Powder of Sin (12 page)

“
Oho, so that’s the way of it
,” Clermont had
said.

Reed had kept his voice calm. “
I respect her,
nothing more
.”

“
That’s why you’re helping her find a scientist?
I think I know who I want to watch you plowing. Yes, it would do
the two of you a great deal of good. Be taken down a peg, both of
you
.”

The powder had worn off, but in its wake, Reed
remained violently aware of her. The way she walked, the way she
looked around the street, bright-eyed and curious as she stood near
him, waiting for him to help her into the open barouche he’d hired.
He held his breath as he touched her, allowed her to rest her hand
on his forearm as she climbed up.

“Nice pair,” the footman said approvingly as he
stepped away, and it took Reed a split second to understand he
referred to the horses.

Reed gathered up the reins and prepared to navigate
the streets of New York north to Harlem to meet again with Dr.
Leonard, an intelligent, well-spoken, and good-looking doctor.
Those last two were why he didn’t want to take her there.

He didn’t want handsome men talking to Miss
Ambermere or making her laugh.

Maybe the powder hadn’t worn off, because Gideon
Reed had never suffered a moment of jealousy in his life. Part of
the problem, really. Two years ago, when Lily had wanted to spend
so much time with her cousin, Reed hadn’t said a word because he
hadn’t suspected a thing. He’d been an idiot.

He glanced at the woman next to him, dressed in an
expensive, glossy gown with another flimsy, funny hat perched on
her hair. The blue of the hat and the gown made her pink cheeks
glow, which gave her a ridiculously healthy appearance.

She drew him as if he was light as air, and her
every inhalation pulled him to her. Now that was a bit of nonsense.
The residue of powder talking. But the thought of kissing her was
taking up too much of his brain, even when he wasn’t near her, and
perhaps the only way to wrestle back control was to at last put his
mouth on hers and slide his tongue into her mouth and—

“Do watch out,” she yelped and clutched his arm.
“You’re going to hit the side of that farrier’s wagon.”

“Damn it.” He pulled on the reins, glared at the
horses, and then down at her, only because he couldn’t glare at
himself.

She let go of his arm. “Alas, you’re scowling again.
Was I not supposed to stop you from causing an accident? Or perhaps
‘damn it’ means ‘excuse my poor driving, Miss Ambermere’?”

Her sweet tone and the curse coming from her
well-bred mouth made him laugh. “Exactly what it means. And my foul
language. Excuse that as well.”

She smiled, and he noticed the small crinkle that
wasn’t quite a dimple on her cheek.

“Tell me about the man we’re going to visit.”

“The doctor is also an amateur chemist,” he said.
“He’s considered slightly eccentric but bright by the people I’ve
interviewed.”

He also had a reputation as a ladies’ man, and
having met him once, Reed understood why.

With almost black hair that fell across his forehead
and a slender figure like Clermont’s, Dr. Leonard looked more like
a stage actor than a scientist.

He wasn’t entirely soigné when he met them at his
door. Certainly his fingers were dyed blue and yellow, and the
jacket he wore had some flecks of blue as well.

The look he gave Miss Ambermere as they shook hands
was eager and hungry.

“Did you bring it?” he asked and turned that
eagerness to Reed.

“Not yet. Miss Ambermere, may I introduce Dr.
Leonard? Doctor, Miss Ambermere is the mysterious owner of the
substance.”

“This is only a very brief visit, Doctor. I left my
maid to wait in the carriage because I wanted as few witnesses as
possible.” She stood straight, obviously intentionally donning her
most no-nonsense manner. “I wished to meet you first, Dr. Leonard,
and discuss what you planned to do with the…chemical.”

“So you’re the lucky person to get the extract.” The
doctor turned his full attention back to her. “I’ve read only a few
articles about the glands of the extinct worm-breached toad. And
from the description Mr., ah, Reed here gave me, this might be the
last batch. He said the outer box had traces of a vaguely purplish,
heavy yet easily dispersed dust.”

Miss Ambermere’s eyes lit with mischief as she
turned to Reed. “I’m impressed.” she said. “You barely had time to
note these things.”

