The Courtship (Sherbrooke Brides 5)

“It is a ridiculous suggestion,” Lord Beecham said, his voice overloud. He jumped to his feet and began pacing the drawing room. “Helen, you haven’t ever once intimated that you believed this could be the case. A shadowy character who is hiding his identity from us? Who is pulling all the strings? And we are just a bunch of puppets on a stage? Absurd. You drew that out of one of your silly women’s novels, didn’t you?”

“Oh, dear,” Alexandra said. She rose, shook out her skirts, and walked to stand directly in front of Helen. “I have the beginnings of a headache, Helen. I need you to ask Teeny to dab some rose water on my temples.”

“I will tell Teeny that she is needed,” Flock said from the doorway. “I will at the same time make certain that Nettle is nowhere near her, causing mischief.”

Lord Hobbs’s eyebrows went up. “There appears to be disharmony here, my lord.”

“Which lord?”

“Why you, Lord Beecham. This is your house, is it not?”

“Yes, and Miss Mayberry is my betrothed.”

“Ah, yes. I see. A pity.” Lord Hobbs rose. “I will continue with my inquiries. I assume all of you are well involved as well?”

There were nods from all over the drawing room.

“Have you discovered any more about this mysterious and ancient lamp t

hat has more power than the devil himself?”

Lord Beecham opened, then quickly shut, his mouth. No, he would keep quiet about that. That was what Helen wanted. They shook their heads.

Once Lord Hobbs was out the front door, Helen turned on Lord Beecham and yelled right in his face, “Your behavior was very childish. You sounded like a petulant little boy. You deserve a Level Eight for that.”

“What’s a Level Eight?” Ryder Sherbrooke asked.

“They’re speaking of discipline,” Douglas said. “Level Eight is serious business. Just what is involved, Helen?”

“I won’t tell you, Douglas. I will, however, tell Alexandra so she may use it on you whenever she decides you deserve it.”

“I want to know, too,” Sophie Sherbrooke said. “I want to know all the levels. I want to torture Ryder. I want to make him howl.”

Alexandra rubbed her hands together. “Yes, I want to know more about bindings and knots and ropes and such. Douglas is very forceful. He is also very big. I want him helpless. I want him entirely focused on what I am doing to him. Is this possible?”

“Oh, yes,” said Helen. “All right, ladies, I suggest that all of us adjourn to Spenser’s study. I will explain to you the disciplines I’ve developed that fit each Level. We can also devise new ones if you like.”

“Well, damn,” Ryder Sherbrooke said, staring at his departing wife. “What are we in for, Spenser?”

“A variety of punishments that will surely curl your toes.”

Douglas said, “I must ask Helen to tell me the level of the exquisite discipline my dearest wife performed on me last week. Curled toes was just the beginning.”

“By God, this is wonderful,” Ryder said, rubbing his hands together. “I’m very glad Sophie and I stopped by, Spenser. I doubt we can manage to keep our minds focused, but perhaps you should tell me more about this lamp business before the ladies return, fire in their eyes and discipline plans overflowing their brains.”

“She wants me helpless, does she?” said Douglas, and he sat back in his chair, crossed his arms over his chest, and gazed off at nothing at all.

“Before we speak of the lamp,” Spenser said, “let me give you several examples of Helen’s discipline system.”

“Ah, yes,” Douglas said. “Then I will tell you what I came up with just last Saturday morning.”

“What an unexpected pleasure this visit has turned out to be,” Ryder said and drank his tea as he sat forward, all attention, not even realizing the tea was cold.

Spenser frowned at all of them. “I just remembered. We must plan our formal engagement ball. I want everyone in London to be here.”

“Yes, yes, we’ll do all that,” Ryder said. “But first things first, Spenser.”

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