Jess sighed, sinking into the softest of dozes, her body splayed upon a luxurious down stuffed mattress in what had to be the most elegant room the inn offered, rich tapestries and stained glass windows delighting her senses, a wonderfully detailed mural of knights and castles painted upon the domed ceiling above, a score of candles in silver candelabras giving the room a brilliant glow. Jess smiled as she sipped from their shared crystal chalice once more, having drunk deep of brandy and passion both, awash in the most delightful of tingles, Rowan's gentle caresses as much sweet comfort as titillation.

Cornelius, still flushed, was gazing at the pair of them with something close to awe. He shook his head and whistled. “My ladies. I do believe I am in love.”

Jess laughed at that, kissing Rowan softly as she retied her corset once more. A corset that was actually many layers of finely quilted linen faced with silk. As resistant to thrust or cut as the thinnest of arming jackets. A poor second cousin, compared to their padded gambesons, but many times better than nothing.

Jess bent down to kiss Cornelius a well, feeling nothing but exhilaration, the way he squeezed her so tightly, kissed her so deeply, as if he would take her and claim her utterly once more.

Jess gently stroked his cheek. “You're a beautiful man, Cornelius.”

He smiled. “As are you, dearest rose, whose name I never caught.”

Rowan chuckled throatily. “And yet you shared so much with us! I did think you'd be the death of dear Susie, so thoroughly did you spear her with your ready wit.”

Jess blushed hotly at that, still aglow with sweetest comfort, washing away the sharpest sting of horrors endured, monstrous acts committed just hours ago.

Jess nodded. “You are a man a girl could lose herself with, utterly,” she whispered. “Washing all sad thoughts away.”

Cornelius winked. “And what possible reason could two such damsels as yourself have for sorrow? When all the world no doubt loves you both.” He chuckled softly. “Anyone save the wives of your admirers, of course.”

Jess pouted, even as Rowan tied up her own corset.

"Gaines was quite insistent, I'm afraid, for all that he is not one tenth the man you are."

Rowan chuckled throatily, even as Cornelius's warm gaze hardened. “Truly, beloved Cornelius, your smallest kiss alights us with a passion that dear Gaines couldn't muster with his entire body.”

“Gaines, you said. Very well, ladies, I would very much like to hear the gist of this message.”

Silver coins upon the table. A gesture meant to seem magnanimous, a fortune to any desperate peasant, the munificence of a beloved patron now seemed just as cold and mercenary as it truly was.

Jess blushed and looked away, cheeks flushing with a tinge of shame, for all that she had savored his love with utter abandon, but minutes before.

"My dear Susie, I mean no discourtesy. But I fear time suddenly presses upon me, and I would very much like to know this message."

Jess flushed all the hotter. Cornelius was actually gazing at her in pity. Apology. With concern at the very least.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Jess forced herself to smile. “I understand. Love is sweet, but the call of duty overrides all else.”

A relieved chuckle. "You have the right of it, my dear. Now, if you please...

Rowan's gentle hands caressing his back, her lips upon his naked neck. “Dear Susie, what were the words our paramour bid us to say?”

Jess frowned, pretending hard thought. “I believe he said something about a coop and a pen?”

Cornelius froze, his gaze hardening, instantly inured to Rowan's gentle touch.

Rowan pouted. "You've gotten it all muddled, sister. Did dear Cornelius rattle your pretty little head that thoroughly?" A sultry laugh as Jess pouted, looking away, both embarrassed and chilled, suddenly realizing how dangerous a game they truly played, Cornelius's entire manner turning hard as steel in an instant.

"The doves, or perhaps it was hens? Have left the coop. That was the message, though if one's livestock is roaming free, isn't that for the help to handle?" Rowan tisked. "I imagine some poor peasant will receive quite the thrashing on the morrow."

Hot eyes glared at Rowan, whose return smile was so bereft of guile that his gaze immediately softened, uncertain.

Rowan gently stroked his cheek. “Cornelius? Please tell me we made you as happy as you made us?”

He turned his brooding regard to Jess, still turned away, blushing prettily, only peripherally noting their target, her gaze hidden by her hair. She didn't mind looking the shamed, lonely tart, so long as he didn't realize how he was being played.

Strong arms suddenly gripped her. Jess held back furious instincts. Rowan's surprised glance, but no alarm.

Jess let herself sob once.

Not so hard, hardly an act.

So many things to be ashamed of this evening, did she let herself feel it at last.

"Don't you dare cry, my kitten. Don't you dare." Cornelius's kiss was fierce and sweet. His caress sent shivers down her spine once more. "I would claim you for my own. Claim you both! Did I have time."

His gaze had turned strangely possessive. "You may both stay as long as you like. You will find I am not poor, not by any means. If you are looking to truly make some coin... or, dare I say it, mean what you say when you imply that I am beyond the pathetic dross of your former friends... stay here. You will not regret setting a course to match my stars, I promise you that. I promise you both that."

He kissed them both, fiercely once more.

"Where I am from, a man can take two wives, or as good as, such that no one dares call them anything but. I think you will find, my darlings, that I could make you both very, very happy, when this game I play finally comes to a head."

At a surprisingly quick pace, Cornelius was fully dressed once more, Jess pretending obliviousness as the man put various pouches and packets upon his person, donning saber and poniard last of all. The saber, Jess saw, was a far more imposing thing than poor Gaines' sword, even now slowly rusting to its sheath in the damp loamy ground that served as the poor boy's grave.

Jess bit back bitter tears and looked away.

A gentle, powerful hand stroked her cheek, and Jess could tell the black glove he wore was lined with mail.

An Agent's trick.

“You are almost an innocent, are you not?” he said with growing wonder. “You have not been long at the courtesan's trade, have you?”

Jess managed a winsome smile. “Sometimes things happen, and you just want to run away from life. There was Gaines...and now you.”

His chuckle was throaty. "I can tell our sweet rose there is a veteran of many battles, and I love her no less for it. But you, precious blossom, come to my bed practically a virgin." His gaze was fierce, hungry. "I meant what I said. But wait for me, and I will claim you both."

With a final passionate kiss to a blushing Jess, stroking Rowan's cheek in passing, he darted from the room as fast as his boots could carry him.