Page 34 of Mr Winterbourne's Christmas

“Well, if she has, I’m sure we can get her out of it—between the five of us.” He tried to smile reassuringly and mounted the final narrow staircase that led to the topmost floor of the Abbey.

The nursery doors, when they reached them, were firmly closed and all was silent. It seemed no one was there. Lysander glanced at the others over his shoulder. They looked as though they were all having similar thoughts...until a sudden noise from beyond the doors pierced the silence. It was a voice. A soft, female cry.What the—?

Another sound came then—a sharp crack this time—and then that cry again, followed by the rumble of a distinctly masculine voice.

Oh, dear God, Lysander thought. He turned to Perry, to say something, but Perry was already moving, pushing past Lysander to throw the door open and crash inside.

“Bella!” he shouted. “Are you all right?”

“Perry!” Lysander hurried after him, following his stumbling form into the dark nursery, Adam following on Lysander’s heels. The central room was empty, but Perry rushed onwards, tugging open the door to the boys’ bedchamber where Lysander had taken Adam earlier.

And that’s where they found Bella, bent over the broad back of the rocking horse with her bare bottom in the air...and Sir Edmund Hunt standing beside her.

Chapter 13 - Adam

“You fiend!” Cavendishyelled—loudly—and launched himself at Sir Edmund.

“Perry!” Bella screamed from her undignified position. “Don’t you dare touch him!”

Adam and Lysander both lunged for Cavendish, grabbing an arm each and hauling him back from a wide-eyed Sir Edmund. Christ, Cavendish really was a big bugger, and strong as an ox. He strained against them and Adam had to use all his strength to hold him.

“Perry,” Lysander gasped, “Calm down for God’s sake!”

“What were you doing to my sister?” Cavendish shouted. “You scoundrel!”

“If you’ll calm down, we can discuss this in a civilised manner,” Sir Edmund said, though he was busy slipping off his coat in apparent contradiction of his own words. It was only when he draped the coat over Lady Arabella’s naked rear that Adam realised he hadn’t taken the coat off in anticipation of a bout of fisticuffs with Cavendish.

“What are you doing?” Cavendish howled.

“Tending to Ara—I mean, Lady Arabella,” Sir Edmund said haughtily. “Unless you think we should leave her tied up while you scream your head off.”

“Don’t touch her!” Cavendish yelled again, straining once more against Adam and Lysander.

“Oh, shutup, Perry!” Lady Arabella yelled back. “He’s untying me, you idiot.”

Cavendish stilled, but his expression was troubled. “Why are you sticking up for him? He was hitting you!”