A Spinster at the Highland Court: A Second Chance Highlander Romance

Genres: Historical Romance

Synopsis

A spinster lady in waiting...

After four broken betrothals, Elizabeth Fraser believes her father’s political ambitions will keep her from ever finding a husband. Content to be considered on the shelf, Elizabeth would rather be left in peace as one of the queen’s ladies in waiting than engage in flirtations that lead nowhere. She never expected one chance encounter months ago would alter the future she had accepted. Will Elizabeth give Edward a second chance to prove he wants more than a dalliance?

A warrior wanting to return home...

Edward Bruce, the adopted younger brother of King Robert the Bruce, is tired of fighting the English in Ireland. Loyal to his brother but homesick, Edward returns to Robert’s Scottish court in hopes of settling down once more in the Highlands. Edward recognizes the beguiling Lady Elizabeth from a brief meeting that involved one dance and a rushed conversation on the terrace. He still can’t believe the rumor she started to protect her friends. Drawn to her dry wit and independent nature, Edward realizes that his new home will require one particular lady of the keep. Can Edward prove to his Highland lady that his intentions are sincere before time runs out?

A hidden threat…

When Elizabeth and Edward realize their lives are in danger, they must rely on the Sinclair brothers and their wives to help them investigate who might want them dead. Courtly intrigue follows them as their new love blooms and a home in the Highlands calls to them. If you love romance with intrigue and characters that come to life, then you’ll love Celeste Barclay’s steamy A Spinster at the Highland Court.

Welcome to Robert the Bruce’s Highland Court, where the ladies in waiting are a mixture of fire and ice. The Highland Ladies, spin-off series from Celeste Barclay’s The Clan Sinclair series, returns to the Medieval royal court for love and intrigue. A Spinster at the Highland Court is the much requested and highly anticipated story of Elizabeth Fraser who appeared in both His Highland Pledge and His Highland Surprise. She finally has her own steamy love story and HEA. This a full-length novel. The novella previously appeared in the Once Upon a Christmas Wedding anthology.

Release date: December 30, 2020

Publisher: Oliver Heber Books

Print pages: 324

Sample

Chapter One

 

Elizabeth Fraser looked around the royal chapel within Stirling Castle. The ornate candlestick holders on the altar glistened and reflected the light from the ones in the wall sconces as the priest intoned the holy prayers of the Advent season. Elizabeth kept her head bowed as though in prayer, but her green eyes swept the congregation. She watched the other ladies-in-waiting, many of whom were doing the same thing. She caught the eye of Allyson Elliott. Elizabeth raised one eyebrow as Allyson’s lips twitched. Both women had been there enough times to accept they’d be kneeling for at least the next hour as the Latin service carried on. Elizabeth understood the Mass thanks to her cousin Deirdre Fraser, or rather now Deirdre Sinclair. Elizabeth’s mind flashed to the recent struggle her cousin faced as she reunited with her husband Magnus after a seven-year separation. Her aunt and uncle’s choice to keep Deirdre hidden from her husband simply because they didn’t think the Sinclairs were an advantageous enough match, and the resulting scandal, still humiliated the other Fraser clan members at court. She admired Deirdre’s husband Magnus’s pledge to remain faithful despite not knowing if he’d ever see Deirdre again.

Elizabeth suddenly snapped her attention; while everyone else intoned the twelfth—or was it thirteenth—amen of the Mass, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She had the strongest feeling that someone was watching her. Her eyes scanned to her right, where her parents sat further down the pew. Her mother and father had their heads bowed and eyes closed. While she was convinced her mother was in devout prayer, she wondered if her father had fallen asleep during the Mass. Again. With nothing seeming out of the ordinary and no one visibly paying attention to her, her eyes swung to the left. She took in the king and queen as they kneeled together at their prie-dieu. The queen’s lips moved as she recited the liturgy in silence. The king was as still as a statue. Years of leading warriors showed, both in his stature and his ability to control his body into absolute stillness. Elizabeth peered past the royal couple and found herself looking into the astute hazel eyes of Edward Bruce, Lord of Badenoch and Lochaber. His gaze gave her the sense that he peered into her thoughts, as though he were assessing her. She tried to keep her face neutral as heat surged up her neck. She prayed her face didn’t redden as much as her neck must have, but at a twenty-one, she still hadn’t mastered how to control her blushing. Her nape burned like it was on fire. She canted her head slightly before looking up at the crucifix hanging over the altar. She closed her eyes and tried to invoke the image of the Lord that usually centered her when her mind wandered during Mass.

