Page 35 of Their Brazen Countess
August 1863
Lincwas…happy.Hewasin love with a man who returned his feelings and they were going to tell their friends. It was a big step.
Straightening his cravat, he then smoothed down the lapels of his coat before knocking on the door of Arthur’s home.
His butler opened the door. “Good afternoon, Lord Lincolnshire.”
“Good afternoon, Harris.” Linc walked in. “I assume he’s in his study?”
“Yes, my lord.” Harris bowed and closed the door.
“Excellent. I know the way.” Linc nodded and wandered off to find Arthur. He was a bit early, but they had wanted a few minutes to review how they would tell everyone. He walked into the study and found Arthur standing, staring out a window. The sun streamed in, lining his tall, lean body. Linc knew well how much strength was contained in that whipcord body. It was something he relished about the other man. “Hello, Arthur.”
He turned to face him. “Oh good, you’re earlier than expected.” He crossed the room to greet Linc, placing his hand on the back of his neck and pulling him in for a kiss.
After a few moments, Linc pressed his hands to his chest and pushed back from the drugging kiss. “Cease, or I shall have to greet our friends with a raging cock stand.”
Arthur laughed. “Very well. I’m glad you came early. I have just found out my neighbor is selling his townhouse.”
“And this is important because…?” His gut told him this was important to Arthur, but he wasn’t sure why.
“We’ve barely been together officially for two months and you are ignoring me.” Arthur shook his head. “I may have to punish you for such carelessness.”
Linc laughed. “You wouldn’t punish me.”
A hungry gleam appeared in Arthur’s brown eyes. “Oh, but I think I might. I’ve been having delicious fantasies of reddening your arse before I fuck you.”
Linc’s breath hitched in his chest. He was no true masochist like Flint, but he enjoyed a good spanking now and then. That Arthur was expressing an interest in such a thing was inspiring news. He loved it when the man became dominating and growly. He reached down and adjusted his hardening cock. “Not helping, Arthur.”
His lover smiled at Linc, an almost feral grin. “Not helping who? I’m feeling quite good about this little chat. Though I do digress.” He took a breath and a step back.
Linc drew in more air and tried to focus on willing his cock to go down.
“Lord Warrington lives next door, and he is putting the place up for sale. That means you could buy the house and we could create a door between the two homes so we can pass through undetected.”
Linc looked up at Arthur in surprise. “How devious of you. That is good news!”
“Indeed, it is. I’ll send a note over immediately to set up a meeting.” Arthur strode over to his desk and pulled out a sheet of paper. He quickly scrawled a note, sanded it, and sealed it. Then he tugged the bellpull.
While he was writing the note, Linc poured them each a glass of whisky. He assumed Arthur felt much the same, but he really needed something to help settle his nerves. Arthur took his glass and sipped. “Thank you. About our guests—”
A knock at the door sounded and Harris appeared. “Yes, my lord?”
Arthur handed him the sealed note. “Please have a boy run this next door to Warrington.”
Harris took the note and bowed. “Very good, my lord.”
A short while later, Arthur and Linc stood in his front salon, surrounded by all the Lustful Lords and their wives. Stone, Cooper, Wolf, Flint, and Lucifer all stood together chatting. The ladies were broken up into two clusters. Theodora, or Theo to her friends in this room, and Emily were colluding in the corner because, where Theo was concerned, there was always a plot. The other group comprised Julia, Ros, and Amelia.
Refreshments were wheeled in on two carts and then his staff retreated.
“Emily, would you mind doing the honors?” Arthur motioned to the two carts.
She smiled at her brother. “Of course. Theo, if you’ll pass out sandwiches and cakes, I shall pour.”
With the ladies busily passing out refreshments, Arthur herded the men back to where the women were sitting. A few minutes later, with everyone settled again, Arthur looked at Linc and nodded.
Linc cleared his throat and brushed invisible crumbs from his coat as he stood up. “Arthur and I would like to share some news with you all.”
