Susan Jonson - [Strangers in the Night SS] - Natural Attraction

8/12/2019 Susan Jonson - [Strangers in the Night SS] - Natural Attraction

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&ou could ee Angeli6ue (ore o%ten-&

&Or an" o% the other te(ptree in the corp de ballet-&'he )icount had a decided pre%erence %or thedancer at the Co(edie 9ran6aie-

&'he in%lation tube are being ta$en a#a",& Harr" (ur(ured, once (ore engroed b" the cenebe%ore hi(-&4oo$, loo$:& Harr" cried a the balloon began to rie- &2" od, 4unardi+ reall" done it:&

A (ur(ur o% atonih(ent roe %ro( the cro#d, aug(ented a (o(ent later b" a cla(or o% delight and#ondera the brilliantl" painted il$ balloon to #hich the ba$etcontaining Vinceno 4unardi #a

attached cli(bed, caughta %rehening #ind, and oared up#ard- A#etruc$, the pectator tared at the

curioit", all gae on the (ar)el o%(an in %light- 'he bond o% earth #ere trul" bro$en, thelarge

balloonthirt"


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.t #a enough to tag along #ith Harr" on hi ecurion,read an occaional %eted boo$ b" one cientit

or another, and #atch the rapidl" changing #orld through a dilettante+e"e- C"nical he (ight be, butall in all, he #a till u%%i cientl" a(ued b" hi pleaure-

And truth be told, the )icount #an+t co(pletel" heartle- He too$ it upon hi(el% to acco((odate agreat nu(ber o% ladie #ho ent hi( billets doux,obliging the( #iththe largee o% hi eual $ill-

.n %act, (an" in the beau(ondecalled hi( &'he !ope& not onl" becaue o% hi title and propenit" %or

)ice, but %or hi ta(ina in beda bleing, a it #ere, that he beto#ed on all the eager ladie-

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Vinceno 4unardi+ balloon acended three (ile o)er Edinburgh be%ore being a%%ected b" icecr"tal, decending a%el" not %ar %ro( hi point o% ta$eo%%, and that inaugural(o(ent %or natural

cience a pectacle in Scotland caueda tu(ult o% ecite(ent that literall" eploded in an uproaro%

crea(ing %ren"- 'he "oung .talian #a carried throughthe treet in triu(ph, the riotou enthuia(

e)entuall"pilling o)er into the ancient ta)ern o% High Street, a #ell a into the elegant dra#ingroo( o% Ne# 'o#n-

.n the capital cit" o% Scotland, #here the natural cienceand a trail

At an hour o% the (orning #hen (ot rational (en #ereabed, Hair" entered Japer+ dar$enedbedroo( #ithout$noc$ing, trode to the #indo#, thre# open the drape, and, #al$ing o)er to the

bed, cheer%ull" announced, &'he un ha rien:&

&. can ee that,& Japer gru(bled, 6uinting againt the piercing light- &/hat the hell ti(e i it=&

&Se)en-&

&o a#a",& Japer gro#led, and chec$ing to ee that the ro"


4/73

Harr" indulged hi cienti%ic curioit"- Care%ull" eaing a#a" %ro( hi co(panion, Japer lid %ro( the

bed, pre%erring not to ha)e to eplain hi hat" departure to the lad"- .% Harr" #a %inall" read" to

lea)e, Japer #a (ore than #illing to 6uit the cit"-

3o)ing to#ard the dreing roo(, he #aited %or Harr" to %ollo# hi( in be%ore 6uietl" hutting the

door- 'hen, leaning bac$ againt the polihed (ahogan", the )icount brie%l" hut hi e"elonghour in the ta)ern, %ollo#ed b" a night o% rather trenuou acti)it", had ta$en it toll- &i)e (e a

(inute,& he (ur(ured, ta$ing a deep breath- &.t+ da(ned earl" to be up-&

&id he #ear "ou out=& Harr" teaed-

A %lah o% a(ue(ent glea(ed in Japer+ e"e- &4etB 0ut a" . #or$ed up a #eat-&

&ou+ll get "our trength bac$ a%ter "ou eat-&

'he thought o% %ood 0arred the )icount+ to(ach- &Are "ou ure 4unardi+ up at thi ungodl" hour=&

&Hi laborator" open at unrie-& Harr" poured tea(ing #ater %ro( a co)ered copper pail into a

bain-

&.t (ight not toda"-& .gnoring the to#el Harr" held out to hi(, Japer at do#n on a con)enient chair

intead- ;our hero #a being carried %ro( ta)ern to ta)ern (ot o% the night-&

&He #an+t drin$ing-& 'oing aide the to#el, Harr" li%ted the topper on a (all decanter-