Elizabeth sensed Edward’s gaze remained on her. She didn’t understand how she was so sure that he was looking at her. She didn’t have any special gifts of perception or sight, but her intuition screamed that he was still looking. Elizabeth recited the Lord’s Prayer in her head, but after a lifetime of reciting it, she didn’t have to search hard for the words to play across her mind and it did little to bring her attention back to the service. Try as she might, her mind refused to do anything but command her eyes to open. Once again, she was staring into the riveting eyes of Edward Bruce. He brazenly smiled at her. Elizabeth’s eyes widened and her nose flared. She allowed her head to move this time as she looked at the various members of the congregation. No one there seemed to be looking at either Elizabeth or Edward, but when she looked at the priest, his scowl was aimed directly at her. Instead of bowing her head as she should, she shot her own scowl at the impudent man who continued to distract her. The queen would undoubtedly learn of her impudence from the priest, which meant Elizabeth would be making up for lost time, forced to spend the afternoon in prayer on the prie-dieu in the queen’s salon. The difference would be that the other ladies-in-waiting would watch her in her shame.

Edward, who had seen the priest watching Elizabeth from the corner of his eye, couldn’t hide his smirk when the beautiful young woman scowled at him. His jaded sense of humor made him smile, while his last shreds of decency caused a moment of contrition. Edward realized what Elizabeth obviously did: she’d be spending time repenting before his sister-by-marriage, the queen. He considered whether speaking on behalf of Elizabeth would do more harm than good. He looked back at her once again; he couldn’t keep himself from doing so. He was sure he’d seen her before when he’d been to court. Edward had seen all the queen’s ladies-in-waiting, since they were always in attendance. But there was something different, yet so familiar, about this woman with the mysterious green eyes. His intuition hammered that he might have met her before. A memory niggled, fighting its way into his consciousness. Edward had bedded a number of ladies-in-waiting over the years, but he was sure she wasn’t one of them. He was quite certain he’d remember such an encounter, and as his eyes feasted on her figure, he was also certain he wouldn’t have let her go. His mind flashed to his mistress, Sinead, who lived in Ireland. His stomach soured as he remembered his last night with her. As far as he was concerned, she was now his former mistress, but he wasn’t convinced the fiery-haired, fiery-tempered woman would agree with her new status. Edward pulled his mind to the present, since looking at the chestnut haired, green-eyed beauty was more enjoyable than thinking of the explosive argument that ended his arrangement with Sinead.

Edward continued to stare at Elizabeth until the memory finally surged forward. It was his turn to have his eyes widen and his nose flare. It was also the same moment the young woman looked at him. His flash of recognition earned him a reciprocated smirk. She clearly remembered who he was and had more easily remembered their first and only encounter. Elizabeth Fraser. That was her name, and he remembered how she’d felt for the brief moment she’d been in his embrace. His fingers tingled and his palms itched. He now recalled in detail how they met. The young woman spread an intriguing rumor that she was his newest lover. When he overheard the whispers during the evening meal, he sought out the woman who was willing to demolish her reputation by linking herself, voluntarily, to him. He learned she had a sharp mind and was loyal to a fault. She jeopardized her position at court to create a diversion for her friend Ceit Comyn and her then betrothed, now husband Tavish Sinclair. When they met on a terrace in the dark, he couldn’t resist the temptation to taunt and, hopefully, tempt her. That was when Edward realized her reserved demeanor was a façade. Elizabeth matched words with him, then slipped away. He followed her into the ballroom, but she entrenched herself with the other ladies-in-waiting, making it impossible for him to claim a dance.

Edward was determined to rectify that situation. If only it weren’t Advent, the second-most solemn season at court. He was thankful he’d come home now, rather than during Lent. At least he had the Christmas festivities to look forward to. That, and a woman to woo.

