* * *
“Miss?” Muriel moaned softly as someone shook her shoulder. “Miss, are you all right?”
Her eyes flew open and she stared up at the man standing over her… Mr. Seeps. At least that’s who she thought it was. Her brain was a little foggy. She’d obviously fallen asleep while she’d waited for Ewan to return. She looked around and didn’t see him anywhere.
“I’m sorry, I must have fallen asleep,” she said.
“Can I help you with anything?” he asked.
“Can you tell me what time it is?” she asked.
He pulled out a pocket watch. “It’s a little after four,” he said. “Are you looking for me? Are you in one of my lectures? My office is upstairs if you need to speak with me about something.”
“No,” Muriel said, her mind working overtime to try and come up with an excuse as to why she was sleeping in a chair in this building.
From out of the blue, Ewan appeared next to Mr. Seeps.
“There you are, darling,” he said. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “Forgive me, Mr. Seeps, but I asked my intended to meet me here after our talk. If you’ll excuse me for being rude, I didn’t expect you to run off and leave me in a building so far away from your office.”
“I forgot an appointment,” Mr. Seeps said.
“You didn’t think to tell me you were leaving?” Ewan said. The anger in his voice made Muriel wince.
“I’m sorry,” Mr. Seeps repeated.
“Yes, well I am too,” Ewan said. He offered Muriel his hand. “Come, love, let’s go now.”
“Does this mean there will be no article in the magazine?” Mr. Seeps asked. “The publicity would be good for the university, and for my next expedition.”
The pleading tone of his voice made Muriel felt guilty.
“I’ll speak with my editor,” Ewan said. “Muriel, let’s go.”
She took his hand and they started out of the building.
“Please stay in touch,” Mr. Seeps called out after them.
Once they were outside, Muriel tried to pull Ewan to a stop, but he kept on going.
Finally, once they’d gone through the two arches and were back on the street, they stopped.
“What is happening?” she asked.
“I’m not sure,” Ewan said. “Things were going fine, and he was talking about expeditions, and things they’d found, but when I mentioned erotic scrolls he got nervous. The next thing I knew he was running out of the building as if the devil was behind him.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know,” Ewan said. “What did you find?”
“A lot of books, trinkets and artifacts,” she said. “The only thing that seemed out of odds was a blank scroll.”
“Blank?”
“Yes,” she said.
“That’s odd,” he said. “Did you bring it with you?”
“No, I didn’t,” she said. “I think that would have been stealing. I’m not a thief.”
They stared at each other. “You’re right, it would have been. That’s why I think the best plan for the remainder of the day would be for us to find our lodgings, have hot, wild sex and then come back here tonight and break in so I can get a look at Mr. Seeps’ office, and the empty scroll.”
Muriel stepped closer to him and turned her face up. “How do you suggest we get back here at midnight? Something tells me the streets of Oxford are not going to be teeming with cabs in the middle of the night.”
“True,” he said. “But hopefully our lodgings will have something that will get us back here. Tell me, Muriel, have you ever ridden a bicycle?”
* * *
The house was on the edge of town, and after the cab driver had dropped them off, Muriel glanced around.
“Getting back into town at midnight is not going to be easy,” she said. “We should have hired a carriage to keep here.”
“Nonsense,” Ewan said. “If all else fails we can walk.”
She didn’t want to tell him she thought the walk would be far more than they could undertake, especially at midnight.
“Let’s see what we can find,” he said. First, they went inside. The house was dusty, and Muriel waved her hand in the air and wrinkled up her nose.
“You’re being very negative,” Ewan said. “Perhaps I should give you a few swats to adjust your attitude.”
Muriel couldn’t help but giggle. “A few swats will do nothing more than stir up the dust.”
“We have a place where we can play and be as loud as we want,” he said.
“That is a positive point,” she said. “But maybe we should wait for tomorrow before we search Mr. Seeps’ rooms. After all, the cab is coming back for us in the morning. We could hire a carriage to keep here and use it tomorrow.”
She watched as he considered her proposal. “A carriage around the university might attract too much attention. We need to be as unobtrusive as possible.”
“You’re right, of course,” Muriel said. “Shall we go and see if we can find something with wheels?”
They went outside and found a storage shed. It was locked, and Ewan went back inside and returned with a key.
“Found it in the kitchen,” he said. He opened the shed and then called out, “Eureka!” after he went inside. Muriel, who had stayed outside, followed the sound of his voice. She saw him standing near something that she’d never seen before.
“What is it?” she asked.
“It’s called a quadracycle,” Ewan said. “I peddle in the back, and you sit on that little seat in front of me.”
There were two huge wheels on either side of the frame, and two smaller ones, one in front and one in back.
“You know how to ride this?” Muriel asked, skeptically.
“It can’t be that hard,” he said. She stepped back as he maneuvered it out of the shed.
“It looks to be in good repair,” he said.
She watched as he mounted it, and she couldn’t help but laugh.
Muriel had never ridden a bicycle, much less something like the contraption Ewan was peddling around the lawn. He seemed to be very good at it, but that didn’t mean she wanted to get onto the little seat in front of him.