&'hen 4unardi (ut ha)e been the onl" abte(iou (an in to#n- Or #o(an, %or that (atter-& 'heScot ladie #ere $no#n to en0o" a #ee dra(-

&. didn+t drin$, either- Here-& Harr" held out a gla o% brand"- &Hair o% the dog- 'a$e it-&

'he )icount too$ the gla- 'oing do#n the li6uor, he %elt the brand" #ar( hi throat, it oothing

narcotic %lood hi edg" ner)eD be%ore long, it #a poible to conte(plate (o)ing- A econd drin$,together #ith hi trong contitution, er)ed to %urther diipate the a%tere%%ect o% hi pro%ligate night,

and b" the ti(e he+d (anaged to #ah and dre, hi appetite had begun to reco)er- A%ter a brie% detour

to the hotel brea$%at roo( %or e)eral cup o% co%%ee, hea)il" laced #ith ugar, and a 6uic$ perual o%

the (orning paper that #aed triu(phant o)er the e)ent that had tranpired "eterda" on Heriot+Hopital reen, the (en eited the hotel to #al$ the %e# bloc$ to 4unardi+ laborator"-

'he (orning #a unn" and #ar(, the treet 6uiet o earl" in the (orning, onl" trade(en ander)ant about on their errand-

&No#, 0ut to be clear- /e+re lea)ing directl" a%ter thi brea$%at #ith 4unardi= No (ore laboratorieto ur)e" or lecture to attend=&

Harr" nodded- &.((ediatel" a%ter- So "ou (ight #ant to thin$ o% o(e polite eplanation hould that

prett" blonde till be #ar(ing "our bed on our return-&


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&@et aured, that #on+t be a proble(,& the )icount dra#led-

Harr" grinned- &So #hat+ "our ecuea %uneral, a #edding, an elderl" relati)e #ith a lingering

illne=&

&An epeni)e parting gi%t uuall" eli(inate the need %or eplanation- 2ut .+ll tell her the truth i%

necear"#e+re going hunting in the Highland-&

&And he #on+t cling=&

Japer ga)e hi( a ardonic loo$- &. )er" (uch doubt it-&

Harr" laughed- &So #e ha)e no i(pedi(ent to our 0ourne" north-&

&None- And . #arn "ou, i% "ou linger too long o)er brea$%at, . (ight conider a"ing o(ething

rude-&

&No need, Japer- ;ou+)e been (ore than patient thi #ee$- An hour, no (ore, and #e+ll be ridingnorth-&

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

On arri)ing at the gi)en addre, the" %ound #hat appeared to be a )acant tore-

&. don+t ee 4unardi-& aing through the paned #indo# at the e(pt" interior, an unpo$en .


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&3a" #e be o% help=&

'he lad 0u(ped at Harr"+ in6uir", $noc$ed hi head on the edge o% the counter, and #earing in o(eunintelligible language, bac$ed out- Co(ing to hi %eet, till (uttering under hi breath, he #ung

around-

2oth (en regitered urprie-

'he )icount 6uic$l" re)erted to t"pe, ho#e)er, hi udden (ile one o% appreciation- A beauti%ul#o(an out%itted in bu%% breeche and a bo"+ #hite hirt, her dar$ hair pulled bac$ in a 6ueue, gaed at

the( guardedl"- &Our apologie %or intruding-& 2o#ing grace%ull", hi gae on the (agni%icent breat

and taut nipple beneath the %ine linen, Japer unconcioul" %leed hi %inger- &Could #e be o% a>


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@iing, he (iled at all their guet, #ho had co(e to their %eet- &En0o" "our port, gentle(en- . #on+t

be long-&

Japer led her %ro( the roo( a (o(ent later, i((une tothe tare that %ollo#ed the(, the %act that

he+d ta$en herhand in hi %urther raiing e"ebro#-

A the dining roo( door hut on the(, Nic$" loo$ed athi(, a teaing light in her e"e- &Ha)e "ou no

patience=&

&.+)e been patient %or thirt"


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aid nappihl", tr"ing to diregard the treacherou direction o% her thought-

He tried not to (ile but didn+t 6uite ucceed- &.t depend-&

a(n hi arrogance- &9or "our in%or(ation, !rietle", .B( Scot or at leat hal% Scot, and not o(e

tupid, (iah Englih #o(an- ;our ealted poition (ight (a$e uch #o(en #oon, but it #on+t&

He (o)ed to ilence her #ith a %inger to her (outh, but Jer$ed bac$ #hen he tried to bite hi(-

