The Black Lotus (Night Flower) (7 page)

Justin nodded, placing the bottle back on the sideboard
, “I see Emily from time to time,” He stared down at the faded glory of the sideboard, cracks from age and misuse had destroyed the heavy but once beautifully carved piece of furniture. “She’s still passing herself off as the bereft widow of an elderly noble.” He absently traced his finger across the whorls in the wood, memories of a long dead past threatening to choke him.

Alistair chuckled mirthlessly. “That’s our Emily, the noble whore..
”

“Don’t start Alistair,
” Justin turned back to his brother, “Emily has fewer options than we do,”

“Yes and one more crime to lay at your door.
” Alistair snarled back, slamming his bottle down onto the table as though to punctuate his words. “She must think she has entered hell,”

"Actually, she is doing fine," A loud, amused voice echoed through the room, cutting across their conversation. Justin pushed himself away from the sideboard, reaching for the rapier he kept in the corner of the room as his brother whirled to face the door, dagger held tightly in his fingers.

"Now now boys
; is there any need for that?" Leaning against the doorframe with an expression of amused nonchalance on her delicate features, was Emily Saint-Clair. In contrast to the immaculately coiffered temptress of earlier, she was dressed in man's breeches with a frilled shirt and long waistcoat; her blonde hair was tied at the nape of her neck beneath a man's tricorn hat and a riding crop twirled idly between her fingers.

"Very nice," Justin noted as his gaze swept across her form with a deliberate leer, "you look," He settled against the sideboard, his rapier falling to the floor. "delectable,"

"You're looking particularly fine yourself." She answered his sensual gaze with one of her own as she pushed herself away from the doorframe and stepped forward. "Quite desirable," She purred the words as she walked further into the room.

"Heaven
forefend," Alistair rolled his eyes and replaced the dagger in his belt. "Don't you get enough of this empty flirting at your.." His mouth twisted into a grimace as he spoke. "parties."

"Oh good gracious no," Justin smiled and winked at the blonde. "It helps make life bearable," He turned his gaze back to his brother and his smile froze. "Much as empty religious mouthing does for you," Alistair lunged forward, only to have his arm seized by Emily.

"Enough," She hissed, her voice no longer playful, "This isn't why I travelled her
e tonight," She glowered at Justin, who shrugged and leant back against the sideboard.

"Why did you come here?" Alistair snarled, pulling his arm free and retreating to the far side of the table. "I thought you were cultivating another husband,"

"Yes I heard you," She walked forward and sat on the sideboard. "I can cultivate my next match and still keep in touch with you two." Her fingers trailed onto Justin's upper arm. "We all need to stick together and besides you two are my favourites."

"Maybe that's even true," Justin allowed her to stroke the back of his neck. "but you never come here without a good reason,"

"Darling you wound me," Her fingers reached into his hair and he closed his eyes, savouring the sensation as she gently massaged his scalp. "Can you not just accept that I like your company?" She moved closer, her lips brushing his cheek. He shivered at the contact, familiarity not diluting the impact of her touch.

"Oh I can accept it," He turned his head and felt her breath drift over his lips. “and I must admit that your company has a certain charm.” He could almost feel her smile as she reached forward.

“I can’t believe you two.” Justin’s eyes snapped open and he turned to face Alistair. His brother’s face was crimson with pent up rage and he was spluttering incoherently. “Have you no shame?”

“If this bothers you,” Emily noted with no small amusement, “then don’t look.”
Her fingers slid across Justin’s face and she drew him closer. He wet his lips and leant in for a tender kiss. From the corner of his eye, he watched as his brother stomped towards the door and out of the room. Suppressing the desire to laugh, he held the kiss for a few more seconds before pulling back and away from Emily.

“You’re a very bad girl.
” He noted, with a wry laugh. “What would you have done if he had stayed?”

“Kissed you some more,” Her voice was matter of fact, a far cry from the kittenish seductive tones of earlier. “He wouldn’t have stayed.”

“Surely there are easier and less obvious ways of getting me alone?” He returned to his chair and sat down.

“Justin.” She chided, her lips pursing into a mockery of a pout. “I thought you liked my kisses,” 

“Oh I do,” He levered his legs onto the table and relaxed, “but you only play like this when you want something,
” He raised his hand and beckoned her forward. “What do you want this time?”

“I was thinking about
this evening,” She reached the table and sat down, nonchalantly playing with the riding crop between her fingers, “and one part of it intrigued me above all the others.”

“Oh?” Justin rested his head on the back of the chair and stared at her, “Which part?”

“My darling Justin, you know which part,” The riding crop briefly tapped against his legs in gently chastisement.

“You’re going to have to be specific; after all, it’s been a busy night.” With a smile, he leant forward and tugged the crop from her fingers. “And you can’t expect me to remember all of your amorous adventures.” He laid the whip across his knees and smoothed down his shirt.

