*
A shard of light peeked through the curtains and fell across Mairi’s face, disturbing the wonderful sleep she had been having. She had not been mistdreaming, just making love to a very hot, sexy body. Her arm fell across the bed and hit Appoloin’s chest. She smiled. It had not been a dream—boy, the man could hit the right spots. He had the energy of a stallion their lovemaking had gone on for hours.
Mairi desperately needed to take a shower. Her body had taken part in what could only be described as sexual gymnastics with Appoloin, and because of their lovemaking – the heat they generated – her body was glowing with sweat. A deep whiff of her armpits and she hopped out of bed, but didn’t get very far when Appoloin’s arm shot out and pulled her back beside him.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he said, nuzzling her breast.
“Oh, no, you don’t. Get off me, you oaf!” she yelped in protest when her body once again reacted favourably to his demands. “I need a shower. I stink. How come you still smell like peaches and I smell like a scabby horse?”
Quick as a flash, Appoloin had her lying on her back and joined with her.
“You’re mine, Mairi,” he said as he began to move.
She was tired, her muscles sore, and yet her body was demanding him to keep going. He moved hard and steady, his body possessing hers, depleting her resolve as he pushed further and harder. She met each of his demands with one of her own, and he responded to every one. Their eyes locked, searching. Words were not necessary. He was laying claim to her, and she, in reply, was completing her ownership of him.
It was as though a conflict of wills was being eliminated with each forceful thrust, every loving gesture, and each gentle caress. Her ecstatic response drove him on harder, and with every scratch and bite she placed on his body, she freed them of limitations. There would be no boundaries in their love, only unbelievable pleasure. He gazed at her with open fascination, almost spellbound, hoping to delay the inevitable release, wanting what they were sharing never to end. Suddenly, it all became too intense, and he threw his head back, letting loose a warrior cry of completion, just as her body and mind joined with his and, together, they erupted in a volcanic explosion of molten passion.
And two became one.
*
Mairi let out a loud huff and blinked away the sun that had once again forced it’s way into the room. She stretched her arm across the bed to touch Appoloin, and was surprised and disappointed to find he was no longer beside her. Screwing her eyes up, small wrinkles appeared around her nose and eyes, reluctantly, she forced herself to sit up. The movement caused a river of light to splinter and move across the bed. The sun had to be high in the sky, if it could almost bathe the whole bed in light.
Mairi wasn’t sure how long she had slept after their last bout of lovemaking. It had been so intense, with an almost perceptible sharing of souls in their last session, as well as the most passionate and undeniably incredible sex. She was too tired, sore, and grubby to care about anything other than showering and finding Appoloin.
Mairi searched the room for her clothes, but when they were nowhere to be found, she grabbed the sheet from the bed. Wrapping it around her body, she checked herself in the mirror. Her reflection resembled the Greek Goddess Aphrodite, she thought, and laughed to herself, envisioning Aphrodite in discomfort after a night of passion with Ares! The idea that floated through her mind was not one of Aphrodite looking quite as tumbled as she.
Opening the large double doors of the bedroom, she took an apprehensive step into the hallway. Had she not been so intent on discovering where Appoloin was, she may have appreciated the high ceilings, the Axminster carpets, the occasional George III side chairs, with cushions covered in the the MacIain tartan. Nice touch she thought, at last noticing the tartan.
All she could see, however, were countless doors in a corridor that went on forever! Mairi didn’t wander far, taking some time to examine her surroundings, and was impressed, by the opulence. It was time to take stock of where she was and what was going on. Returning to the bedroom, she was surprised to find an antique dress lying on the bed.
Mairi stroked the back of her hand across the cornflower blue, silk taffeta dress and marvelled at its beauty. It really was gorgeous.
“Come now, my lovely, best not dillydally.” A rotund lady bustled around the bed, placing more items of clothing on the quilt.