&!re (e at "our o#n ri$,& he aid, #ith a challenging li%t o% her bro#-

Since that #a eactl" #hat he #ihed to dopre her,or, (ore preciel", pre into her luciou cunt

o(e appeae(ent #a in order- Holding hi hand out at hi ide, he o%%ered her hi (otchar(ing (ile, one that had been honed to per%ection in (an" a boudoir- &A truce, pleae= . (eant no

har(- 'rul"- Could #e tart o)er=&

She heitated-

&. po$e out o% turn- .t #on+t happen again-&

Hi (ile #a artle- And #hether it #a incere or not,it #a be#itching to behold- &!erhap,& he

aid, a eail" char(ed b" that (ile a all the other, &i% "ou apologie-&

&e, o% coure, . apologie %or& He raied hi bro#in 6uer"-

&. belie)e it #a the #ord courtshi!that caued "ou uch conternation that "ou #renched (e to atop and practi call" bro$e (" hand-&

&Ah --- a to that - -

She reited the urge to (ile at hi tact%ul heitation-&So the" all #ant to (arr" "ou- . that it=&

He didn+t an#er-

&ou #on+t o%%end (e, !rietle", or rather, "ou alread"ha)e- Spea$ up-&

&e, the" do-&

&'hen, let (e put "our (ind at ret- . do not #ih to (arr" "ou or an"one- .% . #ihed to (arr", .could ha)edone o an" nu(ber o% ti(e thee pat ten "ear- . that (ore reauring=&

&Ver" (uch- And . do apologie %or thin$ing& Hepaued, earching %or a (ore appropriate phraethan &the#ort-& &ou #ere li$e the other,& he aid, deciding that #ould o%%end leat-

&.+( )er" (uch notli$e the other- A ha(e "ou #on+t ha)e the opportunit" to dico)er that,& he

added pithil",ta$ing iue #ith hi au(ption that all #o(en #ere a)ailable to hi(-

>


25/73

She tood ra(rod traight, her plendid, upthrut breatbrought into e)en (ore pro(inence #ith her

poture, their o%t plu(pne beneath the %il(" (ulin o% her go#n cloeenough to touch- A i% heneeded an" %urther incite(enta%ter #aiting %or thirt"


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She hal% (iled- &ou areobliging-&

> Suan Johnon

He couldn+t repre hi grin- &i)e (e a (o(ent o% "ourti(e, and .+ll ho# eactl" ho# obliging . can

be-&

&o "ou actuall" ha)e boo$ uptair=&

&9our carton %ull- 'he" #ere deli)ered thi a%ternoon-&

&So "ou+d ha)e an ecue to lure (e uptair=&

&. thought the" (ight a(ue "ou-&

&2ecaue "ou could lure (e uptair on "our o#n=&

&So(ething li$e that-&

&Arrogant rogue-&

&ou+re not eactl" ub(ii)e "ourel%-&

&o "ou li$e ub(ii)e #o(en=&

-Hi (outh 6uir$ed into a %aint (ile- &At ti(e-&

&. li$e ub(ii)e (en at ti(e a #ell-&

Hi gae #ent huttered-

&Are "ou thin$ing o% changing "our (ind=&

A %lah o% a(ue(ent uddenl" #ar(ed hi e"e- &Notince . %irt a# "ou in 4unardi+ laborator"-&

&ou+re ure, no#-&

&Oh, "e, de%initel"-&

&So#hat net=&

&.t+ up to "ou- . ha)e no reputation to uphold-&

>G


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&Or (a"be "ou do-&

He laughed- &. don+t $eep core-&

&So(e (en do-&

&ood %or the(-&

&A . li)e and breathe:& a raucou cr" rang out- &.% itin+t &'he !ope&the greatet cunt7


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Chapter 7

2ut it #a one o% thoe night #hen, regardle o% ho#(uch li6uor Japer poured do#n hi throat, he

re(ainedober- 3a"be Nic$"+ %ier" gae burned a#a" the alcohol%ro( hi brain, (a"be hi

adrenaline #a racing o %at itaborbed the li6uor, (a"be he #a o %ocued on hi ulti(ate goal thathe #a i((une to the e%%ect o% trong pir it-

Or (a"be he #a (ore drun$ than he thought, %or #henthe painter @aeburn uggeted that Nic$"co(e to hi tudio a the part" #a brea$ing up, Japer in)ited hi(el%along-

