Page 129 of Arcane Entanglement
“Lamb,” Viggo snorted, tears streaming down his face.
Evander pinched his back, to no avail.
“—and the beast! Why the beast made such terrible impressions on his pristine skin! It must have hurt his Grace! It’s—oh, it’sawful, Mrs. Sinclair!” the maid fairly sobbed.
“I was right,” Hargrove inserted gleefully into the conversation. “It was that kind of beast.”
Evander looked down at his body under the blanket and sucked in air at the sight of the dozens of love bites Viggo had left on him. He scowled at the Brute.
Viggo chortled, unrepentant.
Mrs. Sinclair and Hargrove appeared in the doorway, the tearful maid hovering behind them.
“Oh.” Mrs. Sinclair froze and blinked.
Hargrove’s face split in a know-it-all grin that made Evander swallow a curse.
“Good morning, Mrs. Sinclair, Mr. Hargrove.” Viggo smiled pleasantly, not in the least bit embarrassed by his nakedness. “It appears we are to be blessed with another wonderful day.”
Mrs. Sinclair glanced at the sunlight streaming through the windows and the birds chirping merrily in the trees outside, as if wondering what the weather had to do with the depraved sight before her.
The housekeeper swiftly regained her composure and squared her shoulders.
“Good morning, Mr. Stonewall.” She turned to the confused maid. “Rosie, this is Mr. Stonewall. He is his Grace’s friend?—”
“Lover,” Viggo interjected smoothly.
“—lover,” Mrs. Sinclair corrected without losing a beat.
“I can see why Rosie thought his Grace had been eaten by a beast, Mrs. S.” Hargrove arched an eyebrow. “It seems our Lord and Mr. Stonewall spent the whole of last night indulging in some rather wicked?—”
Mrs. Sinclair stomped on Hargrove’s foot.
The manservant grunted.
“Shall I serve a meal for two in the breakfast room, my Lord?” the housekeeper said serenely after shooing Hargrove and the maid away. “Say half an hour?”
Evander sighed. “Make it an hour.”
The whole household will be talking about this for days.
That thought did not bother him as much as it should have. And that had everything to do with the man he’d just spent an unforgettable night with.
Evander realised Mrs. Sinclair was still standing in the doorway.
The housekeeper fidgeted. “Would you like a salve, my Lord?”
Horror widened Evander’s eyes.
Viggo turned his head and bit his knuckles, shoulders quaking.
“No!” Evander yelped. He swallowed, his tone growing more composed. “I mean, no, thank you, Mrs. Sinclair.”
Mrs. Sinclair wrung her hands. “My Lord, I can also heal your—” She faltered, her gaze dropping pointedly to the blanket. “I have changed your diapers after all.”
Viggo strangled another snort at that.
Evander’s face went even hotter. “I am quite alright, Mrs. Sinclair. Away with you.”
