She shook him a little harder. 'Simon, wake up!'
He mumbled something unintelligible and rolled over onto his side.
'You shan't get away that easily, my dear. Open your eyes.'
Simon lifted one heavy lid and stared at her. 'Go away.' He closed his eyes and went back to sleep.
Noelle laughed. 'Neatly done, Constance.'
'Very well, you vexatious girl, if you think you have a better way, I am most anxious to see you demonstrate it.' She looked pointedly at Quinn.
'All right. Watch this.'
Noelle pulled the bottle from Quinn's lap and set it on the table. Then, kneeling down beside his chair, she began gently stroking his cheek with her hand. 'Darling, it's time to wake up.'
With his eyes still closed, Quinn pulled her to his chest and began caressing her hair. 'Oh, Highness,' he whispered seductively.
Quickly Noelle extricated herself, but not before the high color had crept into her cheeks.
'Most edifying.' Constance's green eyes twinkled with amusement. 'Since we can't seem to rouse them, we should at the very least put some order to this disgraceful room. It smells frightful in here, like a tavern of the most disreputable sort!'
Noelle drew back the draperies and opened the windows. The rush of cool morning air accomplished what the women could not.
Slowly Simon began to stir. 'Timezit.'
'I beg your pardon, my dear?'
He forced his mouth to work. 'What time is it.'
'Nearly half past eight.' As he pulled himself up into a sitting position, Constance placed her hand on her small hip. 'Simon, what could you have been thinking of? Drinking all night. Sleeping in the drawing room. I don't permit myself to imagine what else.'
'When I'm feeling better, Connie, remind me to spank you.'
Noelle giggled.
Quinn opened his eyes a quarter of an inch. 'Don't see what's so funny. Man can't drink in peace in his own house. Come here, Highness.'
He reached out an arm for her, but she quickly dodged it. 'No thank you. I don't trust you this morning.'
'Not so loud,' Simon groaned as he threw his forearm across his eyes. 'Damned domestic brandy.'
'Didn't hear you complaining last night.' Quinn rubbed his hand over the dark stubble of his jaw.
'Why you son of a-' Remembering the presence of the ladies, he cut himself off and contented himself with grumbling, 'Plies me with liquor. Now he criticizes me for drinking it.'
Quinn laughed and then winced from the effort. 'Damned brandy,' he groaned.
Now it was Simon's turn to laugh.
'Simon! Quinn!' Noelle exclaimed. 'Will you please tell us what happened?'
The two men exchanged a brief glance and then Quinn rose, somewhat unsteadily, and propped his arm across Noelle's slim shoulders. 'We had good whiskey, bad brandy, and interesting conversation. Now, help me upstairs.'
When they reached the doorway, he turned back toward Simon. 'After we've had some breakfast, let's see if we can make it to the yard. I've got a problem I'd like your opinion on.'
Constance and Noelle found each other's eyes. They would have to wait until later to discover exactly what had taken place in this room last night, but whatever it was, it had been good. Noelle smiled up at Amanda's portrait and clasped her arm more tightly about her husband's waist.
He brushed the top of her hair with his lips and then looked at his father. 'Simon?'
'Hmmm?'
'Let's take Christopher with us.'
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