Elizabeth worked her way through the mass of people leaving the chapel. She tried to be unobtrusive since she had no interest in lingering. She wove around one group, then another, as people stopped to greet each other. She never understood why people liked to mingle when Mass ended, as if they wouldn’t see each other during the next three meals of the day. Elizabeth intended to make her way to the queen’s salon, anticipating not only Her Majesty’s arrival but her own inevitable punishment. If she readied the chamber and had everything as the queen preferred, then her attempt at contrition might lessen the time she’d be ordered to spend in prayer. She had no remorse, but her knees rebelled at the idea of another three hours spent bearing her weight.

Elizabeth stepped through the chapel doors and took a sharp right directly into a broad, muscled chest. Her nose landed in the small dip in the man’s sternum. Strong but gentle hands cupped her shoulders and helped her to take a step back. The look of shock on the man’s face surely matched hers, except when his morphed into a smile, hers turned to horror. She jerked away and turned in a complete circle as she tried to determine if anyone had seen them.

“No one has looked this way,” the deep baritone murmured, wrapping around her like a fur cloak. “If I’d known I’d meet you so quickly, I might have paid more attention to where I waited.”

The humor in his voice rang in Elizabeth’s ears, but she failed to find anything funny about the situation.

“Excuse me, Lord Badenoch. I should have looked where I was going.” Elizabeth dipped a curtsy and tried to escape.

Edward watched the woman he spent his morning fantasizing about attempt to retreat.

“Don’t scamper away quite yet.” He kept his voice low so only she could hear. He was sure someone was bound to see them standing together, so the least he could do was keep his voice down while he tried to seduce her.

Elizabeth’s brows lowered and lines formed around her down-turned lips. “I’m not a squirrel, a chipmunk, or any other rodent. I don’t scamper,” Elizabeth hissed.

She spun on her heel. Edward was prepared to follow her when his name was called by the only person who could force him to stay. He stifled his sigh.

“Brother,” King Robert slapped his hand on Edward’s shoulder as only a brother could do. “I’m glad to see you again. We didn’t have enough time to speak last night. Your arrival came as a surprise and late.”

“I had no desire to sleep on the ground again.”

“Just what did you sleep on last night?”

Edward ground his teeth. His brother’s comment might have been accurate several years ago, but these days he rarely dallied with any woman at court. It wasn’t worth the hysteria it caused when he returned to Ireland and Sinead. The woman had more eyes and ears at court than any foreign spy. Each time he wondered why he returned to her, he remembered her skills. Skills that brought him hours of pleasure when he could escape the mud and rain of the battlefield. She was also a brilliant strategist. Her advice had served him well over the past two years while fighting the British in Ireland.

“I slept on the bed in my chamber. It was nice to have the quiet and the space to myself.” Edward looked at the man he called brother. Their only resemblance was in the coincidental color of their hair. Even there, the king’s was closer to carrot while Edward’s hair, which had darkened with age, was more russet. When they were children, their shock of red hair made many people wonder if Edward was the king’s illegitimate brother rather than his adopted distant cousin. It was only the reputation of his mother that kept people from voicing their suspicions. When Edward’s father died, his mother retired to a convent, where she died only a year later. Left an orphan if not in name then by status, the Bruce family took him in. Life in the Scotland was hard enough without being a child with no family. The two men were close even though Robert was several years his senior. Edward was closer in age and relationship to Robert’s younger brother by blood. Both men were named Edward and had been inseparable since childhood. When Robert sent his blood brother to Ireland, his adopted brother followed.

“Sinead still got you by the bollocks.” It was a statement not a question.

“No longer. She may have been the best mistress I ever had, in and out of bed, but I can no longer stomach the temper tantrums that accompany her talents. It’s no longer worth the trouble.”

“How did she accept that decision? Or did you slip away in the night and pray she’ll forget aboot you by the time you return?”

Edward rubbed his hand across the back of his neck. He didn’t intend to have this conversation with Robert in the passageway outside the chapel where people still lurked.

“Neither,” Edward jerked his head in the direction of an alcove.

The two men walked to the nook in silence.

“What have you to say?” The king’s face was set in stone.