“Don’t be a bore my darling,
” Emily’s eyes flashed with annoyance and she nearly reached for the crop. Thinking better of it, she rested her hands on her chin. “I’m not talking about myself, but rather that charming hellcat you were talking to.” With a careless hand, she removed the hat and let it fall to the table. He watched it settle against the satiny wood before returning his attention to her blue gaze.

“
Really and why is that?” A troubling thought flowed through his mind as he regarded the blonde. Emily was no slouch in the brains department and if anyone could figure out his interest, then it would be her.

“Well not many women would slap a man during their debut, but my interest
has been piqued about you.” Justin sighed inwardly and stood up, taking the crop with him.

“And what, precisely,
has captured your interest?”

“Well,”
She turned to follow him, reaching his side with delicate movements. “You spoke with her, turned on the charm and then,” She waved her hands before him, “and then, nothing. No dance, no kiss,” Emily turned away and paced towards the door. “You’re never this inept, I was watching her face, you had her eating out of your hand and then,” She looked back at him and shrugged. “Nothing,” A tiny laugh, amused yet somehow disbelieving, escaped her lips. “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you fail before.”

Justin sighed and pushed himself away from the sideboard. “Well thank you for
the boost to my ego. It’s a pleasant observation but hardly accurate. I don’t win all the time you know.”

Emily smiled
a strange catlike grin that spoke volumes. “Nice try darling,” She walked forward and pressed a hand against his chest. He stilled as she moved in again. “You like her,” It wasn’t a question, Justin felt his guts clench at the sure clear knowledge in her gaze.

“That’s an interesting
insight on the strength of one solitary meeting.” He tapped the riding crop against his leg, the slight movement giving him focus and chance to think. Her fingers were splayed against his chest and he stared down at her fine hand, wondering if pulling her in for a kiss would put her off. A long moment of silence passed between them before he finally spoke. “She wasn’t my type,” Stepping back, he watched her hand fall back to her side and he took a breath. “She was too much of an innocent,”

“That’s never dissuaded you before,
” Sultry, teasing notes laced her words. “You can tell me.”

“No Emily,” The words snapped across the space and she stared at him, watching the motion of the crop against his thigh with interest. “I have no interest in Melissa De Vire, beyond the realisation that she is desirable, please leave it at that.” He held out the crop and pushed himself away from the sideboard. “N
ow unless you have anything else of substance to tell me, I’m going to bed.”

“Do you want company?” Emily took the crop and retreated back into flirting, sensible enough to know when she was entering dangerous territory.

“Not tonight,” Justin answered, grateful that Emily had let go of the subject. He wasn’t entirely sure of what had happened with the De Vire girl, and he didn’t want Emily spreading unfounded gossip.

“Pity,” Emily reached for her hat and placed it on her head. “Well I shall see you
at Lord Carson’s.” She reached his side and kissed him lightly on the cheek and his skin prickled pleasurably at the sensation. “Though I do think you are lying.” Her voice whispered, tickling as it drifted across his ear. “Have a pleasant evening darling.” She called as she pushed herself away from him and headed for the door.

“Good night Emily.” Justin responded, not stopping the irritation from filling his voice. “and try to keep your theories to yourself.”

“I’ll try darling.” Emily carolled as she headed out through the door and into the hall. Justin could hear her shouting farewells to Alistair as she headed down the hall and he swore under his breath. Emily saw far too much and this was one thing he didn’t want to reach the others.

“She’s not spending the night then,” He turned to see Alistair standing at the door. “At least you have some morals.”

“I’m not in the mood brother,” Justin replied.  “I’m tired.”

“Well we both know that’s a lie,” Alistair sneered as he let Justin go past, “But I’ll let it go this time.”

“Thank you for you forbearance.” Justin rolled his eyes and walked into the hall. “Don’t look for me tomorrow as I’m heading into the city, now my house is established properly I should be available,”

“Still playing the court, is this going to be the rest of eternity for you? Stood in rooms filled with vapid ladies and boring men?”

“Well it beats sitting in draughty halls bemoaning my fate.” He turned away from his brother and headed for the stairs, not even bothering to check the damage to his throat as he passed the large mirror in the hall. With sure steps he made his way to his room and readied himself for bed. He thought of the duel in the morning and vowed to watch her brother fight Montjoy. It would kill several hours at the very least. He pulled back the hangings on the great old bed and lay down, his eyes staring at the canopy above him. He thought of Alistair and his assertion that he would kill him if he knew that would end the curse. Justin didn’t doubt that Alistair meant it; his brother had lost most of his lightness because of what he, Justin, had done. If he hadn’t touched what he shouldn’t have, they would both be better off. He tossed in the heavy blanket, Alistair was right to hate him. His actions had damned them both and ruined many others. As the oblivion of sleep drew nearer, his thoughts left his brother and turned to Emily and the danger she posed. Still she didn’t have much to go on and he had made a promise, it was only a matter of whether he could keep it. At least he only had to worry about his brother and Emily this time. Should any of the others return to England he would have to move on. His last thoughts before sleep claimed him were of a young woman in green with sparkling eyes.