Darkness In The Flames (50 page)

With a motherly pat to the shoulder the landlady headed for the door. “Nothing a bath won’t fix, dear. And I doubt your man there cares a whole lot. He’s got love in them black eyes of his if I’ve ever seen it.”

Nick grinned and charmed her by lifting her hand to his lips and kissing it courteously. “A woman of enormous perspicacity.”

“Mebbe. Whatever them fancy words mean.” Blushing, she headed to the hall. “You want something to eat, come down to the pub and Ed’ll fix you up.”

The door closed behind her.

“Nick. You shameless flirt.” Verity giggled and pulled at her hair. “Mind you, after catching a look at myself, I’m not surprised your eyes have turned elsewhere.”

“As if they ever could.” Nick moved behind her and helped her untangle the strands of her makeshift coiffeur.

She leaned against him for a moment, comforted by his presence. A simple exercise in one man, one woman, sharing a time and space that was just for them.

She pulled away at the sound of a knock. “That’ll be Tom, I suppose.”

Indeed it was. “Here’s yer water then, ma’am. Sir.” Tom nodded. “You’ll be wanting the tub set up.” He put the water down and moved to a wall where doors indicated hidden cupboards. “I’ll light the fire too. ‘Tis chilly now with the days drawing in.”

“I’ll do it, lad. Just set up the bath.” Nick moved to strike a taper and touch it to the kindling in the fireplace.

Tom dragged a large copper container from the cupboard. Something, which, in Verity’s opinion, might possibly hold a child under the age of eight. Oh well. ‘Twould suffice.

“Missus thought ye might like this a’fore she puts it in outhouse.” He pulled a crumpled and folded newspaper from one grubby pocket. “‘Tis old, mind ye. But summat to read for yer.”

“How kind of her. Will you thank her for me?” Verity gave Tom a broad smile that got even broader as he tripped over his feet.

“Er—yes—yes I will. Thank ye, ma’am.” He touched his forelock and backed out of the room.

“Here, Tom. Thanks.” A coin passed from Nick’s hand to Tom’s.

“Oh. Well—er, thank
you
, sir.” Blushing, Tom fled.

Verity chuckled. “Just a fountain of charm this evening, aren’t we?
Sir
?”

Nick grinned. “One does what one must.” He lifted the buckets and poured the hot water into the tub. “Your bath awaits, my lady.” He looked at it. “Such as it is.”

“Anything will be good at this moment…” Verity paused as her gaze fell on the front page of the newspaper. A name had jumped out at her and she eased down on the bed, unfolding the sheets and straightening them out so that she could read further.

“Nick?”

He looked at her. “Yes?”

“Nick, there’s an article here. About FitzAdams.”

“Really?”

Verity nodded. “On the front page too.” She quickly skimmed the paragraphs. “Good God.”

“What?”

“This is from…let’s see…” She glanced at the top of the page. “A week or so ago, maybe. I don’t know. I’ve lost track of the days…”

“And?”

“Well, it says here that Gawain has had a seizure. And…” She read on. “And several members of the household have been stricken by a mystery ailment. Oh Lord, Nick.” She looked up. “Gawain is not expected to recover and Isolde…”

“What about her?” Nick’s voice was quite calm.

Verity’s voice was jumping all over the place as she finished the piece. “Isolde is apparently
paralyzed
.”

“Well, well. A just retribution, I’d say.” Nick waved at the tub. “The water’s getting cold. Since you get to use it first, would you mind doing so before it turns to ice?” He grinned.

Absently, Verity shed her clothes, her mind still reeling from the revelations in the newspaper. Gingerly she stepped into the tub and wriggled down as far as she could. Nick’s joke notwithstanding the water was still quite hot and she sighed with delight as she washed herself.

“What do you think could have happened?” The hair was dunked satisfactorily and the miniscule piece of soap used with great enthusiasm.

“I couldn’t begin to imagine.”

Verity paused. Nick was entirely too nonchalant in his responses. “Nick?”

“Would you like a towel? I’ve put them by the fire to warm.”

“Nick?”

“Yes dear?”

“What did you
do
?”

“
Me
?” Nick’s face was all outraged innocence as he held the towel up for Verity to wrap herself in. “What makes you think I did anything?”