&No,& Nic$" aid, her )oice (ild but her gae %orbidding- &'han$ "ou %or dinner, but Henr" doen+t

li$e interruption-&

.% onl" he had ued o(e other phrae-

&.+( ure Henr" #ouldn+t (ind,& Japer retorted, hi)oice cold a the gra)e-

&He (a" not, but . do,& he aid, rebu%%ing Japer in ane6uall" chill )oice- &ou+re not #elco(e,!rietle"- .+(read" to go, Henr"-& And t#irling a#a", he #al$ed %ro( the roo( in a rutle o% il$-

&So(e other ti(e, 0aper,& Harr" ca0oled, pulling on0aper+ ar(- &.t+ late- .t #a a pleaure to (eet"ou, @aeburn- Vinceno, a hand here i% "ou pleae,& he (uttered, clutching harder on Japer+ ar(-

Ha)ing %ollo#ed the interchange bet#een the )icount and Nic$" #ith interet, i% not undertanding,

Henr" @aeburn opted %or neutralit" in #hat appeared to be a lo)er+ ti%%- O%%ering hi than$ %or dinner,he bo#ed to the three (en and %ollo#ed Nic$" %ro( the roo(-

&ou+)e done "our dut",& Japer narled, ha$ing the (en+ hand a#a"- &No# go a#a"-&

&ou (a$e ure "ou lea)e her alone,& Harr" ordered- ;ouB)e had too (uch to drin$-&

&/hat about "ou=& Japer in6uired churlihl", arching a bro# at 4unardi- &No #ord o% #arning=&

&/ould "ou liten=&

Japer norted- &A (an o% acuit" at leat-&

&Co(e to bed no#,& Harr" co((anded-

&/ith "ou= .+( not thatdrun$-&

&ou $no# )er" #ell #hat . (eant-&

Japer ur)e"ed the table- &'he Scot ha)e le%t a bottle or t#o- Surel" that (ut be a %irt- /a it

o(ething . aid=&

>8


29/73

Harr" hadn+t een Japer in uch a )iciou (oodi n "ear- &.% "ou #on+t co(e uptair, then .+ll $eep

"ou co(pan"-&

&. don+t need a chaperon-&

&. beg to di%%er #ith "ou-&

&At leat allo# 4unardi to %ind hi bed- ood night,Vinceno- Harr" #ill $eep (e %ro( har(-&

&.t+ not "ou .+( #orried about,& Harr" (uttered-

&'han$ "ou %or the %ine dinner, !rietle",& 4unardi aid, bo#ing grace%ull"- &. #ih "ou the bet o%luc$-&

Japer glo#ered at the "oung Neapolitan- &/ith the %or(idable 3i Nic$", "ou (ean-&

&2ut o% coure, (" lord-& 4unardi (iled- &. doubt "ouneed luc$ in an" other arena-&

Up to thi point, Japer had )ie#ed (a$ing lo)e to the ra)ihing 3i Nic$" a no (ore than a

%a(iliar ga(e- 2ut o(ething in 4unardi+ tone, or (a"be the ubtantial a(ounto% li6uor he+d

conu(ed, uddenl" parla"ed the caling o%3i Nic$"+ a(orou citadel into a conpicuouchallenge-.% he read 4unardi correctl", at iue #a hi ucce or %ailure-

And he didn+t li$e to loe-

&'han$ "ou %or "our good #ihe,& Japer replied(oothl"- &.+ll let "ou $no# ho# e)ent tranpire-&

Vinceno (ade an elegant bo# a onl" a Neapolitancould- &. loo$ %or#ard to hearing %ro( "ou-&

Harr" #a #a)ing 4unardi out %ro( behind Japer+bac$- Another %e# echange bet#een the t#o

(en, andVinceno #ould be in)ol)ed in a duel that #ould certainl"put an end to hi pro(iing career-Japer %ought a #ell drun$ or ober, #ith pitol or #ord, hi reputation o %or(idable he #a gi)en

#ide berth in all the 4ondon club- &/e+ll ee "ou in the (orning,& Harr" cheer%ull" proclai(ed,

(orphing hi go


30/73

Japer+ lahe le)ered up lightl", and a %aint (ile cur)ed hi (outh- &o "ou $no# ho# (an" "ear

"ou+)e been a$ing (e that=&

Harr" nodded- 'he t#o bo" had (et at Eton a ten


31/73

Chapter 8

Henr" @aeburn+ portrait tudio #a #ell $no#n-

Shortl" a%ter recei)ing direction %ro( the concierge,Japer #a tanding outide an elegant to#n

houe ablae #ith light-

Hope%ull", the" #eren+t in bed "et, he thought, ur)e"ing the three %loor o% #indo# glo#ing in the

night- And a potentiall" e(barraing cene could be a)oided-

Not that the painter had had the loo$ o% a lo)er, hi (ild (anner tonight unli$e a (an #ith an intene

interet in a #o(an- 2ut then, artit #ere b" nature le predaciou, he uppoed- Or perhap the"

