Consorts For Ladies 4
Sir Elizabeth lay naked on a cushioned, inclined bench on one of Heartgarden Castle’s many verandas. A roaring fire in the veranda’s hearth kept it pleasant, even as the sun set and a winter breeze rustled the treetops of the courtyard beyond. Twelve aspirants were gathered around her, the wide skirts of their gowns competing for space. Each one held a large silk scarf in his delicate, gloved hands, and fluttered it regularly over Elizabeth’s skin in various pleasing patterns. Christopher was demurely rubbing her thigh as if he were polishing it, keeping his mouth closed around his freshly pierced tongue. It seemed there were no hard feelings between them. Of course, it was always easiest for Christopher to behave himself in Daisy’s absence, an absence which disappointed Elizabeth slightly. Out of all the unclaimed …