Reed didn’t have time to think of a suitable
response when Dr. Leonard spoke again. “If this is the real
glandular powder. Not actual glands, you see. Some sort of poison
sacs. But good heavens, it’s an amazing find. The real thing, in
that it has a very strong effect. Most aphrodisiacs are apparently
placebos, but that powder will create true biological changes. It
does more than simply fool the person who imbibes it.” The
scientist rubbed his long blue- and yellow-tinted fingers. “But
please, I shouldn’t keep you standing here in the hall. Come in.
Would you like something to, um…?” He waved a hand vaguely, and she
supposed he was acting as a host and offering food or drink.

He led them into a crowded sitting room. Papers
littered most of the surfaces. Dr. Leonard gathered up the stacks
on the sofa and tossed them onto the floor near a stand holding a
large, empty birdcage.

Reed started toward the chair Leonard indicated, but
whirled around when Miss Ambermere gave a quiet shriek.

“I was startled,” she explained as she sank onto the
couch. She pointed at a shelf. “I thought it was stuffed.”

A gray bird held out a claw, tilted its head, and
peered at her. “Bad girl,” it remarked.

“That’s Raha.” Dr Leonard held an arm up, and the
bird stepped on. “She’s an African gray. A parrot.” The bird
stepped sideways up his arm and pushed its head against his throat.
He deposited the bird onto the cage, where it sidled in a circle,
bobbed up and down, and watched Reed with one unearthly, round
eye.

Dr. Leonard sat down near Miss Ambermere and smiled.
“What can I do to convince you to allow me to examine this strange
substance of yours?”

She returned his smile with such warmth that her
eyes sparkled. Reed pulled out his notebook and leafed through it,
wondering if it was too late to find another name. Perhaps
traveling to Boston would be a better plan. For one thing, it would
be farther from Clermont’s reach. He’d undertake the trip the
moment he was released from his duties with Clermont.

“The fact that you’re actually curious and not
dismissive is a strong argument in your favor.” Miss Ambermere
twined her fingers together. “But I should ask, what would you do
with the substance?”

“Lock it up.”

His prompt answer earned a full smile from her. She
shifted toward him on the sofa. “I hope you’d find a way to destroy
it.”

“I’m not certain that’s the best plan. It is such a
rare substance, and it might have some, ah, healing properties.” He
must have seen something in her fading smile. “I don’t mean to
exploit it for commercial purposes. Never.”

“Gracious. You think people would buy it? I mean,
other than someone with…strange intentions?” She twisted her
fingers. Nervous or embarrassed, Reed wondered which. Both perhaps,
and it was worth noting the gesture—always good to know the keys to
a woman who had a remarkable ability to hide emotion when she
wished.

Dr. Leonard wasn’t so good at hiding his responses.
His eyes widened, and his mouth gaped. “Heavens, yes. It has
extraordinary commercial value. That’s why I’m so pleased you are
even considering allowing me to handle it, rather than a larger
company.”

She tilted her head. “What would any legitimate
purchaser wish to do with it?”

The doctor looked over at Reed, who raised his
eyebrows and gave a small smile.
Go on.

The doctor shifted. Cleared his throat. Scratched
his arm. Crossed his arms. “Ah. Well. It’s difficult to say.”

She raised a hand. “I can see it’s embarrassing for
you, Dr. Leonard. I hadn’t thought about it, but I can guess. I
imagine it would be made into a medication that a husband might
wish to administer to a shy wife?”

“Exactly.” Leonard beamed. “I must say, it’s
refreshing to meet a female who’s not squeamish about the facts of
biology. Elegant, stylish female, I mean. There are any number of
bookish, scholarly women hereabouts. As likely to prattle on about
inelegant subjects as any male.” Clever idiot, Reed thought. Insult
the rest of womankind to impress her.

Her hands in her lap twisted again. “But we are
agreed that there will be no commercial interests in this matter.
You will study the chemistry of the substance, discover its makeup,
advance your understanding for scientific purposes. And it will
eventually be destroyed. Almost all of it, except perhaps the very
smallest, least dangerous amount. That is a condition of my release
of the powder into anyone’s possession. If you could have seen what
it does, you’d understand.” She didn’t look at Reed, who folded his
arms over his chest.