Taken aback to find a stranger had entered her room without her knowledge, and watch said stranger arranging clothes on her bed, Mairi worriedly asked, “How did you get in here? Do I know you?” Mairi took a breath. She wanted to scream the next question but was able to keep the panic from her voice when she asked, “And what are you doing in here?”
“So many questions. You’re just like your cousin, so inquisitive that one,” she said with a warm smile, adding, “and you are just as beautiful.”
Mairi waited for more information, not giving in to the obvious tack of “I know your family-here’s-a-sweetie-come-with-me!”
“Oh, I’m sorry, m’lady,” the stranger said and bobbed a curtsey. “I’m Baglis. I’ve come to help ye get dressed. His lordship is awaiting your presence in the breakfast room.” She waved her hand behind her and kindly said to a very muddled Mairi, “I’ve a bath waiting for you. I thought you might appreciate a soak in the tub before ye get all these things onto yer fine body.” She flicked her hand towards the many items now lying on the bed.
“You said he was having breakfast? You know where Appoloin’s is?” she said haltingly.
“Of course I do,” Baglis said with a smile that would brighten up a dismal day. “And like I said, my lord is awaiting your presence in the breakfast room.”
Baglis turned from Mairi and started to fuss, arranging items around the huge copper tub, which had wisps of steam rising from it. “Now, if you don’t mind, lass, I’ve put a little dash of lemon oil in the water.” She nodded over her shoulder to Mairi. “That’s a good awakening tonic,” she insisted, “and I’ve put the wash cloth to the side, so that it’s easy for you to reach.” She turned fully to look at Mairi. “I’m thinking you won’t be needing my help washing your body, am I right?”
“Yes, well, yes…”
“That’s good.” Baglis bustled on. “I have far too much to arrange this day. It’s always wise to ask first, mind you. Some people like to have all their…” She turned a lovely shade of pink. “Well, all their ‘bits’ washed by someone other than themselves. Now, why that would be, I have no idea. Me, I much prefer to—”
Mairi tried to calm her nerves but could barely contain herself. “Who are you?” Mairi yelled. “And where the hell am I?”
Baglis walked to her and held her hand. “Why, lass, you’re in London. Did the Duke not tell you? Och, men can be so stupid. When you arrived, you were fast asleep, but I thought he would tell you where you were this morn. Goodness me, you look all of a panic, like a wee deer caught in a storm.”
“He told me we were in London, yes, but I was just going to take a shower, find Appoloin, and get dressed. I can’t find Appoloin, I can’t find my clothes, there’s a copper tub with hot water in the bedroom, and I have a woman rushing around asking me if I want my ‘bits’ washed, while preparing clothes for a fancy dress party!”
“Fancy dress party? What party would that be you’re going to?” Baglis asked her, concerned now that the lass had maybe lost her memory, just like her cousin, and his lordship had omitted that very important fact when he requested she come to help him get the girl ready.
“Well, why else would I be wearing this gown?”
“Because that’s a beautiful gown, is why,” Baglis answered, the sincerity in her voice making Mairi even more confused.
“I can see it’s beautiful, but wouldn’t it be more appropriate for me to pull on a pair of jeans and throw on a T-shirt if all we’re doing is having breakfast and then going out?”
Baglis bit her lip and blinked rapidly. Oh dear, this was n
ot good, not good at all. She searched Mairi’s face for some understanding and stared deeply into her eyes, pushing a little bit of magic to help her comprehend. Mairi shifted uneasily under her scrutiny. There was something about this woman. She was making Mairi feel uncomfortable, and yet, at the same time, she appreciated the attempts in reassuring her that there wasn’t anything to worry about. Which, of course, only made her fret more!
Mairi stood still, fear and denial oozed through her bones. Her eyes widened in horror as she stared into Baglis’s eyes. Baglis slowly and calmly nodded, an encouraging smile crossing her face. She gently took hold of both Mairi’s hands and led her to sit on the bed, allowing her to get control of her inner turmoil.
“No,” Mairi quietly said. “It can’t be.”
“Mm-hm, what would that be, lovely lass? What could not be? Tell Baglis,” she soothed.