She wasn’t fooled for a moment. “Because I know you. Because over these past days I have learned a lot about you. I’m still learning. But I do know that
look
.”

He stripped and stepped into the tub, taking his time and busying himself with the task. “What look is that?”

“
That
look. The one that says
even though I’ve got the apple hidden behind me in my hand and there’s a mouthful of it on my tongue I absolutely did not touch it
.”

“Oh.
That
look.”

“Yes.” She slid between the covers and pulled the quilt around her shoulders as she rubbed her hair dry with the towel. “Tell me, Nick. I want to know. Please. You fetched my clothes. You must have been there at some point.”

He glanced up at her, a flash of anger crossing his face. “They hurt you, Verity. They intended it to be fatal. Such a deed could not go unpunished. You know that.”

She stared at him. His honor—his sense of commitment—he was right. Such a deed would not pass unnoticed by a man of his character. “So tell me what happened.”

Nick scrubbed at his hair. “I paid them a little visit one night after you’d fallen asleep.”

“Ah.” She waited patiently.

“They—and their guests—well, it was the same old Isolde. Orgiastic sex and lots of it. With the addition of their…stimulants.”

Verity sighed. How well she knew the smell of those stimulants. Cloying and herbal, it had clung to her clothing, stubbornly scenting them for days. She could not afford the perfumes that Isolde used to mask the odor, nor would the servants clean the dresses of a humble companion.

“I remember.”

“Don’t.” Nick’s voice was firm. “‘Tis past. Gone. Something we need not recall. Ever.”

“Very well. But just tell me what happened.” Verity was insistent. She was going to learn the truth if it took her all night to pry it out of Nick. “Then I can let it go.”

She folded her arms around her legs, rested her chin on her knees and watched Nick from her little cocoon of feather down. She did not really need the warmth, but was comforted by it nonetheless.

They could have been a simple married couple enjoying a night’s repose. She was bathed and tucked into bed while he finished his own bath. Soon they would bank the fire, douse the candles and slumber, curled around each other, a picture of marital bliss.

But of course, they were not. They never would be.

She sighed. “Spit it out, Nick. I have all eternity to wait for your answer.” Wasn’t
that
the truth? “And I have the patience to go with it.”

Nick closed his eyes for a moment as the truth of Verity’s words poured over him like a cold shower. They
did
have eternity, as near as he could tell. And facing it with a woman who had questions unanswered—well, some things didn’t bear thinking about.

He grinned at her. “You win.”

She smirked. “I know.”

“I crept into the Towers that night. Isolde was entertaining her guests with some sort of dance that involved her removing her clothing. The rest of them were already mostly naked. And exceedingly drunk.”

Verity wrinkled her nose. “Ah.
That
dance.”

“Fortunately, they were in the grand salon. I wondered if she’d bring out her herbal stimulants, so I slipped up to her room and there they were. All set out on a tray, ready to be taken to the party. From that point on…” He lifted one shoulder. “It was easy.”

“It was?”

“Absolutely. One summer I studied some of those compounds. They were familiar. Pretty common, actually. Essence of poppy—which is the basis for laudanum—some wild plants, they can be burned as incense or smoked or added to tea—one came from Egypt a while back with the troops who returned from the Nile and surrounding areas.”

“Oh.”

Nick was pleased to see that Verity looked suitably impressed. “I simply…er…
adjusted
the quantities.”

“Good God. You
poisoned
them?” Her eyebrows flew up.

Nick looked offended as he finished drying himself off, blew out the candles and slid into bed beside her. “Certainly not. I would not stoop so low as to dirty my hands with those two. Although I must confess to a rather strong urge to rip their throats out.”

He leaned back, enjoying watching her as she struggled with her own emotions, finally huffing out a breath of disgust. “Unfortunately, I sort of agree with you. Those two…I can’t find any good reason for their existence. Although I suppose there has to be one somewhere in the overall scheme of things.” She turned on the pillow and looked at him. “So this
adjustment
you made…what was it?”

He looked back at her. “Verity, I wanted to kill them for what they did to you. Make no mistake, the urge was there.
Strongly
there. I can’t find a reason for them to take up space on this planet and I could easily have killed them without a second thought. Or a backward glance.” He paused. “But I couldn’t—something held me back. I simply couldn’t kill out of anger, no matter how terrible their deeds. Do you understand?”

