Devil in Duke's Clothing (Royal Pains Book 1) (24 page)
Read Devil in Duke's Clothing (Royal Pains Book 1) Online
Authors: Nina Mason
He turned toward her and took her other hand in his. “Maggie, what about us? Are we all right?”
“Yes, Robert.” She smiled a little and batted her eyelashes. “But be forewarned, Mistress Margaret plans to punish you for your misdeeds the moment we return to Dunwoody.”
A thrill stole through him as a smile lifted the edges of his mouth. “I confess, I had hoped the minx might feel the need to do so.”
“Methinks I shall try the flogger this time,” she said with a dangerous look in her eyes. “It seems a shame to spoil something as lovely as your backside. On top of which, I believe some leniency is in order in light of your restraint. The fact you abstained from penetrating either of your bedmates did not escape my notice.”
“I did so deliberately—to avoid being unfaithful to my darling wife.”
Maggie pulled her hands from his, sat back against the tufted brocade, and closed her eyes. “Then you do not regard being fellated as infidelity?”
“No.”
One pale-blue eye opened and turned on him. “Or French kissing a man?”
“No.”
The other eye opened, whereupon both narrowed. “Have you kissed many men before?”
“No comment.”
Her eyes became slits of blue ice. “Have you buggered many?”
“No comment.”
He had, but had never been buggered in return—something he hoped she might remedy in time.
“Pray, explain something to me if you would.” She opened her eyes, shifted her weight in a rustle of silk, and heaved a sigh, inciting worry in her husband. “How can you condemn Hugh’s leanings if you have engaged in homosexual acts yourself?”
He furrowed his brow. “When did I ever condemn my brother’s leanings?”
“On our wedding night. You said he was unfit to be my husband.”
“He
is
unfit to be your husband, dearest, because he takes no pleasure from sexual congress with those of the fairer sex—and I could see dormant in your younger self a woman of great passion.” With a wry grin, he added, “It must be the Stuart blood in your veins, no? Not that your mother, whoever she was, could claim sainthood. Marrying Hugh would have frustrated you no end.”
She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. “As compared to marrying you, I suppose, which has been a picnic in the park.”
He set his head upon her shoulder and looked up at her from under his lashes. “Do you regret your choice of husband?”
“No,” she said. “I probably should, but I do not. I love how sweet you can be at times—and how wicked at others.” She heaved a sigh before adding, “I only hope you do not intend to whore me to another crowned head anytime soon.”
He popped up like a jack-in-the-box and kissed her mouth. “I shall never whore you again, my darling, whatever the consequences. On that, you have my solemn vow.”
Remembering her necklace, he reached into his pocket and withdrew the velvet pouch. “Here,” he said, handing her the pearls. “A peace offering.”
“What is it?”
“Your pearl necklace. I had it repaired, but do refrain from putting it on for the time being.”
“Why?”
Reaching across from one window to the other he closed the shades before easing her down on the seat under the weight of his body. “Because, my dearest,” he said, smothering her neck and décolletage with ardent kisses, “I plan to give you a different sort of pearl necklace forthwith.”
The End
(
for now
)
Afterword
Those who’ve read my other books know I’m a stickler for historic accuracy and detail. I research everything—or try to. In this book, I knowingly changed one tiny historic detail for the benefit of logistics and plot. While King Charles II did refurbish Holyroodhouse as reported herein, the historic record reports he never visited the Edinburgh palace once the renovations were finished. Much of the other descriptions of the king’s habits and temper were knitted together from accounts by people who knew the Merry Monarch personally.
Glossary of Unfamiliar Terms
Now, for those without a device offering word definitions, I offer a brief glossary of some of the terms peppered through the story to add period flavor.
Abigail:
a lady’s maid.
Antimonial cup:
a medicinal cup whose alloy, when mixed with wine, acted as a laxative.
Arbor vitae:
a period euphemism for the penis or “tree of life.”
Concupiscent:
sexual lust.
Cunny:
slang for female genitalia considered less offensive than “cunt.”
Doxy:
whore.
Flacon:
a stout, sealable bottle common to the period.
Larksome:
cheerful.
Meschant:
a villain or bad person.
Pillicock:
a rooster.
Rabat:
lace cravat of the period.
Se’nnight:
seven nights; a week.
Stoup:
a cup or flacon for drinking.
Swive:
a coarse term for having sex; comparable to fuck.
Tawse:
the plural of Scots “taw”; a thong of a whip once used for corporal punishment of children in Scotland
.
Twattler(s):
gossip(s).
Wame:
“belly” in Scots.
Nina Mason is a hopeful romantic with strong affinities for history, mythology, and the metaphysical. She strives to write the same kind of books she loves to read: those that entertain, edify, educate, and enlighten.
She is the author of The Queen of Swords, a darkly erotic Scottish paranormal romance/urban fantasy, and The Tin Man, a political thriller, both published by Vamptasy/CHBB.
Devil in Duke’s Clothing is her first historical romance and Royal Pains is her first series. Starry Knight, book one in a second series titled Knights of Avalon, will be released in August 2015 by Lyrical/Kensington.
When not writing, Ms. Mason works as a communications consultant, doll maker, and home stager. Born and raised in Orange County, California, the author currently lives with her husband, teenage daughter, two rescue cats, and a Westie just north of Atlanta, Georgia.
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