“I won’t, Ben! I promise!” Richard said quickly.
“Good,” Ben said with a nod. “Now, for the second reason I came here to speak to you.” Richard’s eyes showed his nervousness once more.
“After unveiling the first statue on the property of Alexis and Béatrice’s B&B, I was told you made a second bronze statue for your own property. Stephanie agreed to this, I assume?” Ben asked.
Richard nodded, and Ben could see Henry had already made the leap and knew what his question would be. The man’s expression showed his concern. Ben sighed.
“You’ve made a second copy of the new life-sized sculpture, haven’t you?”
Richard’s mouth worked then he nodded guiltily.
“Is Stephanie aware of this one?” Ben asked.
“No. She was rather distraught after the unveiling and hasn’t allowed us to visit her since that night,” Richard explained.
“The statue which the Singhs purchased is actually the second casting. The first had some flaws, so I set it aside and made a second one. After the disastrous unveiling, I came home and fixed the first one. I wanted to give it to Alexis, but she said no. I couldn’t bring myself to destroy it.”
“Where is it?” Ben asked.
Richard shared an uncomfortable look with Henry before he addressed Ben once more. “We’ve, ah, incorporated it into one of our guest houses.”
Ben blinked in surprise. “What do you mean by that?”
Henry forced a smile onto his face and made a vague gesture with his hands. “It has become, how you say, a most popular feature of our B&B, yes? We do not advertise. Our guests tell friends and make online posts. The Shepherd’s Cottage is fully booked through summer and fall and has many bookings in winter and spring. Tonight, a couple will arrive to stay in the cottage, so we have it prepared for them. They are skiers and will celebrate their tenth anniversary with a week here.”
This was the most animated Ben had seen the retired doctor behave, but the answer wasn’t satisfactory. “You haven’t explained incorporated.”
Henry glanced at Richard, whose face was reddening. He sighed at his partner’s inability to cope with these situations. “I will show you. It is better,” He paused as he looked at the others. “Will you come alone, or must they come too? I just cleaned the cottage.”
Ben got a look from Fisher and sighed. “They promise not to touch anything and will remain just inside the front door,” Ben said wearily.
“I will remain by your side,” Liliya said.
“Me too,” Evelyn insisted.
Henry looked at them curiously.
“My security detail. Russian hit teams seem to be after me,” Ben grumbled.
Henry stared at Ben, then left and returned wearing his winter coat. “We will return shortly,” he said to Richard.
Henry guided them out of the front door and around the building. “Please keep to the pathway. The fresh snow is more pleasing to the eye than messy footprints.”
Ben shared a look with Fisher, but everyone remained on the path.
They crossed the property through the lovely woods until they came upon a quaint little log cottage amongst the trees. Ben nodded to Henry as he was impressed so far.
Henry used a key to open the door and removed his boots just inside before walking into a rustically decorated space with rich woods, leather, and warm fabrics. Ben appreciated the exposed logs and the beautifully handcrafted fireplace faced with an artistic pattern made of river stones. The open-concept room was warm and inviting, and Ben grinned as he could see himself enjoying this cottage very much. Then the nagging thought returned. Where was the statue?
“This is truly lovely, but I don’t see the sculpture,” Ben said as he removed his boots. Liliya and Evelyn did as well.
Henry walked them through the space to the far wall, where a door opened into a hall. Off the corridor was a fully equipped bathroom with all the modern necessities disguised to fit into the woodsy motif.
The hall continued, and they came around the wall on the cottage extension to see a large master bedroom. The back wall facing the bed had floor-to-ceiling windows, which must have cost a fortune as Ben reached out but felt no heat loss from that much glass.
Henry smiled. “Yes, they were expensive but worth it!”
Ben saw the room was at the edge of the woods with a drop-off beyond showing the valley below. The view was stunning!
“For all this,” Henry said, gesturing to the expansive view, “the room is extremely private.” Ben nodded as he turned from the window.
That’s when he saw it.
The room was dominated by a huge four-poster bed that seemed capable of sleeping four, but someone was already in the bed.
It was him, or his brass doppelganger, that is.
Ben froze as he stared at how his brass replica was integrated into the huge bed on its right side like it was sleeping with-“Oh my god! Why would anyone want to sleep next to that?” Ben exclaimed loudly.
Henry was smiling gently as he watched the faces of the two women with him. “I think you should ask them,” he said.
