The Moth and Moon by Glenn Quigley

Author:Glenn Quigley [Quigley, Glenn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: family drama, friends to lovers, lgbt, romance, gay romance, historical
Publisher: NineStar Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

It was late now, and most of the people sheltering at the inn had fallen asleep. The music had stopped, and what little conversations that were left had taken the form of hushed whispers in barely lit corners. The wind had returned with a vengeance, and rain once again battered the ancient tavern.

Mr. Reed sat on a leather chair by a small, oval table. This room, tucked away down a maze of corridors and antechambers, was left untouched by the villagers as it was much too small to sleep in. The room was roughly circular in shape and each wall was fitted, floor to ceiling, with bookshelves stuffed with all manner of tomes from across the world. Many sailors passed through the Moth & Moon over the centuries and had left behind works by authors from every corner of the globe. They ended up here, neatly sorted in cherrywood cabinets. A tall ladder was set against one of them. This was attached to some brass runners circumnavigating the room, allowing it to freely slide around the shelves to where it was needed, then lock into place. Most visitors needed it to gain access to only the highest shelves, but the pint-sized Mr. Reed needed it to reach rather more.

A carefully guarded flame flickered in an iron fireplace. This room would be the worse place for a spark to escape, but it would be much too cold to sit in without a fire.

The floorboards were covered with a single large, round rug, elaborately patterned in red and greens, and fringed with tassels. It was a gift from a grateful sailor—and former lover—from a faraway land many moons ago. It was once so vibrant but now worn and faded, especially in front of the two chairs. Between the two high-backed chairs sat a small table, on which were a lantern, a decanter of brandy, two tumblers, and a small box with a glass lid. The box held three pinned moths. Each one was brown with black and grey markings, and each one was subtly different from the last. Mr. Reed was idly flicking through the pages of a book, looking at meticulously drawn illustrations of insects and trying to match them to his latest finds when he became aware of movement in the corridor behind him.

“Come in, Lady Wolfe-Chase,” he said.

She glided into the tiny room at the centre of the warren and settled into the opposite chair.

“If you’re sure I’m not disturbing you.” She sparkled.

“Not at all. I couldn’t sleep; I just needed a bit of a break.” Mr. Reed poured a small amount of brandy from the crystal decanter into each glass. Eva Wolfe-Chase lifted hers and flamboyantly clinked it against Mr. Reed’s.

“Cheers,” she said, and they both took a sip.

“Have you come to make another offer on the inn?” Mr. Reed said bluntly.

She smiled. There weren’t many people on this island who shared her predilection for getting to the point.

“No, I haven’t. Although from what I’ve seen, tonight would be the best time to make one.

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