Free Silver Silk Ties by Raven McAllan

SILVER
SILK TIES
     
    The House on
Silk Street
, 1
     
    Raven McAllan
     
    Copyright
© 2012
     
     
     
    Chapter One
     
    The man who stood in front of her was an immovable object.
In fact, Ara thought, one could almost say he was the
epitome of the great ape she had seen at Exeter Exchange the week before.
Except, it was possible that was doing any great ape an injustice. The one she
had perused had intelligence and humor in his eyes. This man, she decided, had
neither. He was overlarge in every way possible. Not only was he so tall she had
to crane her neck to look up to him—and she herself was not a short woman—he
had wide shoulders and an impressive girth. All bulk and no
brains. She decided he was not a person to mess with.
    "I have to enter," she said for the third time. It
was obvious he’d heard her. His eyelids had widened at her words, therefore, he
could not be deaf. Would persistence pay off? Her body quivered with worry. She
put her hands into her muff to ensure he did not see the way they trembled.
    "I must speak to Viscount Willingham." Once she
found him, she would shake her brother. Until his teeth
rattled. "I know he is within." She stopped to gather her thoughts.
The ape needed to be made aware of the urgency of her demand. "It is of
paramount importance." How she managed not to stamp her foot, either on or
off his instep, Ara could not be certain. She held onto her temper with the
greatest of difficulty. It had long been one of her personal diktats that more
flies were caught with honey than vinegar, for all that she wished to be
acerbic.
    Damn Willingham, why he had to slope off to his club when so
much was at stake she would never know.
    Actually, I do know. His cock
aches and his balls are blue. This is the only way that he is able to sate
them. If I had those appendages, I fear I would be in the same state. As it is
my mound is damp and my nipples hard as I imagine the delights to be had
inside.
      "Well?" The
ape had cleared his throat.
    "Sorry, marm. This is a private members club." Was
that a glimmer of pity she could see in his dark eyes?   "You are not a member. Members
only. Invited guests, who have been notified to us
well in advance. No deviations from the rules, more than my job's worth.
And I have no knowledge of such a person." Evidently
not.
      Now that I know to be a lie. I have oft followed him when he departs in a certain set of clothes. Those he
wore tonight when he visited me were they. She opened her mouth to protest, just as he
moved to one side. The door opened and a masked and caped gentleman exited the
door and doffed his cap. Ara saw the coin that passed
between them.
    "And tipping the doorman is allowed?" she asked in
a voice deceptive in its mildness. The doorman flushed.
      "It is none of
your business. Now, may I flag a hackney for you? It is getting late."
    She shook her head. Late? To most
members of the ton, they would just be going to bed after an evening of
frivolity. Only she, it seemed, was missing such jollities. "It is a
matter of life and death. I beg you." And how it irks me to beg. " At least pass him a message and I
will wait here until he exits." She opened her reticule for a tablet and
pencil.
    "No, I've told you. I know of no such person. Just
leave now, before either of us is in trouble. This is not for the likes of you."
He glared at her as if he dared her to argue. Predictably, she did.
    "You lie. He is here, and so it seems am I. I will—I must speak to him somehow."
    He took a step towards her and took hold of her arm. Before
he had a chance to do anything else, she jammed him in his ample stomach with
her elbow. Caught unawares, the man bent over with a wheeze as he gasped in
pain. "No need for violence, miss, you can't go in and you can't stop
here. That's final. You'll put the members off coming."
    Ara choked on a splutter. Luckily
the ape didn't see his double entendre.
      "Oh, I think I
can." She looked at the flags below her feet and