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“Ouch!” she exclaimed; her voice oddly hollow in the stillness of the night. She came to a halt and listened. The crying seemed to have stopped.
Where was Gregory? He had been gone ages. She’d finally decided enough was enough, and despite running the risk of the threatened spanking, she’d made the decision to go and find him.
She wondered whether he had already returned to the bedchamber. She dithered, undecided what to do.
“Holly? I ordered you to stay in bed!”
She started guiltily at Gregory’s approach.
“You were gone for so long; I became anxious,” she explained hastily.
Hetskedcrossly. Placing his free hand in the centre of her shoulders, he guided her back along the passageway into their chamber where he set the lamp down safely. He pointed to the bed.
“Get in, before you catch a chill. You are lucky I don’t take you over my knee for such flagrant disobedience.”
Holly scrambled into bed, pulling the covers up under her chin, fully aware they would offer no protection if Gregory decided to spank her. A sudden thrill shivered down her spine at the thought. He hadn’t hurt her with that stinging swat earlier. It had stung, yes, but her nightgown had absorbed most of the blow.
She watched his tall muscular frame as he bent to tend the fire; Holly acknowledged that it had been quite exciting to have him take charge in such an unexpected way. She wriggled, and that odd wetness seeped from her quim once more. Gregory said it was a natural reaction; he even appeared pleased that she leaked. However, Holly found the sensation unsettling.
He threw off his robe and joined her in the bed where he hauled her against his chest.
“We have lost too much of the night. Sleep,” he commanded.
“But what caused the commotion?” she asked, rearing her head indignantly.
Gregory gave a weary sigh.
“As I suspected, a maid had simply suffered a nightmare. Now go to sleep before I decide to spank your delectable bottom,sansnightgown.”
Holly immediately cuddled down upon his chest, giving a little shiver of something that was definitely more than apprehension.
CHAPTER9
There was a clatter and a bang. Holly woke startled by the noise. Rising to her elbow she discovered it was only her maid, Matilda. She had placed a shovel of coal onto the fire. It was freezing. Matilda handed her a shawl and Holly wrapped it close about her.
“Good morning, milady. The master said to let you sleep until ten because you’d had a bad night,” Matilda said, crossing to open the curtains. The chamber was instantly flooded with bright white light.
“We had a significant snowfall last night; ‘tis so cold!”
Holly slipped from the bed to join her maid at the window. The view across the gardens and parkland beyond sparkled, the world transformed into a blinding crystalline wonderland.
“Good lawd, whatever is that?” Matilda exclaimed, pointing at three black, moving objects which stood out stark against the pristine white of the landscape. “A group of enormous crows?” Holly mused humorously. Matilda giggled.
“Actually, I think mayhap they are children, playing in the snow. How sweet... They must be from one of the tenant cottages,” Holly guessed.
“Mr Williams won’t be pleased if he sees them, the cheeky devils,” Matilda said, nodding sagely.
Her gaze turned to her mistress who was now shivering in her bare feet while peering out of the window.
“Miss, you’ll freeze, an’ whatever will his lordship say then? Climb back into bed and drink your tea while ’tis still hot. I shall fetch water for your wash. Oops, I called you ‘miss’ again…sorry, Milady, I meant, milady!” Matilda gabbled over her shoulder as she left the chamber to retrieve the promised water.
Arrivingin the hall warmly dressed a little while later, Holly was met by her husband. Gregory looked somewhat foreboding.
“Come with me to the drawing room. There are some things that I feel the need explaining to you.” He gestured her to go before him.
Holly trudged into the withdrawing room, wondering what she could possibly have done now that had annoyed him. A fire burned merrily, throwing out much-needed heat. She was glad Matilda suggested she wore a velvet gown today for warmth. Even though it was a dull navy and was her least favourite, it did offer protection from the chill.
Settled by the fireside, Holly held out her hands to the heat. Gregory began to speak.
