Page 25

Ezra pushed his shoulder away from the doorframe and casually strolled inside. He kept his eyes on her the whole time, a slight smirk perched on his chiseled lips as he rounded the desk, then dropped to one knee to inspect her wrapped foot.

Just as it had been that morning, Ezra’s touch was tender as he first undid the wrapping and then placed her heel lightly atop his bent knee. Ezra kept his eyes on Lydia for a moment longer, as if giving her one more chance to admit she disobeyed. When sheonly drew up her brow, Ezra’s lips twitched, and he dropped his gaze to her foot to inspect it.

She was surprised and deeply satisfied when Ezra finished his inspection and grunted approvingly.

“You were looking forward to punishing me, were you not?” She teased as he gently wrapped up her foot again. “Tell me, what did you have planned if I had disobeyed?”

Ezra’s little punishments were both infuriating and amusing to Lydia, and they were never what she expected. The first punishment she received was for going into Ezra’s office for a blank diary; too impatient to wait for his valet to bring her one. When he had found her looking through his shelves, he had said nothing after she’d offered her explanation. The next day though, he’d had hundreds of blank diaries delivered to her rooms, so many that they nearly filled the floor space of the sitting room even when stacked.

The wordsDo not disobey me againwere inscribed beautifully with red ink on a card tucked into the singular diary left on her bed. She had smiled at the card, but she did not enter his office again without his permission.

Her most amusing punishment thus far was a week and a half ago, when she had ignored his request to wear a crimson red gown to dinner instead of the buttercream yellow one she had picked. As before, he said nothing and went about his business. But the next day, as her maid was helping her dress, theydiscovered he had gone into her closet and stolen every corset she owned.

He did not give them back until Alice, Duncan, Beau, and Juliet came for their visit four days later. It had been most annoying at the time, what with her and her maids flying about to fashion some sort of substitute garment, but she now thought it had been a rather clever play.

“Perhaps I would have stolen every pair of shoes you have so you could not walk anywhere,” he mused aloud.

Lydia shrugged as though unimpressed.

“That may keep you from leaving the grounds, Your Grace, but being barefooted is only faux pas when others are present,” she replied haughtily.

Ezra’s ice-blue eyes darkened as a subtle shift took over his features, making him appear less gentlemanly and vastly more rakish.

“Then an old-fashioned spanking will have to suffice.”

Ezra’s words and tone sent a shiver down Lydia’s spine as her imagination quickly worked the image up in her mind. She felt her cheeks flame at the thought and her fingers slowly began to curl into her palms as her middle and ring fingers worried her pale flesh. Ezra beast, yes, but would he take things that far?

She had learned how to follow along with his wry humor when he was in a playful mood, but there was no playfulness in his threats, only a warning and a promise of things to come.

Ezra suddenly cocked his head and drew his lips back from his white teeth, revealing a hungry, wolfish grin.

“Perhaps something like that would not be a punishment to you at all,” he mused, his hand traveling once more along her calf, massaging it meaningfully. “Perhaps you would…enjoy it.”

Like it had this morning, his touch sent a rush of warmth burrowing deep into her, and she fought the urge to let out a soft breath in her throat. Though they had not kissed since their wedding night, the memory had become a dream that visited her three to four times a week. It had been possessive and vicious, and yet somehow tender and deep.

“Well, I did not break your command, so it does not matter in the slightest,” she replied bitingly, sliding her foot off of his knee.

“No?” he mused, giving her a mock look of confusion, “But you were so curious before.”

“Consider my curiosity satisfied,” Lydia remarked with a huff, turning from him.

Ezra let out a low chuckle, but he rose from his hunkered position and took a respectful step back.

“I sent word to Barbier, and the Earl of Charmaine and they responded that they are most looking forward to the united visit. Is all ready?”

Lydia was grateful that he turned the conversation back to business, and yet she could not help but notice the lilt of disappointment she felt when he did so.

“Yes,” she replied, “The menus are set, the rooms are readied, and the entertainment is secured. I have three wives on a tight schedule during the day so you three gentlemen can focus on your business and, well, whatever it is you men do; but your impression of being a kind and doting husband must be spot on in the evenings.”

“Are they not always?” he replied in his usual bored tone.

Yes, Lydia would give him that. When needed, Ezra could put on a rather convincing show of being an honorable gentleman.

“Then we are set,” stated Lydia in a dismissive fashion. “I shall let you get on about your evening.”

Lydia then tried to stand on her own, but she had barely braced her hands upon the desk and chair when Ezra stepped in and lifted her as before.

“Enough of this,” she hissed in annoyance as her body instantly responded to his touch.