Infernal Vices (Resurrectionist #3)

CHAPTER 21

THE MARVELLOUS IDEA

I returned home to a most wonderful scene. After Wilkins took my great coat and accessories, I noticed a gentle light emanating from under the parlour door and then heard a peal of delighted laughter. I said goodnight to my houseman, stepped to the door, and then opened it. I found a heart-warming prospect: a roaring fire and my dear Sebastian. He lay with his stockinged feet up on the settee, a book in one hand and a glass of claret in the other. I stepped in and closed the door but did not move further. Sebastian glanced up from his book, one I recognised from my bookshelf as ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ by Oscar Wilde. He considered me for a melting moment. I adored his whisky eyes.

“Are you quite alright dear heart? Did you have a good dinner?”

I was tongue tied with the picture before me, because this was in fact, my heart’s desire made real. For so many lonely nights I had longed to return home to find my lover inhabiting our shared space, our shared life, comfortable, intimate, and perfect. And here it was. Sebastian’s eyes took on an affectionate puppy dog appearance. “I’ve missed you too,” he said softly, then snapped the book shut, and laid it and his glass on the occasional table. He reached a long-fingered hand out to me. I unbuttoned and removed my frock coat, then tossed it over the back of the settee as I joined him.

“Oh, darling your hands are freezing!” he exclaimed, taking my hands in his and rubbing the warmth back into them.

“We had quite the Arctic blast tonight,” I said with a shudder. “It would not surprise me if we had snow. The moonlit sky has clouds of purple and grey. ”

“Snow in March is not unheard of. I guess—” he paused and grinned foxily, “—in the circumstances it is our duty to use our body heat to ensure we keep one another warm, yes?” I laughed and leaned in to kiss him.

“You taste of spice and sweetness!” I said as I rested my cheek on his lovely warm chest and nuzzled, listening to the virile thrumming of his heart.

“Mrs. Twigg made me some of her spiced tarts.”

“Flora is very fond of you. I swear, you’ll be the size of a barrel if she has her way!”

“I know. I must be careful. I feel absolutely wretched if ever I say no to her when she offers me more food! She is quite the treasure, though.” Then after a pause he asked, “So, what of the dinner with Nissa?”

“Dinner at the Café Royal and the company were exceptional. Nissa is a formidable young woman.”

“Isn’t she. I’m so very proud of how she’s grown into quite the firebrand. Her mother was forthright too.”

“Nissa had an agenda for tonight…did you know?”

“Nissa has wanted to meet you for a long time!”

“Well, I made it home alive so it appears your choice of beau received your daughter’s approval,” I cajoled, “But it’s the other agenda I’m talking about.”

Sebastian straightened from our embrace then.

“What other agenda?” he asked confused.

“Nissa has put herself forward to become Leopold’s fake fiancée.”

“She’s WHAT?”

“Your daughter is quite determined to make Blake pay for his ill-treatment of you when you were a young man. She offered to be our cuckoo in the nest, so to speak, and it appears she has arranged everything. I was rather taken aback with the amount of planning she’s already completed.”

“Planning? The minx, I did mention this turn of events to her but knew nothing of her plan to join in the fray!”

“She’s written a note for Leo, accompanied by a demure photograph, and supplied a list of events that they must be seen at to make the gossips believe they’re courting.” I turned and reached for my frock coat and retrieved the documents and handed them to Sebastian. I thought for a moment that he was angry, but then he smiled widely and shook his head. Soon he began to laugh.

“My girl is a chip of the old block, I tell you! I do not doubt that she can pull off this ruse. Nissa is a fine actress, she thinks on her feet, and she can protect herself. Did she tell you that during her nine weeks on the ship from Bombay to England she learned a martial art called Bartitsu from a Chinese performer named Mr. Wu Jing?”

“Really?”

“He was travelling to England tour with a circus troupe. Nissa learned the art of self defence from him then arranged for any women on board the ship who wanted to learn to defend themselves to join a class. Suffice to say, Nissa set Mr. Jing up in business teaching Bartitsu here in London when he completed his contract with the circus . It’s a very good method of self-defence; they’ve taught me a clever move or two!” Sebastian said fondly.

“Goodness! It sounds like she’d give our Queen Victoria a run for her money!”

“Yes, I would not fancy Victoria’s chances!” he laughed.

“So you are in agreement that Nissa should play Leopold’s fiancée?”

“Indeed. I’ve witnessed what happens when anyone attempts to manhandle Nissa, and it’s always worst for the other party. I do believe this is a marvellous idea.”

“I’ll need to arrange an introduction with Blake and Cavendish as they are the brains behind this secret brotherhood,” I explained.

“Tell them to come to Claridges on Thursday at midday and come up to the penthouse. I’ll ensure we’re ready for them.”

Goodness, things were moving apace now.

“Very good. I’ll write a note to be sent in the morning.” I ran a hand over Sebastian’s thigh and felt the muscles flex at my touch. The dart of arousal those twitching muscles gave me made my prick pulse hotly. My lover lived with me now, and even though the servants were abed I did not want to get used to lowering my inhibitions outside of my bed chamber.

“I shall be but a moment in my study and then I’ll retire to bed…are you coming?” I asked with a wag of my brows. Sebastian gave me a languid smile and licked his plump bottom lip. “I’d wager we will both be coming within the next thirty minutes,” he said. He rose from the settee and strode to the mantle to switch off the gas fire. Then he headed to the parlour door and opened it. I watched his tight backside with every step.

“I shall away to bed now, Goodnight Benedict,” he said so that anyone was awake would hear.

“Goodnight Birdie. Sleep well my friend,” I replied. We shared a smouldering look that said more than words, but before he disappeared through the doorway Sebastian mouthed, “Don’t be long!” then blew me a kiss. My chest fizzed like freshly uncorked Champagne.

When Sebastian was upstairs, I turned off the lights in the parlour then hurried to my study and penned a note. I placed Nissa’s letter and photograph inside the envelope, sealed and addressed it, then left the letter on the silver salver in the hall to be seen and dealt with in the morning by Wilkins. Finally, I climbed the stairs to my bedchamber and into the waiting arms of love.

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