The Black Orchid by Celine Jeanjean

Author:Celine Jeanjean [Jeanjean, Celine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Enoki Press
Published: 2016-04-09T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

Rory was shaken awake.

“Ow!” she protested, still befuddled with sleep.

“What did you and Longinus do to me last night?”

Cruikshank’s eyes blazed with fury. Rory’s sleepiness evaporated and she scrambled up.

“Oh, what? What d’you mean —”

“Don’t lie to me! You put something in my coffee — don’t try and deny it. And some of my spider’s joints are wet. You took it out, didn’t you? You took it out after I specifically told you not to!”

“Actually, I’ve got to go,” said Rory, backing away. “I need to go see Lady Martha, and, er, Mizria for my fitting, you know for…” Rory’s voice faltered at Cruikshank’s expression.

“At least have the decency to admit what you did,” Cruikshank growled.

Rory glanced over her shoulder at the front door. It seemed very far away, and Cruikshank was looking more fearsome by the second. “We didn’t have a choice, we had to —”

“Oh, don’t you give me excuses. I made my position very clear, and you completely ignored it. This is my spider and my workshop. How dare you go against me like that!”

Rory was desperately looking around her for a way to escape the conversation when a knock came at the front door.

“Here to pick up one girl for one fitting,” sounded Rafe’s voice through the door.

“Oh, that’s me!” said Rory, relieved. “I got to go.”

“If you think we’re finished —”

“I know, but I got — I can’t keep Lady Martha waiting, so, er, I’ll see you later, Cruikshank.”

In her rush to get out the door, Rory collided straight into Rafe and bounced off him. She would have fallen if he hadn’t caught her.

“Wow, you’re in a rush to see me today,” he said with a grin.

“Not now, quick!” Rory grabbed him and hurried away with him in tow.

“Don’t think we won’t talk about this again tonight!” Cruikshank shouted behind her.

They turned a corner, and Rory sighed with relief. It wasn’t until that moment that she realised she had been holding Rafe’s hand. A wave of acute embarrassment washed over her, and she dropped his hand as though it had scalded her skin.

“Well, what was that all about?” he asked.

“Nothing,” she replied.

She found that she couldn’t look at him without remembering what it had felt like when he’d kissed her. His lips on hers. Did he think about it too? Probably not. She was just being an idiot.

Get a hold of yourself, she scolded herself.

“What?” asked Rafe.

“Huh?”

“You said something.”

Had she spoken aloud? Gods alive, how much of a fool could she be?

“No, I didn’t,” she said. “You’re taking me to see Mizria, right?”

“Yes. Lady Martha wants to see you afterwards, by the way, once you’re finished.”

Rory sighed. She knew there was no way to avoid it, but she didn’t want to see Lady Martha.

“Actually,” continued Rafe, “I wanted to talk to you about something. I heard you’re going back to the Black Orchid tonight, with your fancy new clothing.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“I don’t like it.”

“Excuse you?” replied Rory. “Who asked for your opinion?”

“You could be putting yourself in quite a lot of danger, going back there.

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