Chapter 20

CHAPTER TWENTY

Three Days Later

“ L ydia,” Ezra muttered, his blue eyes opening.

Something felt wrong. The bed was too cool, too empty. He’d sensed his solitude before he even awoke, and it startled him. Ezra sat up as he scanned the bed, finding it empty, then got up to check the rooms. He called her name once more as he walked through the bathing, sitting, and dressing rooms, finding them all empty.

Anger spiked with fear shot through him as he stalked naked back into the bedroom and scanned the room once more. This time he spotted a folded piece of paper among the bedcovers.

Sadly our “punishment” must come to an end, but do not worry, I will return before nightfall.

You should probably check on our guests, they are most likely as disgruntled as you are at this point.

Yours,

L

“Bloody hell,” Ezra growled, storming to his dressing room for some fresh clothes.

Moments later he was dressed and stomping out of his quarters, startling the servants in the hallway as the door slammed into the wall.

“Where in GOD’S name is my WIFE!?” Ezra roared, his voice echoing through the halls.

“That was exactly what I was about to ask you,” Duncan growled, storming toward him from the right.

In his hand, he held a similar piece of paper, and Ezra snarled.

“Son of a bitch,” he growled, snatching the letter from Duncan’s hands as he tossed his own toward his friend.

The contents read almost verbatim to Lydia’s, save for the punishment part.

“You care to explain this?” Ambrose demanded, joining them.

“It appears our wives have staged a coup,” Ezra muttered, snatching another identical letter from Ambrose’s hands.

He rolled his eyes and tossed the letter toward Duncan, who then crumpled them together and threw them on the floor.

“These damned women,” Ambrose seethed, heading toward the stairs. “Barbara took Helena with her too, as usual. I swear I am going to wring both of their necks for this.”

Ambrose’s voice tapered off as he started muttering something along the lines damned succubus, and three-day sex coma, and it piqued Ezra’s curiosity. It seemed to pique Duncan’s too, because he suddenly caught up to Ambrose, demanding details.

“Wait a minute, what have you been doing for the last three days?” Duncan demanded, stopping Ambrose on the second-floor landing.

Ezra narrowed his eyes as he watched Ambrose’s ears and neck turn scarlet red, and something pinged in his brain. Had their wives devised something?

“It has been an incredibly stressful time,” Ambrose growled defensively, picking at his jacket, “Some recuperation was required.”

Recuperation,” Ezra echoed, looking from Ambrose to Duncan.

His initial suspicions were confirmed when he noticed that they both wore the same flushed yet proud looks on their faces.

“They staged this,” Ezra admitted aloud, shaking his head as his thoughts grew dark.

“Wait a minute,” Ambrose stated, his face growing pale again. “Where is Morgan? Where is my sister?”

Ezra went blank as he suddenly pictured Morgan’s funeral, and he prayed his foolish friend was not that reckless.

“Ambrose,” Ezra said warningly as the man suddenly pivoted and ran back up the stairs, heading toward Morgan’s room.

“Take a breath, mate,” Duncan pleaded.

“HELENA!!” Ambrose roared, kicking in the double doors to Morgan’s room.

Bewilderment and relief consumed Ezra as Morgan sat up from his bed along with not Helena, but two other women he and Ambrose knew.

“Maria?” Ezra stated.

She gave him a bashful look, then turned her eyes to Morgan before laying a hand on his chest and snuggling into his shoulder. Ezra looked from her to the other woman. Angel, he vaguely remembered, was her name. Another working girl at the hell.

“What the bloody hell is going on?” Ambrose growled though he’d stopped his death march toward Morgan once he’d confirmed Helena’s absence.

Morgan’s smile was large and instantaneous.

“You know what, mate,” he said, getting out of bed and sliding into his trousers, “I have no idea. What I do know though, is that I am now in love with all of your wives.”

“You better explain what you mean,” Ezra warned, his hands balling up into fists.

“All I know is when I woke up after we got back from dealing with George I had these two lovely hens naked beside me; one holding a tray of food, the other a very large, very tasty carafe of wine. And when I asked them what they were doing here, they simply informed me that the lady of the house had purchased their time and that they were to dedicate themselves to me for three days,” Morgan replied, in his usual unflustered, carefree manner as he continued to dress, “So, now, forget you three. My allegiance now lies with your wives.”