“I’m done in Ireland. I’m not returning, Robert. There’s no reason for me to. Edward has made inroads there and has enough men fighting for him. The local people support him as well. But you must realize the British won’t back down. My presence there won’t be what determines the outcome. I was but one more warrior Edward can easily replace with a local mon.”

“That isn’t true, and we both know it. You have a tactical mind that is invaluable.”

“You must admit that is a half-truth. Sinead had as much to do with that as I did, and Edward is already enjoying her help.”

The king’s eyebrows shot up, but Edward shook his head.

“I arranged it. It softened the blow. Slightly. For both of them.”

“Why do you really want to return? The fighting continues here.”

“This is home.”

“You have never considered this castle, or any castle, home.”

“Scotland. The Highlands. They are home.”

“The hills are calling you home?”

“They are,” Edward admitted.

“You mean to tell me that you’re ready to settle down on some farm with a wife and start breeding?”

“Perhaps not a farm and perhaps not a wife, and certainly no breeding. But I’m ready to be home.”

“You say no wife, but perhaps another mistress,” Robert challenged.

Edward perceived the king’s suspicious look as much as he saw it.

“I watched you speaking to Elizabeth Fraser. I have also been informed by the queen, who was told by the priest, that the two of you were inappropriately staring at one another.”

“That priest moves quickly for someone the size of a sow,” Edward muttered.

“Then you admit it.”

“I didn’t admit to aught. It just didn’t take you long to find me, so for you to have been enlightened by Elizabeth, your wife that is, aboot what the priest told her means he must have been in quite the rush.”

“He wouldn’t have been in a rush if there was naught to say.”

“She intrigues me. I remember her from the last time I was here. But fear not, I have no intention of making her my mistress. I have no interest in having one.”

Edward realized he was speaking the truth, even if his intention only minutes ago had been to seduce Elizabeth Fraser. The notion of bedding her and moving on didn’t seem as palatable as it had while he pictured them together instead of praying. He did speak the truth that he had no intention of taking another mistress. They were more trouble than they were worth. He could easily find a lonely widow or bored wife. That had been his plan before seeing Elizabeth. That plan changed when he watched her during the Mass, changing once more as he spoke to Robert. He wanted to stay in Scotland, and that was the reason for his return. But the idea of taking a wife suddenly held an appeal it never had before. An image of Elizabeth’s face as she told him she wasn’t a rodent made him want to smile, but he squelched the impulse as his brother stared at him.

“She won’t have you.” Robert’s sharp words broke through Edward’s thoughts and caused him to flinch and sent a stabbing spark of pain in his chest.

“She’s a lady-in-waiting. Of course, she won’t have a dalliance.”

Robert snorted. “Being a lady-in-waiting is little deterrent to many young women. Rather, Elizabeth’s father won’t have you.”

Edward’s face became a storm cloud. “Because he assumes I’m illegitimate.”

“He might, but that wouldn’t matter to him. He won’t have you because you’d gain him naught. You’re already close to me. We have a bond that no one can influence or manipulate. You aren’t advantageous enough to him because you’re uncontrollable.”

“You’d imagine having the ear of the king’s brother would be just the advantage any courtier would want.”

“You would.” Robert conceded. “But everyone knows your loyalty is to the Highlands and to me, not to any one clan.”

“Fraser hasn’t thought like a Highlander in nearly twenty odd years,” Edward scoffed. “He’s more interested in the money he can accumulate and the titles he can earn, but his clan barely benefits from it.”

“He’d have you believe that, but that’s because the Frasers are prosperous without much effort. He has expanded their holds and brought them more influence, so don’t underestimate his loyalty to his clan. But he still won’t have you. The poor lass has had four broken betrothals. The queen is sure Elizabeth is convinced she’ll end up a spinster serving the queen until the end.”

“That’s preposterous. There is no way she’ll go unwed.”

“The way her father uses her as a puppet makes it very likely. She’s twenty-one and has been here since she was eleven. Some are beginning to whisper she’s too old. She has a pristine reputation and would make any mon a fine wife, but between those who want a younger bride and those who have no desire to tangle with Fraser, she’s losing potential husbands with every year.”

All the better for me. Far less competition. She might welcome my attention if no one else wants her.

