His Mistress was most displeased. Unfortunately for his Mistress, the Queen rarely gave into her tantrums and she was likely to be even more displeased by the time she returned to her chambers.

Aide had warned her, more than once, that the rumors had begun. The Queen was searching for a husband for her daughter. Not only that, but the Queen was hoping to form an alliance with the neighboring land, the King there as yet unmarried. It would be a valuable political match for both parties. His Mistress would hear nothing of these rumors and had forbidden Aide to speak of them. In fact, she'd punished him rather cruelly for mentioning them in the first place.

Aide rubbed his ass; he could still feel the sting of his Mistress' whip. His prick leapt at the thought. All right, so punishment was also pleasure; nonetheless, Mistress rarely beat him bloody.

He shook the memories from his head. If he was quick, he could have his Mistress' bedroom ready and she could rant and beat him to her heart's content. And then, if that had pleased her, she would make love to him. She gave him so much pleasure, took such good care of him, and, frankly, he was completely in love with her and the thought of another man having rights to that love hurt. Oh, he would do the right thing, but it would be good to have his Mistress drive everything from his mind but her.

He dismissed Ilsa, his Mistress' handmaiden, and Anya, the maid, from his Mistress' rooms as soon as he entered, shooing them out and closing the door firmly behind them. Then he turned an appraising eye on the large bedroom.

A large wardrobe took up one wall; its three sets of doors kept his Mistress' clothes hidden from view. Opposite the wardrobe was a large hearth, the fire burning brightly within, spreading its warmth across the room. Tapestries hung along the walls in an attempt to trap that heat. Carpets also graced the floor, and a large rug made from the fur of two black bears lay before the fire.

A chest sat next to the fireplace, and two wing-backed chairs sat before it. Several more chairs were scattered across the room, most of which Aide had been bent over at one time or another. And tied to. His cock began to push at his placket and he ignored the tent it was making of his breeches. Really, he had work to do.

The huge bed sat in the middle of the room; the curtains flowing from the four high posters were currently open. The bed itself was made, pillows and comforters piled high. The rings attached to each of the four posters were hidden, but Aide knew they were there and that the drawer beneath the bed contained all manner of manacles and ropes.

He pulled the white silk ropes from the drawer and attached one to each ring. Then he took a fifth silk rope and left it looped around itself in the middle of one of the chairs--one never knew what would grab his Mistress' fancy and he wanted everything to be prepared for her whims.

He went to the chest by the fireplace and pulled out her riding crop and her whip, along with several long phalluses and the contraption which would allow her to wear one, and a leather binder for his prick. He carefully dusted and oiled them, and then laid them on the bottom right hand corner of the bed.

He made sure the water in the jug by the bowl was fresh and that there were enough delicate flakes of soap to clean his Mistress' whole body. The decanter of brandy was laid by the fire to warm, his Mistress' glass reflecting the firelight.

When everything he could think of had been prepared and double-checked, Aide stripped and pushed his clothes into the hamper in the corner, and then went to kneel by the door, his hands behind his back and his head bowed. He was ready for his Mistress' wrath or pleasure. He craved them both.

Aide could feel his own pulse beating against his throat, the leather collar around his neck seeming to throb with it.