Adam's Appetite by Nolan Vancey

Author:Nolan Vancey [Vancey, Nolan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Romance Fiction
Publisher: Totally Entwined Group
Published: 2023-02-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Adam found his manners almost immediately. “I am sorry, milady, I did not mean to be rude. What I meant to say is—”

“—That you were expecting Miss Bond, perhaps? I am sorry to disappoint you, then.”

It was the young lady in white from the arena, “Virtue Unstain’d” herself. Her voice was familiar to Adam, but he was unable to place it in this strange setting, and the mask she still wore covered her face enough that he could not identify her, if indeed they had met before.

“No, it isn’t that at all,” he stammered, self-conscious of his undoubtedly ridiculous appearance. Clad only in drawers and a robe that stuck to his body, he was still covered head to toe in rapidly cooling slime.

His interlocutor was a true lady, however, and gave no notice at all to his state, treating him as if they had just met for tea in the sitting room of Lady Windmere.

“I take no offence,” she said lightly. “You must realise that ‘Virtue’ is but the role I played in the evening’s drama. I prefer to be called Zerlina.” That “Zerlina” was yet another alias remained unspoken.

Adam bowed with as much dignity as the situation allowed. So, the game is to continue. He was, after all, still wearing his mask, too, however little it covered. “Signor Zeno, at your service.”

“Is that so?” Zerlina purred, her smile of anticipation reminding Adam very much of Pamela Bond. “Then I bid you welcome to ‘The Pleasure Dome of Kublai Khan.’ Have no fear, our hostess has many playful names for her rewards and forfeits, but as to the outcome of the game, she is true to her word.” Behind her on a stand was a large cake of several tiers, with elaborate frosted minarets and pillars spaced evenly with thick rosettes of pink and green icing. As Adam’s eyes adjusted to the soft, gauzy light of numerous candles, he saw against the far wall a sidebar laden with more desserts, almost as varied and abundant as the one he had seen upstairs in the grotto. The room was of tile. In addition to the buffet, it was furnished with evocative drapery and screens and a number of low couches and ottomans, like a fantasy of the Arabian Nights.

“And are you part of my reward,” he asked, “or am I to be part of yours?”

Zerlina blushed, an attractive flushing of the visible parts of her cheeks that was accompanied by a sudden deep breath that swelled her bosom against the tight restraint of her bodice. “Both, perhaps?” she said with a smile. “Dame Fortune would be the first to admit that the movements of the human heart are beyond even her machinations. But we do make a handsome couple.”

“Handsome, perhaps, but not yet a couple,” Adam said. “Before me stands a princess, yet I remain a frog. I have been debased by Dame Fortune. Perhaps I should clean up first?” He looked about him, wondering if there were a wash basin nearby.

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