The Courtship (Sherbrooke Brides 5)

Her feet. She tried to bring up her legs to smash him in the back. He had secured her ankles as well, again with those lovely cravats of his.

She stopped and just looked up at him.

He was smiling down at her. It was a smug smile, one also filled with joy—an odd combination, but it was so. She didn’t know what to think, but she knew that she could not allow it to continue.

She tried not to grit her teeth, but it was difficult. She had to start somewhere, and so she said, “You will release me this very instant.”

“I don’t think so, dearest. You would try to pulverize my liver.”

“No, I swear I won’t. I won’t even destroy your bloody manhood. Let me go now.”

“That is a lie of considerable width and breadth, Nell. Now, we do have a bit of a problem, and I want you to know that I have given it a lot of thought. When you must need relieve yourself, I will release both ankles and the wrist that’s right here closest to the side of the bed. I will bring the chamber pot close to the bed. You will be able to manage. To assure myself that it could be done, I myself tried it earlier this morning. I was successful.

“You have slept a long time. Now, before you have your breakfast that I have myself prepared for you, let me release your hand and your ankles. And, Helen, don’t be foolish. Relieve yourself, no more than that.”

She didn’t say a word. To be honest, she was still too befuddled. She was alert, but befuddled.

“You kidnapped me?”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I did. I even carried you and your valise over my shoulder, out of your bedchamber window. I didn’t falter even once. I am still standing tall, at a minimum at least two inches taller than you.”

“But why? Why are you doing this to me?”

“Mrs. Toop wants me to teach you more about discipline.”

He released her right wrist and her ankles. He rubbed feeling back into them. “There. Now, I am not going to leave the room because I know you will immediately try to undo the knot on your other wrist. I will be right here.”

He patted her cheek lightly and walked back to the fireplace.

She used the chamber pot. He turned to see her begin to work on the other wrist knot. He grabbed her free hand and pulled it back above her head. “Lie down, Helen. Don’t fight me.”

It was like telling a maddened tiger not to attack the nearest moving creature. She yelled and kicked with her legs and tried to jerk her hand free of his. She got a couple of good licks with her feet, but he finally managed to find the exact position to do away with any leverage she had. He tied her wrist back against the thick headboard.

He stood over her. “That was a nice try. Now, would you like your breakfast?”

“I will kill you, Spenser.”

He leaned down and kissed her hard, jerking back before she could bite him.

He smoothed her nightgown over her legs. Then, almost as an afterthought, and before she could fight, he pulled her right ankle out and tied it again. He had her now. “Very nice. Now let me tie your left ankle.” She tried to kick him, but couldn’t manage it. Soon, her legs were nicely spread.

“After breakfast, dearest, we will enjoy dessert,” he said, and whistled his way out of the bedchamber.

He heard her yelling after him, hurling curses laced with various animal parts—all in all, not very creative—and he smiled.

She didn’t have a chance.

23

FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER Lord Beecham brought his captive some warm scones, sweet butter, apricot jelly, and a pot of tea he had made himself.

“The scones are not completely fresh. Mrs. Toop made them yesterday, at the inn, just for this special occasion. However, I did build a fire in the fireplace. The scones are all softened up, nice and hot.”

“What did you mean by dessert?”

He loved her mind. “Discipline, my sweet. Everyone

seems anxious for me to teach you more about this very interesting topic. Perhaps you have become too predictable in your approach, too unimaginative. It is time to infuse new ideas, give new perspective.”