#ere beieged b" ociet" #o(enin their capacit" a portraitit to the aritocrac"- !erhap the" #ereblaL about %e(ale in puruit-

A he had been-

'he operati)e )erb in the pat tene-

/hich altered circu(tance no# brought hi( here inthe (iddle o% the night to thi trange treet and

houe#here he #a %aced #ith deciding ho# to enter the houe,and once inide, %ind the #o(an #ho

had occaioned hiradical departure %ro( long


32/73

banged on thedoor-

A er)ing lad an#ered, hi e"e dro#" %ro( leep-

Stepping o)er the threhold li$e a (an on a (iion,0aper aid, &3r- @aeburn+ epecting (e-&

&He+ in hi tudio, ar, and don+t li$e to be diturbed-&

'he "oung bo" 0u(ped into 0aper+ path a he (o)edto#ard the tair- Sco#ling, 0aper ca(e to atop- &Kindl"tell "our (ater .+( here-&

&He #on+t ee no one #hen he+ #or$in+, ar-&

&'ell hi( Vicount !rietle" i here,& 0aper enunciatedin clipped, cool "llable, hi i(patience clear-

&.+( urehe+ll ee (e-&

Shortl" a%ter the er)ant reached the (ain %loor and entered a roo( at the top o% the landing, 0aperheard Nic$"+ )oice clear a a bell, her indignation echoing do#n thetair- 'he #ord noin )ariou

guie #a the pith" git o% her (eage- Not that he+d epected le-

'a$ing a deep breath, he ran hi %inger through hi unrul" hair, hi (ood uncertain- /ould thi

enterprie pro)etoo e(barraing= id he care=

Ho# (uch did he care=

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

/hen the er)ant returned to the entrance hall, the )icount #a gone-

A %act he reported to hi (ater-

&ood- He+ a rogue and a ra$e and o% no interet to(e,& Nic$" aid cripl" a the "oung bo" eitedthe tudioand cloed the door- 'a$ing care not to (o)e in her poedepite her perturbation, he aid

#ith a ni%%, &!rietle"+ audacit" i outrageou-&

@aeburn hal% (iled- &Certainl" not an unuual characteritic in a 4ondon ra$e- /h" let hi( bother"ou=&

&He doen+t bother (e- on+t loo$ at (e li$e that,Henr"- He i(pl" dipleae (e in nu(erou #a"-.+( anno"ed #ith hi bold


33/73

'he artit+ bro# roe- &ou urprie (e- . #ouldnBt ha)e thought "ou li$el" to uccu(b to an"thing

"ou didn+t#ih to-&

&Nor #ill .,& he retorted %ir(l"- &No#, i% "ou pleae,the ub0ect i cloed- Entertain (e #ith (ore o%

"our (ar)elou decription o% @o(e- ;ou o bring the cit" to li%e, .(a" be inclined to go #ith "ou#hen net "ou tra)el there-&

&.+d be delighted- id . tell "ou about @aphael+ to(b=4i%t "our chin 0ut a little --- there --- li$e that-!er%ect- .t+ trul" (o)ing to %eel @aphael+ pirit in the !antheon- .B( painting "our le%t ear no#, o not

a t#itch-&

@aeburn #a painting Nic$"+ portrait againt a bucolic landcape #ith an aerial balloon riing %ro(the ditanthorion- She #ore a #ide


34/73

Japer barel" (o)ed %ro( hi lounging poe, hi bac$ tothe #rought iron railing, hi outtretched leg

the obtaclecauing Nic$" to con)enientl" tu(ble into hi #aiting ar(-

Her hoc$ed cr" intantl" changed to a u%%ocated gapa he la" pra#led atop the (an he leat

#ihed to ee-Struggling to %ree herel%, concerned #ith not (a$ing apublic pectacle, he hiedrather than crea(ed, &ou,"ou reprehenible: #ic$ed: ha(ele --- digrace%ul - - -&2ut her )oice

trailed o%% and her truggle leened a her ene reponded in a co(pletel" inde%enible #a"-

ear od, or Shi)a, or 2uddha, or #hoe)er #ouldtead" the chaotic dither in her brain- /a it good

or #ildl"bad that !rietle" had #aited %or her, barricading her eit,that hi hard


35/73

Hearing her tone o% )oice, he #a about to begin apologiing a%reh #hen he (ade a (all (oue,

hrugged one houlder, and aid, &. houldn+t, o% coure-&

.t #an+t necear" to ha)e her pell out #hat he houldn+tdo- He $ne# better than to a$ #hat he

