely.I just need to get things ready for tomorrow when my staff arrives.I have one article to write, and then I need to look through the tips left in the box.Could you come fetch me in maybe two hours?”
He nodded.“But you must let Jim or Harry walk you to work.No arguing.”
