6. November 1826

6

NOVEMBER 1826

NO 3 GROSVENOR STREET, MAYFAIR

S ince Saida was alone in the parlor finishing her breakfast, she relished the last bit of fresh butter and jam that had made its way to her fingers. She hadn't taken the sheet off Aji's cage yet. She liked to enjoy the morning quiet before the bird began his constant chattering, preening, and scattering of seed.

She'd just licked her last finger clean of Cook's luscious blackberry jam when pounding boot steps down the staircase preceded a roar emanating from the ground floor entry hall. The Scotsman. Definitely the sounds of an angry Scotsman…or a thundering herd of runaway cattle.

She stood, smoothed the skirts of her cheerful rose-colored morning dress, and moved to head him off before he frightened the servants. When she finally reached the hall, both Quick and Slow Rutherfords were straining to hold Dr. Douglas back from storming into the parlor.

Saida felt the color drain from her face. She'd known a lot of men, but she'd never seen such a magnificent specimen as this one in a high state of dudgeon. Apparently, she'd underestimated the man's capacity for mayhem.

"Let him go," she ordered the Rutherford under butlers. "I may have caused Dr. Douglas to feel some, um, anger toward me."

As soon as they loosened their hold on Hamish, he stormed toward her like an enraged bull. "You—," he said. When he tried to speak again, all he could manage was another loud shout of "You."

Saida leaned around him and motioned for the Rutherfords to leave. When they gave her an incredulous look, she straightened and said, "Please leave. Dr. Douglas will not harm me."

After a dubious look, the two men backed out of the parlor, shutting the door behind them. She moved quickly to lock it from inside before turning back toward Hamish.

"How could you?" he shouted, jabbing a forefinger in her direction. "How could you betray my trust, not to mention my word to Lord Framlingwood?"

"You must understand. I had to know."

"And so you drugged me…with God knows what." He moved so quickly to her side, she marveled that such a huge man could move that fast. He was so close she could smell his peppermint breath, could feel his body heat and smell the sandalwood soap he'd used that morning. "Just what did you drug me with?"

She waved a dismissive hand. "It doesn't matter."

"It doesn't matter?" He was back to roaring. "It doesn't matter?" he repeated. "You could have killed me."

"No. I wouldn't have." Saida engaged her best shouting voice. "I'm an expert apothecary. You were never in any danger."

Hamish turned and ran his hands through his hair so violently, he looked like an ancient Viking berserker when he faced her again. "If you want to know something about me, just ask me. I have nothing to hide." After that shaking announcement, he did something so shattering, Saida nearly sank to her knees with need.

"Here I am," he shouted, tearing his shirt from his chest, baring himself to her. "If you don't trust me, why don't you take a knife to me? Do it now. I don't want to wait, wondering when or if you're going to send me to Hades. Here, do it." He snatched a letter opener from a nearby desk and held the point to where his heart thumped wildly beneath his chest.

Saida moved slowly toward him until there were just a few inches between them. She stood motionless for long minutes before ripping the letter opener from his hand and letting it clatter to the floor. After that, she stood on her tiptoes and languidly laved each nipple on his bared chest.

Hamish's brain moved from blind rage to blind lust in a stuttering moment between heartbeats. Who was this woman who dared touch him like a lover after trying to kill him the night before?

The minute he grabbed both of her hands to push her searing lips away from his sensitive nipples, a loud warning squawk sounded from the covered cage in the corner. He sucked in a deep breath, readying for battle with the damned bird as well if he had to, but Aji apparently thought better of taking on Hamish whilst blinded by a sheet. He quieted down.

When Hamish looked back to the dangerous woman barely contained by his clenched fists, she was suckling one of his fingers. Christ .

Hamish glanced toward the breakfast table, complete with the remains of her toast and tea. In two long strides, her delicate wrists still clenched in his meaty paws, he managed to drag Saida to the edge of the table. When he ripped off the linen cloth covering, scattering crockery, her mouth dropped open and her eyes widened. He hoisted her to stand atop one of the chairs and rolled up her skirts. The ivory lace stockings held just above her knees with rose garters to match her skirts were the only coverings below her waist. The dark curls covering her nether region were as unfettered as he'd imagined them.

In one swoop of his arms he caught her unaware and hoisted her atop the now bare table. He gauged the look in her eyes. She met him heated stare for heated stare.

"Do you know what I do to naughty girls who touch me without my consent?"

Her gaze still steady, she said nothing but ran her tongue over her lips, pulled up her skirts, and spread her legs wide.

"I make them wish they'd never been so brash, I make them wish they'd never crossed me."

"Why?" she ventured.

"Because when I'm done with you, Saida Hossini, you will never be able to forget what happened today in this room."

She said nothing, but leaned back onto her elbows and spread her legs wider.