Ezra and Ambrose turned to one another at once. Did they know of the gaming hell? Of the women?

“How?” Ezra spat out, turning his glare toward Ambrose.

Ambrose stilled, his jaw ticking as he drew his brows down defensively.

“Your wives are too smart for you, boys,” Morgan sang, tossing a grape in his mouth as he gave them a wink. “I would not try to hide anything else from them.”

“You be quiet now,” Ezra commanded, holding out a finger to Morgan.

He gave Ambrose a look that demanded an answer.

“It is not my fault,” he sneered.

Then his eyes slowly moved to the carpet before he added in a much more defeated voice. “Barbara was a man when she found out about the gaming hell.”

“ What in the bloody hell does that mean, mate?” Morgan bellowed, his eyes as wide as Ezra’s and Duncan’s as they looked at Ambrose as if he was insane.

Morgan, of course, was the only one smiling; looking like a child catching Saint Nicholas placing down his presents.

“We are getting off-topic,” Ambrose snapped, running a hand through his hair. “What matters right now is that our wives are gone, and we have no idea where they are!”

Ezra turned his pointed finger to Ambrose, fury running through his veins, “You will explain this later, Ambrose,” he commanded, then dropped his hand and turned his glare back to Morgan.

“And you. You had better tell me where they went,” Ezra demanded. His mind was reeling with all that had unfolded, but he could not let himself get off task now. He had to find Lydia.

“I told you I do not know,” Morgan sighed, “But, perhaps one of your staff might. I never actually saw your wives these past three days, you see. I was a bit occupied with the two naked and single women in my bed plying me with food, drink, and sex. You should try it. It might relax you.”

I have, Ezra thought, and it had been incredibly relaxing right up until he found Lydia’s letter. But it had all been a ruse; a plot to distract him and render him as mindless and sated as possible so she could step away.

Oh, there was so going to be a punishment for this, he decided right then and there. A collar, first and foremost, so he could leash her since she so obviously needed it. And her ass was going to be as red as the blood he’d taste on her lips; her limbs would be useless from being tied to the bed for so long. He’d gag her. With many things.

“Witches,” Ambrose croaked, working his jaw in frustration as he clenched his fists. “When I…” Ambrose’s words cut off into a growl as he began to storm out of Morgan’s room and back down the stairs.

“That is enough,” Duncan growled, following them closely, “I am burning every single one of those smut books.”

“Someone has to know something,” Ambrose said loudly, then stormed toward the nearest servant as they reached the first floor.

“You there! Where have the duchesses and my sister gone?”

“Answer him, Radley, or there will be hell to pay,” Ezra threatened.

“Your Graces, I beg your pardon, but they would not tell me,” Radley answered quickly, bowing deeply toward them as they approached. “They did, however, take your new man, Terrence, with them. I believe they took your man Colter as well, Lord Curtis.”

“They what,” Ezra said flatly.

Punishment. Utter and pure torture when she got home.

“The Duchess of Frampton insisted that they were all perfectly safe with your guards, and that…” Radley faltered, his gaze falling to the floor.

“Spit it out, damn it,” Ezra demanded.

“The duchesses stated you were each to follow the commands they left you, Your Graces, and that they would be home soon.”

“Let’s get the horses,” Duncan urged, already striding toward the front door, “They are probably in London. We can search every street until we find their doomed souls.”

“The horses are gone, Your Grace,” Radley replied. “The duchess had them all sent off this morning to the opposite side of Frampton.”

“Go get them!” Ezra, Duncan, and Ambrose commanded in unison.

“With respect, Your Graces, the path on foot would take hours both to the pasture and back. The ladies shall be returning long before the horses arrive.”

Something exploded in Ezra’s brain; a pain behind his right eye as his rage and helplessness reached a new level.

“When I get my hands on her,” Ambrose growled by Ezra’s side, his hands curling toward one another.

“Days,” Duncan spat out beside him, the fury apparent in his voice, “I am going to have her strung up for days.”