“I’m not sure about this,” she said as he started to peddle the quadracycle across the yard. It seemed, to her, to be unsteady, and more than a little unsafe. “Are you sure it will hold the two of us?”
“Absolutely,” Ewan said. He stopped right next to her. “Climb aboard.”
Muriel stared at the seat between the two wheels. “It seems unsafe,” she said.
“It will be fine,” he said. “We need to practice before we ride it tonight. Do you not trust me?”
“Implicitly,” she said. “You know that.”
“Then gather your skirts and sit in the seat. Tonight, it will be easier because you will we wearing breeches.”
Muriel nodded. “Then let’s make it so that I learn in the right environment.” She stepped away from the quadracycle and started to undress.
“Muriel, there are neighbors here,” he said.
She looked around. “They are not that close,” she said.
“They are close enough,” he said.
Muriel tossed her skirts aside and reached for her first petticoat. “Then they will get a show this afternoon.”
“Muriel, stop,” he said.
Muriel did stop before she took off the first petticoat. “You’re acting like I’ve never been naked in public before. I do believe the two of us have had relations in a public place before.”
“At night, when it was dark,” he said.
Muriel wiggled her hips. “Are you afraid we would get caught if we—” She let go of her petticoat and ran her hands up her sides, cupping her breasts through her shift. She licked her lips before she finished her sentence, “play with these?”
“Now is not the time to be naughty, Muriel,” he said.
She loved the stern tone of his voice.
“Muriel, p
ut your skirt back on and climb onto the quadracycle,” he said. “I won’t tell you again.”
“And if I don’t?” She batted her eyes at him. “We have a great deal of time before our planned illegal activities.”
“Muriel, put your clothes back on,” he said. “We will play tomorrow.”
“We will play now,” she said. There was every possibility they could be caught doing things they shouldn’t do in broad daylight, out in the open, but Muriel didn’t really care. This was exhilarating, and it kept her off the quadracycle for a while longer.
She made for the copse of trees near the house, thinking she could outrun him for at least five minutes. But she overestimated her chances. He grabbed her around the waist and she fell to the ground. Laughter escaped her mouth as she fought to get out of his grasp.
“Let me go!” she said. Her words weren’t very convincing, since she was laughing so hard she thought she would lose her breath.
“Why can’t you follow directions?” He climbed on top of her, sitting on her thighs. His first swat was directly on her bottom, which was still clad in her petticoats and pantalets.
“You wouldn’t like it if I was complacent,” she said. “Ouch.”
“Oh, spare me your fake pronouncement of pain,” he said. “Being spanked over your clothing is nothing.”
He continued to spank her, slapping his left hand against her left buttock, and then his right hand against her right side. He continued to slap her bum, and Muriel continued to laugh.
Until he grasped her petticoats and yanked.
“Don’t!” she screamed. “You’ll rip them.”
Ewan stood quickly. “Then take them off,” he said. “I want you naked, now.”
Muriel gazed up at him. His chest heaved with exertion; her gaze dropped to his crotch, where a bulge told her exactly why he wanted her naked. She licked her lips again. She would like to draw things out, take him into her mouth, savor his hardness, and the saltiness of his discharge.
But she could tell by the look on his face that he wanted one thing, to be inside her.
Muriel lay down and wiggled out of her petticoats and pantalets. When the bottom part of her was naked she worked to undo the laces on her corset. It was never an easy thing to do, but she loved undressing for him.
Ewan’s hand was on his crotch, massaging his prick. The corset dropped free, and then Muriel took off her shift. She laid it on the ground and climbed on top of it. She spread her legs and stroked her quim.
“Fuck me,” she said.
“Swats first,” he said. “Five hard ones, with a switch.”
Those words shouldn’t have excited her. She should be screaming that she wouldn’t do it. Instead she sat up and said, “Why?”
“Are you questioning me?” He shook his finger at her. “Let’s make it ten. Lay down and close your eyes while I cut a switch.”
She could hear him as he walked away, heard the rustle of leaves. She imagined him pulling out the folding knife she knew he kept in his pocket. He hadn’t told her she couldn’t, so Muriel pushed her fingers into her wetness and stroked her clit. She didn’t want to come yet. She wanted to do it while the switch was coming down on her bottom.
“Hands and knees,” he ordered.
“May I continue?” she asked as she got into position.
“Yes,” he said.
“Oh, ouch!” she cried out as the first swat landed. She increased the pressure on her clit. The next four swats made tears form in her eyes, but she was so very close to exploding she didn’t care.
The next four, hard swats landed on her thighs. Muriel stroked herself harder. She wiggled her hips as he slapped her ass again, and again. It was past ten but she didn’t care.
“More, more,” she said. “Oh, almost…” She didn’t get any more words out of her mouth as she came, her body quivering as Ewan continued to swat her.
Her hand dropped from between her legs and she cried out as Ewan buried himself in her quim. He grasped her hips and pumped her hard, his cock hitting just the right spot, making her come once more as he called out her name.
