spent the morning reviewing the nanny references his butler had sent by messenger. He had also ordered an entire wardrobe for Angeline. After their evening together, he was absolutely convinced he had found his perfect little one. Now, however, he regretted leaving her alone. Obviously, his little one would require constant supervision and discipline, he thought with a smile.
When he got to the south lawn maze, the rest of the guests had already gathered. He immediately saw Angeline, her petite frame loosely draped in an ivory fabric that highlighted her creamy skin and pink cheeks. In the morning sunlight, her halo of curls looked like burnished gold. The soft folds of the costume showed off every uncorseted curve.
She refused to meet his gaze, but he could tell from her guilt flamed cheeks she was aware of his presence.
"Lord Blackhurst, you made it after all," greeted Lady Shackelton.
"It seems my plans for the morning have changed," he said through clenched teeth, watching as Angeline lowered her head, suddenly showing extreme interest in the flowers at her feet.
"Well, I am sure the ladies are pleased you changed your mind. Now then, gentlemen, if you would be so kind as to remove your shirts, leaving only your riding breeches and boots," instructed Lady Shackelton. While her words were addressed to all the guests, a careful observer would have noticed she paid particular attention to Lord Fairfax as he removed his outer garments.
Angeline turned a shocked gaze first to Lady Shackelton then to the guests, then finally, reluctantly to Blackhurst. It was silly and adventurous to wear an indecent gown among a select few when it was all in fun, but she was not so sure about the men removing their clothing! Blackhurst raised an eyebrow and gave her a look of reproach. Didn't he try to warn her about this house party last night?
"Very good," said Lady Shackelton. "Now, my servants are passing out pairs of horns. Gentlemen, please take a pair and put them on your head. You all look just splendid!" she said, clapping her hands after all the men were in full costume.
Despite her misgivings about what was happening, Angeline could not argue with that statement as it applied to Blackhurst. Every hollow and muscled ridge of his chest and abdomen was on full display. Of their own volition, her eyes strayed to the almost obscene bulge outlined by his buff riding breeches. Combined with the horns and outdoor setting, he looked positively uncivilized.
"Gentlemen, you are the Minotaurs and the ladies are your virgin sacrifices," announced a thrilled Lady Shackelton. There was some especial amusement among the guests over the notion the ladies present were anything near virginal. "The ladies will enter the maze first. They will have a few minutes head start. My lords, when you enter the maze, whichever lady you capture - she is your sacrifice – and you may do with her whatever you please!"
With a cry of excitement, the ladies rushed towards the entrance to the maze. Angeline was swept up in the crowd. Desperately looking over her shoulder, her last glimpse was of the dark expression of rage that crossed Blackhurst's face.
As he took a step forward, intent on following Angeline, he felt a cold hand with claw-like fingernails in the center of his sun-warmed chest. He shifted his glare sideways into the expectant face of Lady Prunella.
" Je veux manger vipères sucrées , Blackhurst," she said seductively or what passed for seductively, having just informed Blackhurst that she wanted him to eat sugared vipers. He was fairly certain she thought she was offering herself as his virgin sacrifice. At that precise moment, Lord Arthur passed by and Blackhurst grabbed him by his upper arm and thrust him at a surprised Lady Prunella.
" Mettez vos griffes en lui, de ce que je entends qu'il aime harpies autoritaires ," Blackhurst stated in perfect French. At Lady Prunella's flirtatious laugh, Blackhurst was convinced she did not have the
When he got to the south lawn maze, the rest of the guests had already gathered. He immediately saw Angeline, her petite frame loosely draped in an ivory fabric that highlighted her creamy skin and pink cheeks. In the morning sunlight, her halo of curls looked like burnished gold. The soft folds of the costume showed off every uncorseted curve.
She refused to meet his gaze, but he could tell from her guilt flamed cheeks she was aware of his presence.
"Lord Blackhurst, you made it after all," greeted Lady Shackelton.
"It seems my plans for the morning have changed," he said through clenched teeth, watching as Angeline lowered her head, suddenly showing extreme interest in the flowers at her feet.
"Well, I am sure the ladies are pleased you changed your mind. Now then, gentlemen, if you would be so kind as to remove your shirts, leaving only your riding breeches and boots," instructed Lady Shackelton. While her words were addressed to all the guests, a careful observer would have noticed she paid particular attention to Lord Fairfax as he removed his outer garments.
Angeline turned a shocked gaze first to Lady Shackelton then to the guests, then finally, reluctantly to Blackhurst. It was silly and adventurous to wear an indecent gown among a select few when it was all in fun, but she was not so sure about the men removing their clothing! Blackhurst raised an eyebrow and gave her a look of reproach. Didn't he try to warn her about this house party last night?
"Very good," said Lady Shackelton. "Now, my servants are passing out pairs of horns. Gentlemen, please take a pair and put them on your head. You all look just splendid!" she said, clapping her hands after all the men were in full costume.
Despite her misgivings about what was happening, Angeline could not argue with that statement as it applied to Blackhurst. Every hollow and muscled ridge of his chest and abdomen was on full display. Of their own volition, her eyes strayed to the almost obscene bulge outlined by his buff riding breeches. Combined with the horns and outdoor setting, he looked positively uncivilized.
"Gentlemen, you are the Minotaurs and the ladies are your virgin sacrifices," announced a thrilled Lady Shackelton. There was some especial amusement among the guests over the notion the ladies present were anything near virginal. "The ladies will enter the maze first. They will have a few minutes head start. My lords, when you enter the maze, whichever lady you capture - she is your sacrifice – and you may do with her whatever you please!"
With a cry of excitement, the ladies rushed towards the entrance to the maze. Angeline was swept up in the crowd. Desperately looking over her shoulder, her last glimpse was of the dark expression of rage that crossed Blackhurst's face.
As he took a step forward, intent on following Angeline, he felt a cold hand with claw-like fingernails in the center of his sun-warmed chest. He shifted his glare sideways into the expectant face of Lady Prunella.
" Je veux manger vipères sucrées , Blackhurst," she said seductively or what passed for seductively, having just informed Blackhurst that she wanted him to eat sugared vipers. He was fairly certain she thought she was offering herself as his virgin sacrifice. At that precise moment, Lord Arthur passed by and Blackhurst grabbed him by his upper arm and thrust him at a surprised Lady Prunella.
" Mettez vos griffes en lui, de ce que je entends qu'il aime harpies autoritaires ," Blackhurst stated in perfect French. At Lady Prunella's flirtatious laugh, Blackhurst was convinced she did not have the
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