“I recognize that look, Edward. She won’t have you. I warn you away, for your own good and hers. Don’t compromise her. Fraser won’t agree to a marriage, and she’ll end up as a soiled dove that my wife will have to remove from her court. Then what will she have?”

 

Chapter Two

 

The king’s final words echoed in Edward’s head as he watched Elizabeth from the dais. His position at the king’s right hand afforded him a vantage point few had. She sat chattering with the other ladies-in-waiting, but she wasn’t as animated as the others. His gaze swept across those gathered on the benches. Several women sent him lusty smiles, and a few pulled at the front of their gowns to flash their cleavage. For the first time in his life, not a single one tempted him. Except the modestly attired brunette who filled every crevice of his mind.

As the meal finished, Edward again rued the season of Advent. There’d be little chance to catch her in a dance. He refused to miss an opportunity to talk to the beguiling woman. He’d have to be resourceful.

If only I’d come back a week earlier. I could be dancing with her right now. Four weeks. Four bluidy weeks before I can dance with her on Christmas Eve.

Edward watched Elizabeth excuse herself from the table as she approached the dais and the queen. He hadn’t even noticed she was summoned by his sister-by-marriage. While he respected the woman, there was no love lost between them.

Elizabeth stood before the dais and dipped into a low curtsy as she waited for the queen’s request. She caught the impulse to rub her knees before she embarrassed herself. The queen had been particularly indignant that one of her ladies-in-waiting wasn’t fully engaged in her prayer. It was made worse that a lady-in-waiting was caught looking at a man. And the worst was that it was Elizabeth staring at Edward.

The queen gestured for her to step onto the dais, and there was no way Elizabeth could refuse. She kept her eyes averted but was certain Edward watched her. Elizabeth made her way to the queen’s side and listened as she was told she was making a spectacle of herself by drawing attention from Edward. She clenched her jaw to keep from retorting it was most assuredly not her intention. The queen dismissed her and insisted she retire for the evening. That was the only blessing to this conversation. She was relieved to escape the overheated Great Hall and all the people who filled it with various fragrances and odors. She curtsied once more and made a direct path for an exit. Elizabeth didn’t look back to see Edward was already gone.

“You cannot convince me you aren’t scampering now.” The same baritone that caught her off-guard that morning wrapped around her. If she weren’t so dismayed at running into the man responsible for her three hours spent in prayer in front of the other young ladies and now responsible for her dismissal from the evening meal, she might have admitted the latter was a blessing.

“And you cannot convince me you have manners,” Elizabeth snapped. She took a step back in shock at her own comment. “My lord.”

She wanted to cringe, but instead proffered a shallow curtsy before trying to step around him. A deep chuckle stopped her as her lips pursed and shoulders went back before she raised her chin. Specks of blue, green, and gold danced in the candlelight as Edward’s hazel eyes reflected his sense of humor.

“You’re likely right. Perhaps you could teach me. And my name is Edward, not my lord.”

“I could.” Elizabeth sour face transformed into the practiced and seductive smile of a courtier. She swayed into him and lifted onto her toes to whisper near his ear, “But I don’t want to.”

Elizabeth slid past him, but Edward wasn’t deterred. He followed her as she made her way down the passageway. Elizabeth could hear his soft tread, even if it was nearly silent. She wound her way through the maze of passageways with no intention of leading him to her chamber. Edward remained her shadow but never attempted to speak. After a quarter of an hour spent roaming the castle, Elizabeth led Edward toward a secluded chamber, but when he entered, she’d disappeared. Edward scanned the large music room and found it deserted. It was his turn to spin in a circle, just as he’d watched Elizabeth do that morning. There was no one there, and the only illumination was the moonlight streaming through the window.

Where the devil is she? She’s no apparition, so how could she disappear? The little minx has some tricks up her sleeve. She may not be a bunny, but I’m just the fox to flush her out.

Elizabeth inhaled a deep breath as her heart continued to thud behind her ribs. She was sure Edward was confused by her disappearance, but she counted on him not knowing about the secret tunnels that ran behind most of the walls of the castle. She came to the castle a curious and bored child. With little to do at the age of eleven, she explored her new home. A few of the other young girls showed her the secret network that few were privy to. Those same young women had moved on to marriage or returned to their clans. Elizabeth was the only lady-in-waiting remaining from her childhood. A few of the newer ladies discovered the passageways as a way to arrive at assignations, but none knew their way through the miles of winding and dark tunnels the way Elizabeth did.