Dr. Leonard lost his warm smile and didn’t answer.
He hadn’t seemed fond of women who acted as tough and shrewd as
males; perhaps he also wasn’t fond of women who weren’t afraid of
wielding power. Before he met Rosalie, Reed hadn’t imagined he’d
admire a woman like that. As each day passed, he found more to
admire in her.

“If it’s a matter of money, I can pay you for your
time,” she said. “I’m not sure who sponsors your work—”

“No, no, there’s no need. I should be paying you for
the chance to examine something I’ve only heard about in rumors.
And yes”—he heaved a sigh—“I agree to your conditions.”

“We will weigh the substance in your laboratory,”
she said. “And draw up a contract.”

Dr. Leonard scowled, obviously offended. “Yes, yes,
if you insist.”

Reed hoped Miss Ambermere would ask Dr. Leonard why
he was so peevish, but she chose not to be blunt for once. She
smiled brightly, rose to her feet, and held out her hand.

The doctor stood and bowed over her hand, formal,
with just the right hint of grace. He seemed to have forgotten his
pique and smiled into her eyes. “I look forward to
our…partnership.” He held her hand a little longer than was
necessary and gave it a squeeze before letting it go.

Reed wondered if the man was even worse than
Clermont.

Dr. Leonard turned to Reed. “You will act as her
agent in this matter again, Mr. Reed? I look forward to hearing
from you…soon? I hope?”

“Yes,” Reed said. “If Miss Ambermere should require
help, I’ll lend it.”

They walked out together.

“Now why would I require help?”

“Do you really want to drive through the streets of
New York carrying that box with only a maid with you?” He couldn’t
imagine what would happen, but figured he’d play on her
imagination.

She laughed. “I’m going fewer than three miles’
distance. But all right. If it would make you feel better.”

“Yes, it would.” And it meant he could spend more
time in her company.

They pulled up to her house in silence.

“You have a half hour before you meet Mr. Clermont,”
she said. “Would you care for a cup of tea?”

“Yes.” He tied up the horses, who were barely
interested in trotting. Miss Ambermere’s footman probably had made
the remark about the pair just to be polite. This was not a
spirited team who’d get into trouble.

She led him into the large parlor rather than the
library. He liked the room with its fresh yellow walls and the
landscapes.

The maid seemed to have disappeared. He walked to
the mantel and pointed to the watercolor of a huge, sprawling
building. “Your father’s estate?”

“Yes, and then my cousin’s.” She shrugged. “I think
Johnny’s heir is a distant cousin, but I’m not sure who was next in
line.”

She walked over and stood close to him and pointed
at an old bent tree at the corner. “That was always my favorite
place to read. Right on that upper branch.”

“Poor Miss Ambermere.”

She raised her brows. “Why do you say that?”

“After your father died, you lost your home.”

“I left gladly and before his death. I loved it
there, but I am happier here.” She straightened her back.

“Bad memories?”

She shook her head.

He moved a little closer. Just to see if he could
pick up that scent of hers—lemon, flowers, and a light hint of
cinnamon or some other spice.

“Miss Ambermere,” he started. How could he ask her
what she’d meant when she’d admitted her attraction? The
conversation had been intriguing, and he wanted to know more. But
then her fragrance, her closeness, befuddled him again. He licked
his lips and realized her gaze was on his mouth. Her own lips were
slightly parted, and there was an invitation in those clear, wide
eyes. Far be it for him to be rude to his hostess. He rested his
hand on her shoulder. She gave a tiny start, yet didn’t speak or
move. He tightened his hand to feel the shape of her slender form
under the slick material. He bent his head and very slowly moved to
her. She still didn’t shift away, so he brushed his lips over hers,
a light touch, but unmistakably, a kiss.

A quick exhalation of breath against his cheek. She
was startled—or perhaps aroused.

He should speak, say something in apology, break the
silence, but now she stood taller and settled her mouth against
his.

Featherlight rubbing, experimenting. She panted
against his mouth, her hands moved to his shoulders, and she again
pressed her lips to his, urgently now.

He parted his lips so he could taste her better. She
flinched but didn’t draw back as he teased her mouth with the tip
of his tongue.

She returned the teasing with her own tentative,
flickering tongue touch, and then a twist of her body so the
exploration could go deeper.