"Aji—." Lily's tone was sharp with the spoiled cockatoo who strutted proudly amongst all of the remaining unmarried mistresses during their weekly tea on everyone's day off. She'd recently adopted a darling fluffy white kitten who'd been a biddable little ball of white fur until Aji had taken a perverse liking to the poor thing. Now, whenever the residents of the adjoining Grosvenor Street townhouses gathered together, her cockatoo stalked the poor thing mocking it with the sounds of its meows the silly bird had learned to mimic.

Saida felt sorry for the frightened feline, but she had to admit the show the two pets put on was entertaining.

All the other women gathered around the tea cart found the bird's act vastly entertaining.Lily, however, was tired of having to cosset her poor kitten for hours after every nerve-wracking encounter with Aji.

"Do you all have any idea how long it takes to calm down Titania after she's stalked by that bully of a bird?" Lily stood and walked to the fireplace, holding the kitten close. Aji had learned not to tread near the fireplace after he'd scorched a tail feather on one of their previous tea afternoons.

In a sudden change of direction in the conversation, Lily gave Saida a sly look and asked, "Where's the adorable Highlander today? Did you give him the day off?"

Saida paused in sipping daintily on a cup of steaming jasmine tea. "No, of course not. Derek would have a fit if he thought I was trying to thwart his bodyguard." Saida sprinkled herbs into her cup from a small pouch she wore tied to the sash on her morning dress.

"Is he still worried you'll poison him?" Margo asked, an innocent look on her face.

"Shall we assure him you murder only those who are truly evil when you bring him around to meet us?" Gabrielle pushed an errant gold curl behind one ear.

This brought forth a round of ribald laughter.

"He's either fearless or horribly in need of funds," Saida admitted. "I know they told him why I'm here." She sipped thoughtfully before adding, "It's been very entertaining to watch him toss away his tea and wine when I'm not looking." She laughed then, a full, throaty sound full of mischief. "The potted plants in the dining room and parlor are dying from too much alcohol and tea thrown their way.

"He's also taken to whispering in the pantry with Quick Rutherford. And you know what a beast of a tease that man can be. I'm sure he's fed him tales of how I'm suspected of murdering lady's maids I didn't like."

"Does he know about us?" Margo's tone turned serious.

"Yes," Saida admitted. "I explained to him that we all have a bit of harmless fun when the earl's not around, and life is much easier when we're not all jealous or suspicious of each other."

"And how did he take that explanation?"

"He said it made sense, and he didn't have any problem with keeping our secret, because he wants to fulfill his duties as bodyguard as quickly as possible so that he can sell his practice and move to Inverness to be with his mother's family."

"Why?" Margo asked, her tone sharp. "He has a very successful practice here in London with every wealthy bitch in the ton begging for his services."

"He's not like that," Saida countered, and then regretted her quick retort.

"Ahhh." Gabrielle waggled her brows. "Someone is falling a little bit in lust with the burly Scotsman, methinks."

Saida flushed crimson from the tip of her nose down to swell of her breasts. "It's not like that," she insisted.

Gabrielle, who was now an accepted part of the enclave of mistresses, gave a loud, theatrical "tisk" and added with a sigh, "It never is."

All of the women who lived side by side on Grosvenor Street had accepted in silent agreement that Margot and Gabrielle were a couple. The earl apparently enjoyed their joint favors from time to time.

Mrs. Collins had declared one evening when they'd all been drinking a claret punch instead of tea, that the two women's, um, irregular relationship had turned out to be good for the earl. How she knew that none of the mistresses had the nerve to ask. But they all had their suspicions.

"Are you sleeping with him?" Margot suddenly threw out the question Saida knew all the other mistresses were wondering about as well.

"Um, not exactly."

"What the hell does that mean?" Margot set down her tea cup with a clatter.

"There was an, erm, incident, yesterday morning."

A dead silence fell in the parlor. Even Aji remained quiet.

"And…?" Margot encouraged.

"I made him really angry and he ‘punished' me in a most delightful way."

Lily leaned forward, an eager, questioning look on her face. "What did you do to bring on such ‘punishment'?"

Saida gave them all a devilish grin. "I'm not sure, but whatever it was, I hope to Allah I do it again."

After loud laughter at that confession, the usual chatter and gossip continued until suddenly, Lily voiced what they'd all been thinking privately. "Does anyone have any idea as to what all the bodyguards are about? I know there have been a few attacks, but they've all been addressed and explained. What does the earl know that he's not telling us? And why do we still need bodyguards?"

Margo weighed in. "I don't know about you all, but Gabrielle and I do not want a man living with us all the time."

Lily gave a little shiver. "Neither do I, but who knows what lurks outside these walls? Who the hell would want to hurt us?"

Saida had decided not to tell the remaining mistresses what she now knew about the blackmailer. There was no need to frighten them needlessly, since it appeared the blackguard had stopped his attacks for the time being.

She did, however, know someone else who still wanted her dead, because she was the only person who knew the truth about his wife's murder. She didn't think he'd pay an assassin to travel as far as England to silence her, but who knew? If his wife's family ever discovered the truth, they might have him thrown in prison…or worse. Saida feared the rug merchant couldn't afford the outside chance that she might one day let them know the truth.