Elizabeth made her way to her chamber and shut the door behind her. She shared the space with two other young ladies, but she counted on there being little likelihood they’d return that night. They rarely slept in their beds, so Elizabeth breathed easier. Her maid appeared from the antechamber and helped her from her gowns. Elizabeth disliked having assistance every time she dressed, but from a practical perspective, she needed help with her court clothing and accepted that declining a maid would only draw unnecessary attention, but she disliked the fuss and the lack of privacy. Once the maid was gone, she used the water basin and scrubbed her face and neck. Elizabeth considered saying her regular evening prayers, but she decided God had already heard from her enough that day. When she laid her head on her pillow, her mind came alive, replaying the morning Mass and picturing the moment she realized Edward was watching her. It was the opposite of what she wanted. She’d hoped she was tired enough that her eyes would drop closed as soon as she laid down. Her body warmed as she recollected the interest she saw in his eyes. The deep resonance of his voice played through her ears, and her breasts hung heavy and full.

Elizabeth could see Edward watching her throughout the evening meal as though she still sat in her seat at the lower table. Her stomach had clenched, and she became lightheaded as she approached the queen. It had been the greatest challenge not to look at him as she walked up to the dais. As her mind flashed to her two encounters with him in the passageways, she pulled her chemise to her hips. Her fingers threaded through the thatch of hair above the juncture of her thighs until she found the hidden pearl to circle and press. Her other fingers slid across her seam and through the dew that already pooled at the entrance of her sheath. Her breath caught as she admitted how strong her desire was for a man she could never have. She’d imagined him like this since the night they met a few months ago.

Her fingers dipped within and spread the moisture over her bud. Elizabeth rubbed in slow circles as she pictured Edward naked. She was sure she wouldn’t be disappointed. His build suggested a man who was a hardened warrior. His tunic stretched across the broad chest and large crossed arms she saw when they met after the evening meal. Her mouth had gone dry, just as it did now. She kneaded her breast and her finger continued to work as the dueling sensations of pleasure and achiness began. Her thumb flicked her puckered nipple, and she began to rub faster and harder as she then pinched her nipple nearly to the point of pain. Her back arched as her hips rocked. Pleasure shot through her core and out to her limbs as she threw her head back and shut her eyes. She bit her lip to keep from crying out Edward’s name.

As the physical pleasure waned, her heart felt pinched, and tears prickled behind her eyes. She rolled onto her side and tucked herself into a tight ball. A tear escaped from her eye and slid down her cheek to be absorbed by her pillow.

This is the most I shall ever have. With Edward or any other mon. It’s all I’ve ever had. I shall die a virgin all for my father’s gain. He’d leave me a spinster and lonely for the chance to advance himself. He claims he does it for our clan, but any of the alliances he arranged then broke would’ve been advantageous. I could be wed with a family of my own, rather than alone with only my hand to pleasure me. I’d give Edward what he wants, what I want, if I could be sure my father’d never find out. God forbid I give in and my father finally does wed me. That would be my luck.

As her tears leaked into her pillow and chemise, Elizabeth finally drifted off to sleep.

 

Chapter Three

 

Edward was restless. After losing track of Elizabeth, he went to stand before the large windows and watched the stars twinkle between clouds.

What is wrong with me? I’ve seen the woman all of three times, and I can’t stop imagining what it’d be like to strip her bare and sink into her over and over. To taste every inch of her. To see pleasure blossom across her face. Blossom. What the bluidy hell? I’ve never used that word in my life. I want more than that though. I want to see that spark of fire flash across her face as her eyes shoot lightning bolts at me. I’m curious aboot what she’ll say next. Can I make her smile as easily as I spur her temper? What would it be like to walk through these gardens with her hand in mine, to walk into the Hall with her on my arm? How many times did I slip from Sinead’s bed to avoid her clinging to me in her sleep? How many times did I run from having to wake next to her, as much as morning coupling would have been enjoyable? I never wanted her to become too comfortable in her position. But Elizabeth: I’d fall asleep and wake up every day next to her. How can I even be sure of this? What is it aboot her? I feel it in my bones that I can trust her as my wife in the daylight and my partner in ecstasy in the dark.