Ezra did not trust himself to speak aloud about what he was going to do to Lydia when she returned.

“I need a bout in the ring,” Ezra grunted, striding toward his exercise room.

Ezra did not need to hear the mutterings of agreements from his two friends to know that they were close behind; all of them needing to work out the frustrations. Still, through the layers of rage and humiliation of being duped, Ezra felt a sense of pride. And, perhaps, after his need for retribution was sated, he would reward her for that.

“Thank you for seeing us,” Lydia said politely, curtsying graciously toward Sophia.

The Dowager Duchess of Frampton drew her beautiful porcelain face into a sneer and looked not toward Lydia and her friends, but at the two large men behind them.

Lydia had shared her plan with her friends to confront Sophia while their husbands were away, and though she had insisted that she should go alone, Alice, Barbara, Helena, and even Juliet, all refused.

“As if you gave me a choice,” Sophia replied bitterly, finally flicking her eyes over the group of women before her.

“I would offer you a seat, but that would indicate that you are welcome, and you are not.”

“I shall be quick about this then,” Lydia quipped back, unbothered by the woman’s sharp tone.

“I know my husband came here to question you, and you did not reach out to him, but you will not have contact with him any further.”

Sophia snickered and rolled her eyes.

“That will be easy,” she retorted.

“It will,” Lydia agreed, seeing as you will no longer be living in this part of the country.”

Sophia’s dark brows drew down as she sneered.

“I beg your pardon?” she seethed.

“This is my home! My right! You have no authority-”

“As reigning Duchess of Frampton I have every authority,” Lydia replied calmly.

“You, as a widow of the late Duke of Frampton, were awarded this residence as a courtesy, but that time has since passed. You come from wealth, yes? That is how you occupy this place with staff and parties and such?”

“My money is none of your concern,” Sophia snarled, her voice trembling with rage.

“You are, of course, absolutely correct,” Lydia agreed wholeheartedly, “But this house is. So, whether or not you are able to fund it, you shall be moving. Presently, in fact, though you do have a week to be completely gone.”

Lydia looked up and around the room, smiling as she took in the rather posh sitting parlor.

“I believe I shall take this room for my own,” she mused. “I am sure we could pay you for your furnishings, I actually quite like them.”

“Like you could afford them,” Sophia retorted, taking the opportunity to strike, “Your husband inherited more than just his father’s blackened, numb heart. He shares his debt.”

A slow, evil grin spread across Sophia’s face as she glowered at Lydia, “Or has he not shared that with you? You must be careful with these Fernside men. They can only pretend to love.”

“Ezra is not his father any more than he is you,” Lydia stated flatly. “You know nothing about him and from this moment onward I will make sure you never will.”

Finished with the conversation, Lydia nodded to the others, and they turned to leave.

“My family’s courtesy will only extend so far!” Sophia yelled, panic entering her voice. “I have not…my older brother oversees the accounts, and he is not fond of me.”

Lydia slowly turned.

“How is that my problem?” she asked.

“It will be,” Sophia warned, her rage turning into something more evil. “If you stay with Ezra, you will be exactly where I am in just a few years. You think you know him, but you do not. I birthed the monster, and I swear to you that the man you think you are protecting is not who he seems.”

“You will watch your tongue when you speak of our brother,” Alice warned, her voice grave as she stepped next to Lydia.

Sophia took a startled step back as all five women glared at her.

“You are all fools then,” she hissed. “Stupid, simpering, little fools. They will use you, mark my words. Ezra’s father and his friends were not good men. Their sons will surely be the same. I know mine will. You will be cursed like me. All of you!”

“That is enough of that,” Lydia sighed, snapping her fingers.

Terrence strode forward then, his pace so quick that Sophia stumbled back when he abruptly stopped and bowed to her.

“By order of Her Grace, the Duchess of Frampton, I offer you a small team of men and services to coordinate your eviction,” Terrence said, his voice stern but polite, “As commanded, all of your personal items and staff shall be gone by the end of the week.”

“This is outrageous!” Sophia yelled as Lydia and the others turned once more.

Out of the corner of her eye, Lydia caught Sophia lunging at her.

“I would not, my lady,” Terrence warned politely, stepping protectively between Sophia and Lydia.

