PENELOPE
"You understand that this a very strong aphrodiasic, don’t you, miss?"
I looked at Courtesan Lila, and smiled. "I do."
She wrapped the incense in a cloth bag. "It’s not sothing we use on our guests."
"Then why do you have it?"
The pretty blonde looked away. "For this and that."
"Yes, well, that’s what I need it for."
I paid her for the incense, and she thanked . In her cloying room filled with lace and ribbon and flowers, she stretched out on a divan and looked at , her painted face reminding of a delicate ceramic doll.
"This won’t be enough," I said.
"It’s plenty."
"No, I an, this will seal the deal, but I’ll need knowledge to keep him."
Courtesan Lila looked at . "A twisted lon is not as sweet. Forcing your will on another has consequences."
"I’ve spent seven years at his side. I deserve everything I’m reaching for."
Courtesan Lila smiled. "You want to learn the secrets of bedroom gas."
"Yes."
"That will cost a lot more than the incense did."
"I have money. Teach everything you can in the next couple of hours."
"Money first. And then you’ll need to change your clothes."
***|***|***
JACE
It was well past dinner ti when I was able to get free. The skirmish had occurred in desert terrain where warring tribes had entered our territory. Faced with the well organized military might of the Northern Realm, the tribes decided to move back into their part of the Western Realm.
I was tired, hungry, and out of sorts.
I hoped Penelope had thought to keep a dinner plate warm for . And if she could massage my shoulders, I might actually be able to sleep easier.
Unfortunately, it seed like I would be in the Capital much longer than I had hoped for, so I wouldn’t be returning to Amaranth Manor for a least a fortnight.
However, that gave ti to arrange nuptials for Penelope. I had a few candidates in mind. Plenty of young lieutenants lived and worked in the Capital and many didn’t have ti to date much less find a woman to marry.
Penelope would make a fine wife for one of those fellows.
The servants had apparently retired for the night, leaving only the gas lamps in the hallway lit. I made my way to the kitchen and found no warm dinner waiting for . I settled for a hunk of bread and so cheese that I found in the larder.
I was annoyed that Penelope agreed to dinner at ho and then ... no dinner?. Where was the food? Why hadn’t she made sure the cook had at least made a al?
I ate the bread and cheese quickly, enough to fill my belly.
I headed upstairs, pausing by the closed door of Penelope’s room. I listened carefully, but I didn’t hear any movent. Had she already gone to bed?
Whatever. The sooner I married her off the better. She was a thorn in my side. And intended to pluck her out of my flesh as quickly as possible.
After getting clean, I wrapped a towel around my waist and headed into my bedroom. While I looked for pajamas, I slled a sweet, minty scent.
What was that?
I paused, the top drawer of my dresser open as I closed my eyes and inhaled the intoxicating scent.
Had my valet changed the incense I used?
I decided I liked it. I grabbed a pair of underwear from the drawer.
Suddenly dizzy, I dropped the clothing and grabbed on to the dresser. A prickling heat swept over my skin. Underneath this feeling was sothing ... sensual. Sothing that made want a woman more than I wanted my next breath.
"What’s happening to ?" I staggered to the bed and fell on my back. I grabbed at my neck, my chest. "It’s so hot. Why is so damned hot?"
I felt her cool hands on my waist, and nearly died from the feel of those fingers pulling off my towel.
I looked up at the woman, unable to see her face in the dark.
"Who are you?"
"It’s ," she said in a husky voice. Her hands wandered down my thighs, and I sucked in a shaky breath.
"Tonight, Jace Willowmarch, you will be mine."
Penelope slid on top of , wearing only a thin pink slip. I saw her cat-who-ate-the-canary smile and realized what she’d done.
"You drugged ?"
Her cool body stretched against mine and I groaned in relief. She kissed my jaw, my throat, my collarbone.
"Stop."
"No."
She continued planting kisses on my chest. I grabbed her wrists and yanked her up. "You shouldn’t have done this, damn it!"
"But I did," she purred. Her pulled one of her hands free and put it between my legs. "You sure you want to leave?"
God, she felt so good. Slled so good. And I was so hot. Uncomfortable. Dying.
I cradled her head and brought her mouth close to mine. "You started the fire," I said. "Now you better put it out."
***|***|***
SOPHIA
THREE DAYS LATER...
I received a letter from Jace stating he would remain in the Capital for the next two weeks. Or longer. He wasn’t sure yet. He ntioned the weather, how exhausting his job was, and that he missed .
He said nothing about Penelope. I assud she’d been married off to so unlucky man. Whatever happened to her, I was just relieved that she wouldn’t be part of my life in the future.
It had beco my after-dinner habit to talk a walk in the garden. The air was definitely getting chillier. It might snow soon. I hoped it did. I think I liked snowfall.
I hadn’t slept well since I got ho from the hospital. I had dreams about falling off bridges, chasing butterflies through flowers, and worst of all, drowning in murky, blood-filled water.
It was almost better not to sleep at all.
I ended up at the oak tree again, and felt for the heart with the initials inside. I traced it, curious about the people who’d carved a love tribute into the bark.
"Miss Sophia," called the housekeeper from the back patio. "You have a package."
"Oh?" I returned to the house. On the dining room table was a rectangular box wrapped in brown paper. "Who delivered it?"
"I’m unsure, Miss. There was a knock, and when I opened the front door, I saw this on the porch.
"What on earth...?" I reached for the corner of the wrapping, and pulled.
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