“Of course I do. It’s who you
are
, Nick. You have changed in many ways, but the essential part that makes you
you
, is still there inside. You’re no murderer. You taught me to feed without taking more than I need. That took work and I’m sure it was no easy skill to master for you in the beginning. But no matter what you became, Thérèse’s influence never altered your fundamental character. She may have recreated you physically, but
spiritually
the good man I once knew is still there.”

“I hope so.” Nick shrugged. “I suppose time will tell.”

“Finish your story.” Verity nudged him.

“Oh, yes. Isolde. Well, I made an adjustment to the quantities of the chemicals, that’s all. If they chose to abstain, they would have been totally unaffected. If they overindulged—” He raised both eyebrows, knowing he need say no more.

“Oooooh, Nick. ‘Tis poetic justice indeed. Their own lusts and depravity dictated their fate. How…how…symmetric.” Verity looked at him approvingly. “I must say that was quite brilliant of you.”

“Thank you.” Nick dipped his head in acknowledgement and stole a quick kiss while he was at it. “Which reminds me.”

He slid out of bed and rummaged in his bag, returning with a small pouch. “Here. You wanted this, I believe?”

Verity shook her head in amazement as the tiny cache of jewelry winked in the candlelight. “You are quite astounding.”

“Aren’t I?” He grinned at her.

“Funny thing is, they seem so unimportant now.”

“Next to what we’ve found together, yes. I agree.” He snuggled against her. “I’m glad I got your clothes. These were an afterthought. For some reason, covering your body seemed far more important than bedecking you with your ill-gotten gains.” He grinned. “Other men may look at baubles. But not at you.”

Verity melted beside him and reached for his shoulders. He held her close. “Curb your desires for this night, my love.”

“Er…must I?”

“Yes, wanton temptress, you must. I would not leave our host and hostess with the sounds of your screams ringing in their ears. You are rather loud when you come, you know.”

Verity’s delicate flush of color enchanted Nick. In spite of all their lovemaking, she could still—now and again—blush.

“Such a pity to waste this lovely bed too.” Her eyes twinkled in the darkness. “Hmmm.”

Nick narrowed his eyes. “Now it’s my turn. I know
that
look.”

“Good. Then perhaps you’ll know what I have in mind.” She slithered beneath the covers and Nick jumped as he felt her mouth on his cock.

“Verity…” He hissed her name, ready to pull away from her. But, mortal or human, he was as helpless to resist her actions as any other male would have been.

“Mmmm.” The mumble rattled his balls and sent shivers of pleasure up his body. There would be no feeding tonight, no massive crashing orgasm that rocked them both off the surface of their world.

But perhaps there could be a simple give and take of affection. Perhaps for tonight they could pretend—pretend to be just two people deeply in love.

Which of course they were.

So Nick lay back and allowed himself to enjoy the pleasure of Verity’s tongue and lips and mouth, all of which she used with great enthusiasm on his cock and his balls. She found his sensitive spots, coaxed his cock to a fullness that was nearly painful, then took him deep into her throat and slid her hand down to the base, squeezing the soft velvet skin and tugging a little.

It was divine torture—exquisite agony—and when Nick knew he couldn’t take much more, he shifted beneath her mouth.

To his surprise, she refused to let him go.

“Verity, sweetheart. I can’t hold on much longer.”

“Then don’t.” Her voice was a muffled whisper around his cock, dampened even further by the bedclothes. He couldn’t make her out at all, simply relying on his senses and her lips. It was the strangest arousal—disembodied sex and Nick thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

But to
come
? He didn’t know…wasn’t sure…

Verity didn’t let him think. She sucked him strongly, far back into her mouth, energetically pumping his cock, drawing his orgasm to its peak. He exploded helplessly, spurting between her lips in a release that was sweet in its simplicity.

There was no roar of completion, no savage lust for feeding. There was only—
Verity
.

And afterwards, he smiled as he returned the favor, buried tight against her pussy and loving her clit with his tongue. He wanted to laugh as he saw her grab a pillow and hold it to her face, muffling her cries of pleasure.