“Listen to me,” Sophia hissed, demanding Lydia’s attention, “You will pay for this. Do you hear me?”

Ignoring Sophia’s tantrum, Lydia continued out the door, her friends and Colter following closely behind.

“What a wretched woman,” Barbara seethed as they settled into the carriage.

“I tried to warn you,” Lydia replied.

She shared a weary but grateful smile with them all as their carriage began to take them home.

“You think she will actually leave?” Juliet asked.

“Legally she has no choice,” Lydia replied, “According to Ezra’s solicitor, everything I just told her was true. The house belongs to the Frampton heir, not Ezra’s mother.”

“Enough of her,” Alice insisted, clearly over the subject. “We need to focus on our husbands. We are about to walk into a lion’s den, my darlings.”

“Not I,” Juliet piped up, “You are dropping me off at Father’s before you return, yes? I am meeting Edmund’s mother tomorrow morning for a shopping trip.”

“I shall be going with you,” Helena said as their carriage drew up to the Knight house. “I want no part of what the three of you are about to pay for. Tell my brother where I am, though, so he does not pop a blood vessel.”

“What do you think they’re going to do to us when they find out what we were up to?” Barbara mused as the three of them continued back to Frampton.

“Well, we took Colter and Terrence, so it is not as if we went unprotected,” Alice offered, though there was no hope in her voice.

“Like that argument will help us,” Lydia laughed, feeling a tingle of excitement through her growing apprehension.

They all knew what would be waiting for them when they arrived. They had taken their controlling, over-protecting, overbearing husbands and hoodwinked them. Ezra was going to be furious with her when she told him the truth about where she had been, but with everything from the past finally over, she did not want any loose strings fraying about. The plan was worth it, no matter the consequences.

There they are,” Lydia said, peering out the window as the carriage drew up Frampton Drive.

Alice and Barbara each looked. There, already standing in the drive at the front of their house was their husbands. Even from the distance, Lydia could see the anger and worry marring their handsome faces, but as the three women looked back at one another they burst into laughter. Their men were some of the fiercest nobles in England, and they could throw all the temper tantrums they wanted, but they were also wrapped tightly around their fingers.

To their surprise, their husbands allowed the carriage to come to a complete stop and politely helped each of them out.

“Did you enjoy your little adventure today, my little dove?” Ezra asked warmly, taking Lydia’s hand as she stepped down.

“It was successful,” she replied, giving him a cheeky smile.

Ezra’s blue eyes went dark right before he yanked Lydia toward him and tossed her onto his shoulder.

“Good,” he growled, laying a firm spank across her backside without delay, “Because it was the last one you will ever have.”

Pleasure bloomed through the pain in her left cheek, and she smiled wickedly. We’ll see about that, she thought, as Ezra started carrying her toward the front steps.

“I’m going to spank you until you are red, you hear me?” Lydia heard Ambrose say to Barbara as she watched them from her new view.

“You can try,” Barbara smiled, then gasped as Ambrose pulled her to his chest; his mouth clamping down on hers.

“Home. Now,” Duncan demanded.

He too had his wife flung over his shoulder, stalking away from the rest of them and toward the waiting carriage.

“Good luck, ladies!” Alice called over Duncan’s shoulder.

“The three of you will need it,” Ambrose agreed, hauling Barbara to their own carriage. “You are so paying for doing this to me. Do you have any idea how worried I was?!”

“That is what I was hoping for,” Lydia heard Barbara say tauntingly before Ambrose deposited her into their own carriage.

“Ezra, I am not going to leave again,” Lydia sighed as he carried her inside. “You can put me down, and I will follow you.”

“Where did you go?” he demanded, ignoring her as he took her up the stairs.

“I had to serve an eviction notice,” she replied.

Ezra stopped so fast he swayed, and he shifted her in his arms so he could look at her.

“I will explain everything,” Lydia promised, cupping his cheek. “But first, keep taking me upstairs. I am suspecting a punishment of some sort is waiting there for me.”

Though it was obvious Ezra was still furious, a devilish grin spread across his face as arousal flickered through his eyes, and he resumed climbing the stairs.

“Damn right there is.”