The Black Lotus (Night Flower) Read Online Free PDF

exhilarating?” He smiled again and she was once again struck by the perfection of his teeth. It was not something she was used to, most people had severe decay or had lost their teeth to rot and were sporting replacements. Even those who had most of their own teeth could not claim such well kept specimens.
     
     
    “I suppose it is.” She answered honestly, disconcerted by his glimmering smile and perfect teeth. “ Or it was at the start of the evening,” A couple swept past her and she followed their movements, tearing herself from his visage. Behind him and to the left she could see her brother; he was wearing his court face, a mask of false pleasantry and laughter. The sight made her shudder, Marcus at court was different to that at home, his voice was louder and sentiments cruder.
     
     
    “And now?” Justin’s voice prompted, dragging her from her reverie. She glanced back at him, at the curiosity that she now saw in his eyes.
     
    “Now?” Her voice was small, a thousand leagues from the poised responses of a few moments ago. “Now I feel as though I’m in a charade, that no one here is what they seem,” Katherine Devereux drifted across her vision, her arms locked about the form of Walter Pilkington, a fixed rictus of a smile clued on her face. Behind them stood Emily Saint-Clair, the young blonde widow of Lord Edward Saint-Clair. With puzzlement, Melissa noted that Emily’s gaze was fixed on them.
     
     
    “You’re quite right there,” She blinked at the softly spoken words and returned her attention to Justin. “None of us here are real.” He waved an elegant hand at her. “Take yourself as an example, you are not what you seem, you primp and smile and make polite conversation, but it is all an act.” He moved closer, his words soft, compelling as he leant in. “You can never show your real face and I wonder,”
     
     
    “What?” Scarcely breathing, she stared up at him. “What is it you wonder?”
     
     
     
    Carefully he reached forward and captured her hand. “I wonder,” His voice was soft, compelling and she raised her eyes back to his. “Just what lies behind your smile?”
     
     
    “Do you? ” Disconcerted by the strangely direct gaze, she pulled back slightly. “Do you really wish to know about my thoughts?”
     
     
    “I do,” He drew her hand to his mouth and gently kissed the tips of her fingers. “I wonder what lies behind that polite, perfect façade you present.”
     
     
    Melissa drew her hand away in flustered confusion. Even with the overcooked declarations of love she had been receiving all night, she was still unsure of how to handle such seduction. His desire to know her seemed sincere, yet she knew of his reputation. Her fingers tingled where his lips had pressed and she spoke rapidly, nervously.
     
     
    “I feel like a prime specimen of beef at a meat market.” Unbidden and dangerous, words spilled from her lips. “One that’s about to be sold for slaughter." She shook her head and stopped speaking, aware that she was crossing the lines for polite behaviour. One did not discuss innermost feelings at such soirees. He glanced at her swiftly as though daring her to continue with her words.
     
     
    “ In a way you are.” He replied finally, sipping the drink slowly as he sized her up. “So you dislike the court then?”
     
    “Oh not really… it’s just so big.” She answered softly, trying to bring words to her sense of bewilderment. She shook her head and pushed away the introspection, such behaviour was not considered seemly in a lady. “So what brings you to London?” Once again she retreated to the norm, her words mild and polite; the expected behaviour for a lady in society. Justin lowered the glass from his lips and regarded her carefully, his dark eyes flashing in brief disappointment before a mocking gleam slid over their surface.
     
     
    “The court, the King and beauty such as yours.” He answered carelessly as he swirled the