“Am I in another world? Did Appoloin bring me to another world and think it best not to share that with me?”
Baglis let out a shaky laugh. “No, of course not. You’re in London; I told you that already.”
“Yes, so you did. I’m in London,” Mairi repeated, as she puzzled over the response, one perfectly defined eyebrow lowered questioningly. Slowly, the words Baglis shared began to penetrate.
“I’m in London.”
“Yes, that would be right, lass.”
“I’m not in another world?”
“No, you’re not in any other world. You are still on the earth’s plane.”
“I’m in London. I’m in my world.” Mairi felt the shock hit her, and she struggled to keep the scream inside, a little cough escaping as she squeezed out panic. She inhaled through taut lips, the air squeaking as it reached her lungs. Closing her eyes, she glared at Baglis.
“When am I in London?” she squeaked.
“That would be 1819,” Baglis replied succinctly, and promptly rose from the bed, leaving Mairi to ponder her reply as she continued laying out more clothing.
Mairi wanted to scream. In fact, she did scream, and was surprised at the sound emitting from her vocal cords. It was not the scream of a heroine in distress, running to escape a family of vampires that hunted her, for her delicious blood—no, her scream sounded more like a strangled warthog before it went under mud!
“Now that we’ve got that sorted out,” Baglis rushed on, “why don’t we get you into the tub? I’m sure a hot bath will do wonders for you, no?” she said optimistically. “You can soak a while, as I ready your clothing.” Baglis led a stunned Mairi to the bathtub and removed the sheet from their body, then helped her climb into the tub. “I’m sure everything will make sense to you as you relax in the water,” she said hurriedly.
Mairi sank into the water, the aroma of lemon and lavender soothing her nerves. She felt as though she was being lulled into a peaceful dream. Baglis’s words were not so awful, she could cope with—
“Hold on a minute,” she said indignantly. “My cousin? You know my cousin?” Then, doubtfully, she screwed her face up at Baglis. “Tell me which one you know, Baglis, if that is your name.”
“Why, m’lady, it is the Princess Valerie I know.”
“Princess Valerie? I think you’ve got the wrong cousin. Right name, wrong title.”
“Oh my, oh my,” Baglis flustered. “My apologies, madam. I mean, she is like a princess, do you not agree?” she asked hopefully.
“I suppose,” Mairi added skeptically. “She certainly can act like one at times. So can we all. Okay…” She turned her stare on Baglis again, holding on to the tub, in case she slid under the water. “If you know her, when did you meet her?”
“Oh, that’s an easy question. The Prince brought her home.”
“Home? What home? Where is Valerie?”
“Now, now, now, there’s no way I will reveal that. You know that all of the Mistdreamers must be kept safe. If you knew where you each were, then I’m sure those out to cause you harm would locate you, and we don’t want that, do we?”
“Well… I suppose you have a point.” Mairi lay back in the water, inhaling the perfumed scent, the knots in her muscles relaxing at last. “Baglis?”
“Yes, m’lady?”
“Is she happy? Is she safe?”
“Who, Valerie? I doubt Prince Seere would have it any other way. Just as my Lord Appoloin will make certain that you are safe.”
“What’s with all the my lord? Erm, you know what he is, don’t you?”
“He’s an Angel. We all know what he is.”
“We all? Who is we all?”
Baglis returned to her preparations, humming a tune, her voice so beautiful Mairi closed her eyes and forgot her question had not been answered.
“That’s it, my lady,” Baglis whispered. “Relax and unwind. Today will be difficult enough without you worrying about everyone else.”
“Mm-hmm.” Mairi sighed. “Not to worry.”
“That’s right, bonnie lass.” Baglis lay a hand on Mairi’s forehead, then tenderly brushed the wisps of hair from her face. “Enjoy this time. The road ahead is dark and dangerous, but we will find you, I promise. Rest, most precious girl. You are our hope and light.”