Edward cupped his rod as it swelled in his breeks. He needed to make it back to his chamber before he burst. He’d take himself in hand as he pictured Elizabeth riding his cock. As he turned toward the door, the sound of the handle twisting echoed through the empty space. A shadowy figure slipped in, and the scent of roses wafted toward him. He recognized the woman and wanted to cringe.

“There you are. You slipped out of the Hall as though your arse was on fire, Lord Badenoch.”

“Lady MacAdams.”  Edward couldn’t bring to mind anything else to say to a woman he bedded on more than one occasion, but it had been a couple of years.

She glided across the room before dipping a low curtsy that afforded him a view of her sizable bosom. What once made him salivate now did nothing. As the woman before him rose, she angled herself to skim his body. Her eyes widened as his hard length brushed across her.

“It is a pleasure, my lord. I’m glad you’re happy to see me,” she purred. She trailed a hand over his belly before rubbing her palm over his aching cock.

Edward stifled a groan. He didn’t want to encourage her, but the temptation to let her ease his raging lust was nearly too much. He remembered what she could do with her mouth and what it was like to thrust into her. He’d enjoyed their trysts, but now that the initial shock wore off, his mind screamed that it was wrong. He grasped her wrist and pushed her hand away.

“This isn’t for you,” he groaned.

“But it could be. Just like it was.”

Her other hand moved to lift his tunic. Her hand was at his waistband before he could anticipate it. Once again temptation bit at him, and he considered letting her ease his swelling cock. It had a mind of its own as it continued to harden from the attention. Edward released her wrist and allowed her to loosen his breeks. She sank to her knees, and Edward watched her lick her lips as she drew him from his trousers. But before her tongue struck out, he stepped back. He couldn’t do it. His heart was sure it was wrong. Even if Elizabeth never learned of this, he couldn’t let himself couple with another woman. He couldn’t even allow another woman to pleasure him.

“Thank you, but I must decline.”

Edward adjusted his breeks and fastened them.

“Decline? You’ve never declined me. No one will interrupt us. No one knows we’re here.”   

“It’s not that. As I said before, this isn’t for you.”

“And you believe it’s for little Elizabeth Fraser. That simpering nitwit wouldn’t know what to do with it. You’d rather get hard for a cunny you’ll never have. She might be why you’re hard, but she won’t be the one to give you what we both know you want. You remember I can bring you to a climax that makes you cross your eyes. And that’s just with my mouth.”

“That was quite some time ago. Things change. People change.”

“You never will. You’ll always be insatiable, and once this infatuation wears off, which it will because you’ll never have her, you’ll regret turning me down. You’ll never settle for one woman, which is fine with me. I have no intention of settling for one mon. But you’ll tire of chasing a skirt that’ll never rise for you. Then what? You’ll be back for me to ease the ache. You had better hope I’m still available.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Good night, Lady MacAdams.”

Edward practically sprinted away, then made his way to his chamber and barred the door. He stripped and went to stand before his window. He looked out at the stars, just as he had been when his cock first came to life. He stroked slowly as he imagined losing himself with Elizabeth in the topiary maze his chamber overlooked. He spotted a nook he’d pull her into as he kissed a path along her neck to her breasts. He’d loosen her gown until it sagged low enough to free them. He’d snake his hands under her skirts as he feasted on the mounds. He’d bring her to the brink of release before lifting her to sink in with one thrust.

His hand sped up as his strokes became shorter and harder until his bollocks tightened. He released his seed into the linen he’d brought with him. His head fell back as he panted. His heart raced like it always did, but this time his chest tightened. He rubbed his fist over his sternum, but the tension wouldn’t ease. While taking himself in hand was never as good as being with a woman, it was usually satisfying. This time, it left him hollow and lonely.

Edward climbed into his bed and looked at the empty space beside him. He could see the heart-shaped face with the emerald eyes looking back at him, but when he reached out, his hand only grasped air. Edward fell asleep to a sense of disappointment.