(eant in that regard- &/h" not=& he a$ed-

&2ecaue "ou do thi all the ti(e-&

&Ho# #ould that a%%ect "our pleaure or (ine=& Heened he (ight pre%er the truth to ua)e

%abrication-

&So . hould be grate%ul %or "our epertie=&

&/hate)er %or( "our gratitude too$,$#ould be etre(el" grate%ul, belie)e (e-&

&'hat+ the proble(-&

Hi bro# roe-

&our interet i too caual- .t+ the chae, in+t it,!rietle"= Ne)er the getting-&

&!erhap,& he replied truth%ull", &but in "our cae,there+ nothing caual about (" interet- ;ou+re one

o% the(ot beauti%ul, intelligent, capti)ating #o(en .+)e e)er(et-&

She hal% (iled- &id "ou a", oneo% the (ot&

Hi bro# roe in pi6uant railler"- &Conceited chit- Ver"#ell, the (ot uperior #o(an in e)er" #a",

#ho ha enticed (e be"ond co(prehenion- No# (a" #e get up o%% thi landing and go ele#here=&

&/here, eactl", #ould that be=&

&A #ar( bed, pre%erabl"- ;our or (ine-& He (iled the (ot natural, open (ile- &3ine, o% coure, i

a)ailable-&

&Jut li$e that=& he aid, thin$ing a (ile li$e that #atoo good to be trueD he #a a )er" good actor-&ou a" +(" bed+ and .+( uppoed to %all into it=&

&. thin$ "ou %orget the rather elaborate %orepla" in the%or( o% dinner tonight #here . per%or(ed ("dutie a hot%or "ouand onl%"ou- /hether . e)er ee Ada( S(ith %all aleep o)er hi port again or

hear another #ord about thela(entable lo o% Highland tradition interet (e not-Conider the

(agnitude o% (" e%%ort to pleae "ou a the (ot prolonged %orepla" ince Abelard (et Heloie-&

&oe that (ean tonight #ill be de)oid o% %orepla"=&Her )oice had ta$en on on a teaing noteD "ou

couldn+t %ault hi( %or the grandne o% hi geture-

5


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&'onight #ill be de)oid o% nothing "our heart deire#ord o% honori% "ou gi)e (e lea)e to get up

o%% thi cold li(etone and ecort "ou to (" bed-&

&. don+t $no# #hether .+( %atigued or #hether "ou+)e o)erco(e (" lat cruple #ith that generou

#ord o% honorpro(ie, but "ou ha)e and . a( and,& he leaned %or#ardand $ied hi( lightl" on the

(outh, &"our bed ound trul" di)ine-&

'a$ing her hand in hi, he i((ediatel" ca(e to hi %eet #ith e%%ortle grace, pulling her up a he

roe- &ou+re )er"light,& he (ur(ured, tead"ing her %or a (o(ent- &ou hould eat (ore-&

&.% . had been inclined to %urther e6ui)ocate, uch blatant char( ha urel" ealed our bargain-&

&2argain=& 'he %aintet %ro#n (arred hi bro#-

&.+( orr"-& She loo$ed entertained- &/ould "ou pre%era (ore ro(antic ter(=&

'he #ord romance e%%ecti)el" 6uelled hi (o(ent o% uneae- &No, o% coure not,& he replied(oothl"- Her bluntpeech #a )er" di%%erent %ro( that o% the ladie in hi pat#ho ne)er aid #hat

the" thought or (eant #hat the" aid- 2ut he #a (ore than #illing to ad0ut hi perception o% %e


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Japer+ breeche not onl" )iiblebut highl" (oti)ational, her debate #a brie%- &2e a dearand pour (e

another drin$ #hile . get (" robe- 3" #or$


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the #ord o%the Ka(a Sutraa not to ad(it e)en a blade o% gra bet#een the(- Her breeche reted

on her ripe hip, her li(

NA'U@A4 A''@AC'.ON '(

#ait riing abo)e the nug $ere"(ere, her thigh o%tl"in)iting-

And Japer uddenl" beca(e %ull" conciou o% #hat #a ta$ing place-

Not that he #a a)ere to being educed-

&Co(e here,& he (ur(ured, liding up in hi chair- &.+llhelp "ou #ith thoe breeche-&

A he approached, he opened hi leg, and he ca(e to ret bet#een the(- &4oo$,& he aid, hi (outh

onl" inche%ro( her breat-

She alread" $ne# be%ore he loo$ed, the #eet ache puling bet#een her leg, and a he lo#ered hergae, hetouched one nipple #ith the tip o% hi %inger-