“Hope and light,” Mairi echoed and drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
Chapter Six
“Were you ever going to tell me?” Mairi asked angrily, as she flounced into the breakfasting room, grabbing the folds of the voluminous dress, while desperately attempting to enter the room with as much decorum as possible.
“I see Baglis found you,” Appoloin answered casually, managing to avoid the question, while shuffling food around his plate.
The smell of freshly cooked bacon assaulted Mairi’s senses. She felt weak with hunger but refused to back down.
“Don’t do that!” she barked as she approached the table. She attempted to pull one of the heavy chairs from its position under the huge, highly polished mahogany table. She almost gave up trying, when a footman appeared, from nowhere, and lifted it with ease, he then held it, waiting for her to sit. With a muffled, “Um, well, erm, thanks,” she sat, but continued to look inquiringly at him.
Appoloin grudgingly dragged his eyes from the sumptuous breakfast he was savouring and glimpsed at her, allowing himself a private chuckle. Her face was a picture. She continued to stare, open-mouthed, at the footman, who was now becoming uncomfortable under her scrutiny but remained standing behind her. “No need to thank the help, dear,” he said, interrupting her as she regarded him curiously.
“What would you care to break your fast with? I recommend the devilled eggs. Cook has a way of cooking them to perfection.”
Mairi’s thoughts tumbled through her mind, and she slowly drew her gaze from the footman’s expressionless face, upon hearing Appoloin’s voice. “Sorry, what was that you said?”
“I asked what you would care to eat. You must be hungry by now. When was the last time food passed those lips? We don’t want you fainting, do we?”
“I never faint!” she exclaimed. “And let’s get back to the original subject.”
“Oh,” Appoloin answered dejectedly, “I had hoped you had forgotten the question.”
Mairi took even breaths, incorporating every relaxation technique she had mastered in Mr Ciang’s yoga class, trying not to lose her temper in front of the footman. She took a quick glance around the room and saw that not just one footman but three stood to attention nearby. “Where did these people come from?” she whispered to Appoloin. It was as though they had emerged from the flock wallpaper.
“They are the people who keep this house running so that you and I can have a little fun for as long as we must remain here.”
“Here? As in 1819, you mean?”
Appoloin rolled his eyes. “And we’re back to the original question, yes?”
“Yes,” Mairi said tersely.
“The simple answer is, I had to find a location where you would be safe—”
“Yes, where, not when,” she interrupted.
; Appoloin scratched his head. He had known this discussion would be difficult, but she had to understand the actions he had taken in the past few days were for her safety.
“If I had simply led you to another part of the universe, in your time, it would have been easy to track you. I had to take you away from the time in which you existed. This truly was done for your own safety.”
“But why 1819? What is so good about this time?”
“The earth is in an incredible mode of change at the moment, and for one of the first times in the history of the universes, has little to do with Angels! This is a very exciting time. New discoveries, by humans, are on the increase, on a daily basis. Everyone, in Europe especially, is looking to the future. London has survived the Great Fire, the Scottish rebellion has been quashed, the Napoleonic wars are over.
“In America—yes, it is called ‘America’, at the moment and not the United States—they have won their Independence from the British. Their president, James Munroe, is the last of the founding fathers, who also happens to be half-French and half-Scottish. Now that we Angels did have a hand in,” he said smugly, before continuing, hardly taking a breath. “While here, in the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister is The Earl of Liverpool. Both of these men will be influential and valuable assets to their countries, but not without incident.
“Not forgetting there has been a birth in Kensington Palace to Prince Edward Duke of Kent and Strathearn, a daughter, he has named Victoria.
“The world, Mairi, is in a state of emergence. It will not be an easy transition. There will be many discontent, and through their grievances, they will let their opinions be known. They will influence others with their words and actions, which will then lead to this another age of change. They will form a new world, one we should learn from. Do you, Mairi, think we will, or will Angels once again have to step in? Will we have to ask our Mistdreamers for their assistance because of chaos, or will all the universes be compliant, with the races of each working together with one another?”
The Park Family: Mairi: Retribution Page 7