They collapsed on the ground, rolling onto their sides. Ewan held her close. He kissed her shoulder and said, “I like it when you disobey me.”
They laughed and he held her close. She knew they had to practice riding the quadracycle, but right now all she wanted was to stay in his arms, where she felt warm and welcome.
Chapter 11
In the coldness of the night, the college seemed much more sinister than it had during the day. The buildings loomed over them as they walked through an archway, and Muriel half expected someone to rush out from behind a tree and scream, “Gotcha!”
They had left the quadracycle near a teashop and walked the rest of the way. Muriel wore a pair of Ewan’s breeches and one of his shirts. Since they were all too loose on her she tied a piece of twine around her waist to keep the pants up. To make sure it stuck, she’d found a long rope and doubled it around her waist. The shirt hung down to her thighs.
Ewan held her hand as they hurried through the quad and to Mr. Seeps’ building.
“It’s creepy here,” Muriel said as they entered the building. “I wonder if these building are haunted?”
“By the souls of academic standouts hanging around since Henry II told students they had to study in Britain?” They started up the stairs. “Maybe they are angry that they couldn’t go to Paris anymore.”
“You’re making fun of me,” she said, and she couldn’t help but laugh. They were on the second floor now, heading to Seeps’ door. Ewan dropped her hand before he reached into his pocket. She stepped back as he pulled a slim tool from his pocket.
“It won’t take me long,” he said. But when he put his hand on the door it pushed open, and Muriel grasped at his arm to keep him from falling inside.
“What the devil?” he asked. He pushed the door open totally and stepped into the room. Muriel followed him. Every box and book she’d seen earlier that day was gone.
Ewan turned to the wall to twist on the light switch.
“What if someone sees the light?” she asked.
“Just for a moment.” Once the room was lit Muriel frowned.
“Where has it all gone?” she asked. “The only thing left is the desk and bookcases.”
“Let’s go.” He twisted the knob for the light and grabbed her hand, pulling her from the room.”
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
He ran toward the staircase. They hadn’t even gone down two steps before they heard noises from below, men trying to be quiet but failing as they hurried up the stairs.
“Hell and damnation,” Ewan said as he reversed course and they moved onto the landing. She watched as he looked around before he pulled her back toward Seeps’ office. But instead of stopping, he bypassed it and went to the room next door. To her astonishment the door swung open, but unlike Seeps’ office it was full of books and furniture.
Ewan closed the door quietly and clicked the lock. He put a finger to his lips and she nodded. Then he pointed to the desk. They crossed, one to either side, and crouched down.
The sounds of footsteps filled the hallway, and Muriel’s heart beat like she’d just run a race. She held out her hand and Ewan grabbed it and squeezed.
“They can’t have gone far,” a loud voice said. “Search all the offices if they are open. Find them!”
The doorknob rattled and Muriel put her hand over her mouth. Her eyes widened and she squeezed Ewan’s hand again. He nodded, but let go of her hand and whispered, “Don’t panic. Stay here.”
Muriel nodded. She didn’t want to panic, but the idea of the men outside busting into the office was terrifying. There was no telling what they would do to them. But she was pretty sure who they were. Brown was obviously having them followed.
“That rat bastard,” she whispered.
“We should have known,” Ewan replied. He pointed at the window. “I’m going to look and see how far
the drop is.” He let go of her hand and started toward the window. Then he turned back. “By the way, watch your language.”
“Are you serious?” she asked. “There are men about to pummel us, and you’re worried that I said a bad word?”
He was cranking open the window and when he leaned over the opening she wanted to grab him.
“Too far,” he said. He turned and scanned the room, at the same time, someone pounded on the door and Muriel gasped. She put her hand over her mouth and prayed they hadn’t heard the sound.
“Give me the rope,” Ewan said, just as the pounding happened again.
“Get it open!” someone yelled.
“You said it was too far,” she said, fear making her belly flop.
“We don’t have time to argue, just give it to me!”
Muriel stood and started to undo the knot. As she did he cranked open the window next to the one already open. When he took the rope and started to knot it around the frame in the middle, Muriel’s body shook. There was no way she would be able to drop from this height.
What were Brown’s men going to do when they burst into the room? Would they hurt them, or take them away to question them about the blocks, and the papyrus that Brown wanted them to find? If he planned on setting thugs on them, why did he send them after it? It didn’t make sense to her.
This was one mystery she wanted solved, right now.
“Muriel!” She looked up to see Ewan holding out his hand. “Come here!”
“No!” She shook her head violently.
“Trust me,” he said.
It took every bit of strength she had to stand. Her legs were like jam you would spread on a scone as she took a step away from the desk.
Instead of going to the window he pulled her toward the row of cupboards that were against the far wall. He opened one and indicated she should climb inside. She did as he asked. She noticed several robes hanging from hooks. There were also at least two on the ground, and she wondered about the housekeeping skills of the person who worked from this office.
“Lie down,” Ewan said. He climbed in and closed the door, then pulled robes over them just as the outside door to the room burst open.
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