Ben caught the guilty look on Evelyn’s face and the amused expression on Liliya’s. “What?” he asked.
Evelyn answered first, which was uncharacteristic of her. “It’s beautiful!” she blurted.
Liliya’s composed features burst into a delighted grin as she nodded to the sergeant. “I agree. I would add that it gives one a sense of comfort knowing it’s watching over you while you sleep.”
Henry nodded with a smile as Ben tore his eyes away from the two women to look back at him. “Our guests claim they sleep very soundly here. Amongst other benefits,” the smaller man said.
“Other benefits?” Ben asked cautiously.
Henry nodded. “We’ve received many comments from our guests. Some say it increased their intimacy with their partner. Others say it widened their sexual boundaries. Many claim it increased their fertility!”
“Fertility?” Ben asked, his eyebrows climbing with incredulity.
Henry grinned. “Yes, we are surprised how many couples report success in conceiving a child after staying in this cabin. It builds a reputation, yes?”
Ben made a noise of protest. “There’s no way that could be proven!”
Henry held up his hands and shook his head. “We make no such claims. This is what our guests report on their own. They are happy, relaxed, and comforted by the… symbol they rest beside. These feelings are what improves their chances of conceiving. Those who were unsuccessful in making a baby still enjoyed their stay and tell us they wish to return.”
Seeing Ben was somewhat mollified by that answer, he continued. “Couples only for this cottage, no singles. We did have one trio in a polyamorous relationship. They were very happy with their stay,” Henry said with a satisfied smile.
Liliya was closest to the bed and touched the sculpture’s chest. “Oh! It’s warm!” she exclaimed in surprise. Evelyn immediately moved closer to feel it as well.
Henry had a pained look on his face as Ben looked at him, so the man explained. “We thoroughly clean the cottage, including the sculpture, between each visitor. I will have to do this again. Please refrain from touching anything.”
“Apologies,” Liliya said contritely.
Ben looked at him suspiciously, then back to the brass figure in the bed. “You clean this because it’s being used… sexually?”
Henry fixed an expression of professionalism on his features as he addressed the question. “We do not judge our guests. We simply provide a healthy environment for them.”
Ben watched him for a moment, but he wasn’t going to expand upon that. The engineer in him was curious. “How are you heating it?”
Henry’s smile returned. “Hot water piping throughout its form. It is an excellent bed warmer.”
Liliya burst into laughter as Ben’s face heated up with Henry’s cheeky smile.
Fisher poked his head around the corner. “You’re taking a long time back here-whoa! That’s you!” he exclaimed as he moved closer to the brass reproduction of Ben. He reached out and touched its arm. “Holy shit! It’s warm! Guys, come see this!” he called out.
Stim, Killjoy, and Dunno crowded into the room, and each was surprised to see the art incorporated into the furniture.
“Okay! We’ve all seen it. Let’s go back to the chateau,” Ben called out, and the commandos blinked at his tone but moved quickly out of the bedroom.
Ben looked at Henry. “Sorry about that.”
“I am not surprised by their reaction, but it is tedious to clean,” Henry admitted.
They got their boots back on and quickly made their way back to the front hall of the chateau. Richard was nervously waiting for them. Henry put away his coat and rejoined them as Ben addressed the couple.
“Your B&B is lovely, and I’m glad you seem to be having success with it. I wish I wasn’t part of it, but I’m not going to ask you to get rid of the statue,” he admitted and watched them sag with relief. “That said, it sounds like you’ve stumbled upon a bit of a windfall from which the creator hasn’t benefited.” He raised his palm to stop their protests. “I understand you couldn’t speak to Stephanie as she was depressed. I’ve addressed that, and she is feeling much better now. I also understand Alexis refused to accept the art, but emotions were running high at the time, and she wasn’t aware of the possibilities. I think it’s time for you to speak with her and let her know.” He sighed as he shook his head. “I can’t believe I’m even having this conversation. It goes against my instincts, and I’m not at all comfortable with the idea of people using a brass replica of me for their… sexual boundary widening.”
Fisher’s team snorted quietly and found other places to look when Ben scowled in their direction.
Henry nodded. “That is more than fair. Richard and I will speak to Alexis and Béatrice at their earliest convenience.”
Richard nodded. “We’ll ensure they understand the potential benefits for their guests.”