&Cloer-&

.t #a an order, no (atter ho# huhed and lo#, and hecould no (ore ha)e denied hi( than he couldha)e topped breathing-

&Up a littlehere, put it in,(" (outh-&

She i((ediatel" obe"ed, no longer ure #ho #a doing#hat to #ho(, or #hether her courtean plo"

#a %or hi(or her- 'a$ing her breat in her hand, he li%ted it lightl" o the taut cret graed hi

(outh-

Hi lip opened, lid o)er her nipple, then hi teeth,lightl", gentl", and #hen hi (outh cloed o)er the

tinglingtip and he gentl" uc$ed, he arched her bac$, co(preedher thigh, and 6ui)ered #ith an all Suan Johnon

&.t depend on "ou-& /ithout the truth, her 0ourne" #a pointle-

&/hat doe that (ean=& He, too, needed de%initi)e an#er a%ter #ee$ o% drin$ing and dicontent-

&.t depend on #hether "ou #ant (e to ta" or not-&

&Ha)e "ou run out o% 9rench(en to educe=& Jealouand reent%ul, he $ne# ho# paionate and

inatiable he#a-

&Ha)e "ou run out o% Englih#o(en to educe=& He#a notable in (an" #a", but (ot %a(oul" %orthe #o(en he entertained- She, too, could %eel the ourne o% ditrut-

&. a$ed "ou %irt-&

&None appealed,& he aid- 2ecaue he #a inconolable, not )irtuou-

&. ee-&

&Ho# about "ou=&

G8


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&'he a(e-& 'here #ere ti(e #hen he+d 6uetioned hi anit" #hen the te(ptation o% the %leh held

no appeal-

&4iar-&

&Not at all-& He (iled, her ad(iion ha)ing (itigatedhi reent(ent- &. bla(e it on the #inter(egri(-&

&ou ha)en+t been itting ho(e, though- 'here #a o(e6uetion #hether "our ta%% could %ind "ou ornot-& 'he droller" o% #inter (egri( aide, he till had her doubt-

&.+)e been drin$ing and ga(bling here and there- /hatha)e "ou been doing= . hear Vinceno a(aed

the ro"al%a(il" a #ell a countle other-&

&'he %light #a trul" (ar)elou,& he aid #ith a udden(ile, recalling the e)ent o% that da"- &'he

balloon roe#ith abolutel" %la#le preciion, %or #hich Vinceno recei)ed a (edal and, (ore

i(portantl", an annual tipend%ro( the $ing+ brother- He+ in Naple, getting (arried a #e pea$- A%or ("el%, .+)e been reading-&

&Alone=& !erhap hi upicion #ere not o eail" appeaed-

NA'U@A4 A''@AC'.ON 1*

&.t+ the bet #a", .+)e %ound- . epect "ou+)e been drin$ing alone a #ell,& he aid, a (odicu( o%

arca( in her#ord-

&. (ight a #ell ha)e been,& he replied gru%%l"-

&. %ound . (ied "ou dread%ull"- 'o the point o% paral"i at ti(e- oe that %righten "ou= ;ou (a"end (e a#a"i% "ou #ih- . #ould undertand- Obeed #o(en are unner)ing-&

&Nor(all", "e- Ho#e)er, #ith "ou, . %ind the propect grati%"ing-&

&'ell (e "ou (ied (e, then,& he aid-

&. did- Ver" (uch- 'oo (uch-&

She #ung her leg o)er the ide o% the chaie, ha)ingheard the an#er he+d co(e %or- &.+d li$e to

ta" %or a ti(e,a an eperi(ent,& he aid #ith a (ile- &'o %ind out i%#hat .+( %eeling i li%e


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&ou undertand, thi i di%%erent-&

&. $no#- Are "ou a terri%ied a .=&

&. a( gripped b" i((eaurable terror-&

She grinned- &'hat (uch= 3ine i occaionall" (anageable-&

&!erhap "ou ha)en+t been a(uing "ourel% a long a 1don+t an#er that- . don+t #ant to $no#-&

She ca(e to her %eet- &Could #e continue thi dicuionin "our bedroo(=&

/ith e%%ort, he retrained hi(el% %ro( ta$ing a tepbac$- &.% #e go to (" bedroo(,& he aid o%tl",e #on+tbe doing an" tal$ing-&

&. #a hoping "ou+d a" that-&

&. (a" not let "ou lea)e-&

&E)er=&

He nodded, hoc$ed at hi repone, but (eaning it- O)er#hel(ed b" eagerne and hope, he %anciedthi #alo)e he #a %eeling, although he had no tandard #ith#hich to co(pare-

