“Oh?” Summer replied archly, laughing softly. “Who is feisty? You must take yourself into account, Humphrey.” She kissed him again, lightly. “But since you spent the day hunting hearts instead of harts, is your kitchen prepared to feed us? ‘Twould be a sad thing to starve after such a feast.” She drew away and slipped out of the bed, reaching her arms to the ceiling in a massive stretch, hair atumble down her bare back. Looking over one shoulder at the Duke, she added, “Yes, I am always so.”
“Hearts versus harts, I like this…” Humphrey laughed watching her as she stretched herself, as if she was performing a show to him. “I believe if you showcase yourself like this you might end up with serious delay of supper for I shall drag you right back to bed.”
Regardless of his words, Humphrey also rose from his bed, walking across the room to his wardrobe to dress in something comfortable. “I warn you, you will sup with a monk. I think to wear some lengthy robe,” he said, “Anything more than that would be bothering me.” He chose his garment and turned towards her, “Will you stay the night, Summer? I mean… I would like you to.”
“Is it not wordplay that brought us together, Humphrey? I must keep in practise, lest I lose your attention.” She smirked, stalking toward him, but hesitated in the midst of putting her arms around him at the question. “I — ” No glib answer came to mind. Play, wordplay, bedsport, all these were well and good, but she was yet a noblewoman, and he a duke and brother to a king. “I might be persuaded to,” she went on, at last, playfulness fallen from her eyes as she searched his.
“Well, you will have a chamber as befits your status, prepared for you… you are a respected guest of the house,” Humphrey said with a grin, noting how she looked confused, “and after supper it will be likely too late for the journey to London.” He put her hands around his waist finishing the motion she started, “I might sneak in tho…” He whispered into her ear. “Who knows, you might be frightened in the dark and need some knightly guarding around you….”
“After supper I show you the library. You might like what you find there, to keep you in practice with your wordplay.”
Summer pressed herself against Humphrey. “Very tempting. But you know I don’t fear the darkness, Humphrey.” She leaned up his body, murmuring, “It would have to be very late indeed to prevent my return to the city. Perhaps your library will be interesting enough to distract me.”