Barely a Bride (Free Fellows League 1)

Griffin was momentarily at a loss for words. He had given Eastman his instructions before the wedding and had asked that his valet apprise Lady Abernathy’s maid as to the situation. It had never occurred to Griffin that the lady’s maid might choose not to listen or do as instructed. “And what did Eastman tell you?”

“He said that as you and Lady Alyssa—I mean—”

“We know what you mean,” Griff interrupted. Durham continued. “Well, your man said that as you and my lady were on your honeymoon, our assistance wouldn’t be necessary—except for the packing and unpacking. He said you had instructed him that there were to be no interruptions. He was to bring hot water for shaving and bathing and coffee and a pot of hot chocolate to the door of the master’s bedchamber every morning and leave it. He said you would see to the choosing of your own clothes and that I should follow his example and wait until I was called and to never enter the master’s suite or my lady’s chamber without knocking.”

Griffin nodded in confirmation. “Those were my instructions.” He leaned down to whisper in Alyssa’s ear. “Tell me, my lady, is she slow or simply disobedient?” He wasn’t being unkind; he simply wanted to learn the correct way to approach Alyssa’s lady’s maid in order to get results.

Alyssa frowned. Durham had always been an efficient lady’s maid. She had never appeared to be slow or given to disobedience, but she was young and away from home for the first time and, like Lady Tressingham, she had had her heart set on having Alyssa marry the Duke of Sussex. There was more cachet to being a duchess’s lady’s maid than a viscountess’s. “Why didn’t you follow his advice?”

Durham’s expression was mutinous. “Because I’m a lady’s maid,” she answered. “I was trained to be lady’s maid to a duchess. I don’t take my orders from a viscount’s valet. I take my orders from Lady Tressingham or you, and no one else.”

Griffin and Alyssa exchanged glances.

“I take it—” he began.

Alyssa nodded. “My mother hired and trained her.”

“That explains it.” Griffin bit the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling as Alyssa continued to look at him, silently asking for advice. He shrugged his shoulders. “She doesn’t take orders from me, sweet. She only takes orders from you or your mother.”

Alyssa took a deep breath. “Listen, Winifred, and listen closely..

Durham leaned closer.

“My mother isn’t here. Your instructions come from me now and from Lord Abernathy. This is our home. And if you want to be a part of the staff here, you’ll obey the instructions Lord Abernathy and I give.

“So, go to bed. Get out of here. Leave us alone. I appreciate all you’ve done, and I promise to call you if I need you, but in the meantime, Lord Abernathy and I are going to begin our honeymoon.” When Winifred didn’t budge, Alyssa looked her in the eye and elaborated. “That means that Lord Abernathy is going to take off all my clothes and I am going to remove all of his and then we are going to fall into bed together, make mad, passionate love to one another, and do every naughty and pleasurable thing you’ve ever heard whispered about.”

“And a great many things you haven’t heard about,” Griff added. “So, unless Lady Abernathy decides to invite you in to watch or to join us in our fun and games, I suggest you find some other way to occupy your time.”

He hadn’t thought it possible for the little lady’s maid’s eyes to grow wider, but it was.

Durham turned and scurried for the door, slamming it behind her in her haste to escape with her virtue intact.

“That should keep her away for the next two days,” Griff said.

“Or keep her away forever.” Alyssa grinned mischievously. “I may be needing a new lady’s maid.”

“Yes, well…” His blue eyes smoldered with passion when he looked at his wife. “I may be needing more than that. You certainly have a way with words, my Lady Cyprian.” He unfastened the buttons on her short jacket.

Alyssa quickly shrugged out of it in order to give Griffin access to the row of tiny buttons at the back of her dress.

“I am well read, my lord.” She shoved his coat off his shoulders at the same moment he unfastened the last button on her dress.

Griff cocked an eyebrow. “Is that so?” he teased.

She shimmied out of her dress.

“There’s much to admire in the written word.” Griff’s mouth went dry at the silhouette she made standing in front of the fire in her transparent chemise, her dress pooled at her feet. “And more to admire here.” He bowed to her. “You also have a way with disrobing, my lady.”

“I excel at everything I do.” She dropped to her knees beside the wing chair Durham had vacated, then crooked her finger and beckoned him forward.

“Do you now?” Griffin stepped closer.

Alyssa patted the seat of the chair.

Griffin sat.

She slipped between his thighs. “It’s simple really.” Alyssa looked up at him from beneath a veil of thick, dark eyelashes, and Griffin knew he had never seen anyone as beautiful.