He (o)ed to#ard herD he put out her hand, and #henhe reached her, he gentl" too$ her hand in hi-

&/hat i% #e %ight=& he aid abruptl"-

He+d been epecting o(ething (ore endearing, althoughher candor #a #hat he (ot lo)ed abouther- 'here it#athe #ord lovelipped in, (ooth a il$- &. don+t care i% #e %ight- ;ou till can+t

lea)e-& He (iled %aintl"- &And there+ #ore"ou ha)e to (eet (" %a(il"-&

&Are there (an"=&

&A %ather . a)oid, a brother, hi #i%e, and %our and a hal%children- Hi #i%e #ill be diconolate #hen

#e (arr"- She+ epecting the title %or her eldet-&

Nic$"+ bro# li%ted- &ou ne)er (entioned (arriage-&

&. that a proble(=&

&.+( not ure,& he aid in a (uing tone- &.+)e ne)er conidered (arr"ing an"one-&

&.+( not an"one-&

Her (ile #a bright- &ou certainl" aren+t-&

7*


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&.% "ou agree to (arr" (e,& he o%%ered #ith a #ic$edgrin, &.+ll ta$e "ou uptair right no#-&

&.+d lo)e to (arr" "ou-&

&Sha(ele co6uette-&

&.% that+ the onl" #a" . can get into "our bed,& hepurred- &A lad" (ut do #hat a lad" (ut do-&

He laughed, the 0o"%ul ound echoing through the


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&Ne)er (ind, then-&

He loo$ed up and (et her a(ued gae- &'here+ nothing . can+t gi)e "ou-&

&/hat a pleaant thought- oe that (ean the Fueen o% Hea)en #ill be in "our repertoire tonight=&

.t #aalong #ith 9rolic$ing 4i$e a Sparro# and 'heeer and, o% coure, 'he Spinning 'op-

4o)e and lut #ere united in %ull and luuriou (eaure-

'here #ere no (ore lo)er+ 6uarrel-

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

/hen the clerg"(an arri)ed the %ollo#ing a%ternoon,ha)ing been preceded b" e)eral barriter and

one epeni)e 0e#eler, the happ" couple greeted hi( %ro( bed- Sincethe curate+ generou li)ing #a

upplied b" the )icount+largee, he greeted the( #ith courte" and particular care not to co((enton the )enue-

'he candalou ne# o% the )icount+ (arriage pread li$e #ild%ire through the 'on, although the

e6uetered bride and groo( #ere i((une to goip-

And b" the ti(e the )icount and hi lad" %inall" eited their ho(e a (onth later, (ore candalou

ne# #a on the #ind- 'he )icounte #a #ith child-

Alread"-

'ongue #agged and e"ebro# #ere raied and e)er"one anticipated counting the (onth until her

deli)er"-

.n %act, o deliciou #a the ne#, that 4ord and 4ad"!rietle"+ %irt (eeting #ith the )icount+

brother and hi#i%e #a interrupted b" a tidal #a)e o% caller #ho topped b" on the %li(iet o%pretet-

A the" dro)e a#a" %ro( the %a(il" )iit in the co(%orto% the )icount+ luuriou carriage, Japer

aid, &ou need ne)er return there i% "ou don+t #ih-&

&our brother i pleaant enough, and Charlotte did herbet- 2ut . #a thin$ing #e (ight better pend

our ti(e launching balloon, a", in the countr" o(e#here-&

&/e could in)ite 4unardi and hi #i%e o)er-&

She (iled- &ou (ut ha)e read (" (ind-&

!ropping hi %eet up on the oppoite eat, he loungedbac$ againt the 6uab- &. alread" #rote the(,

and the"+)e accepted- ;ou (a" epect 4unardi and a boatload o% e6uip(ent a %ortnight hence-&

7>


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'hro#ing herel% at hi(, Nic$" #rapped her ar(around hi, nec$ and grinned %ro( ear to ear- &Ha)e

. told"ou latel" ho# adorable "ou are=&

He loo$ed a(ued- &. don+t belie)e .+)e e)er been told.+( adorable-&

&ou are, nonethele, and .+( o o luc$" to ha)e "ou,& he #hipered-

No one $ne# better than Japer #hat the odd #ere thatthe" #ould (eet in Edinburgh, o% all place,and (ore i(probable till, that he #ould %all in lo)e- &.+( luc$ier,& he (ur(ured, thi (an #ho had

al#a" co%%ed at the notion o%lo)e- &.+( the luc$iet (an in the #orld-&

Susan Jonson - [Strangers in the Night SS] - Natural Attraction

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Transcript of Susan Jonson - [Strangers in the Night SS] - Natural Attraction