Page 35 of Mr Winterbourne's Christmas

Sir Edmund had dropped to a crouch and was fiddling with something at the base of the rocking horse—releasing bonds of some description, Adam assumed. Glancing past the gentlemen, Sir Edmund addressed Mrs. Rodney and Miss Greenhill who were standing in the doorway.

“Could I trouble one of you ladies to fetch Lady Arabella’s nightgown?” he asked politely. “It’s over there, on the bed.” He nodded in the direction of the middle cot.

“Of course,” Miss Greenhill agreed, calmly crossing the room and returning with the garment in hand. The gentlemen all turned away while Lady Arabella righted herself and donned the nightgown—even Sir Edmund, which struck Adam as a somewhat redundant gesture.

“I’m decent,” Lady Arabella said at last, sounding subdued. “You can turn around.”

Adam had let Cavendish’s arm go by now, but Lysander still rested a warning hand on his friend’s shoulder.

Perry shot Sir Edmund a dangerous look. “Now, I’ll ask you again,” he said in a deceptively soft voice. “What were you doing to my sister?”

Sir Edmund’s tone was calm. “Over the last few days, your sister and I have become acquai—”

Cavendish made an impatient sound and cut across him. “Just tell me why you were beating her,” he said. “So that we can get to the part where I beat you in return.”

“He was spanking me because I asked him to,” Lady Arabella said tightly, before Sir Edmund could get out a word. “I wanted him to do it.”

Cavendish flushed hard. “What—what nonsense is this?”

Sir Edmund was flushing now too, his gaze moving between Lady Arabella, her irate brother, and Mrs. Rodney, who appeared remarkably unconcerned by what was unfolding, given she’d apparently been expecting a marriage proposal from Sir Edmund.

“This is very embarrassing,” Sir Edmund met Lysander’s sister’s gaze. “I owe you a particular apology, Mrs. Rodney. I can only—”

“What about my sister?” Cavendish interrupted. “She’s the one you were beating black and blue!”

“For goodness’ sake, he wasn’t beating me black and blue,” Lady Arabella said wearily. “He was just spanking me with his hand and as it happens, I was thoroughly enjoying it.”

“Bella, you can’t have enjoyed that,” Cavendish said desperately. “He’s—he’s a rake He made you think you were—

“No,” Lady Arabella interrupted, her tone very firm. She met her brother’s gaze. “Listen to me, Perry. He didn’t make me do anything. He didn’t even suggest it—I did. I asked him to tie me up and spank me. At first he refused, but—”

“Whatdid you say, young lady?” a new voice boomed.

Everyone turned at that. Major Gould was standing in the doorway, looking scandalised. A moment later, his wife and the earl appeared beside him, the earl breathing heavily.

“What’s on earth is going on?” Mrs. Gould demanded, glancing between the players in this increasingly embarrassing and public scene. “We were on our way to bed when we heard all the shouting.”

“The Cavendish chit said she asked Sir Edmund to spank her!” the major told his wife. “Actuallyaskedhim!”

Mrs. Gould gasped and turned to the earl, as though waiting for an explanation.

“Surely there’s been some mistake,” the earl said desperately. “Sir Edmund?”

Sir Edmund’s face was scarlet now, but he didn’t flinch from meeting the earl’s gaze. “No mistake,” he said in a clipped tone. “Well, other than a gross error of judgment on my part—I accept that. But as to the facts? No mistake there.”

“Oh dear,” the earl said faintly. He looked at Mrs. Rodney with plain dismay.

“What about my sister?” Cavendish demanded of Sir Edmund. “She’s the one whose reputation will be in tatters now!”

“Thanks to you, you idiot!” Lady Arabella snapped at him. Then her gaze moved to Sir Edmund and her anger seemed to dissipate. Blinking back tears she said miserably, “I’m so sorry.”

Sir Edmund met her gaze with an unreadable expression. At last he said, softly but implacably, “Go and get dressed. I need to speak to your brother.”

“All right,” she whispered but didn’t move.

Help came in the form of Miss Greenhill, who crossed to her side and began to steer her towards the door. “Come on,” she said with kindly brusqueness. “Gwen and I will come with you.”

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