Chapter 1
The first rule of seduction is simple: always leave them wanting more. And right now, Lord Hamish of Greyhaven looked like a starving man staring at the last piece of cake.
I stretched languidly, letting the silk sheets slip dangerously low on my chest, just enough to make his gaze linger. His face flushed a satisfying shade of crimson, and I smiled--innocent, teasing, like I hadn't just wrapped him around my finger and plucked what I needed from him.
"Well, Hamish, darling," I purred, twirling a lock of hair around my finger, "I'd love to stay longer, but you know how these things go. A girl has places to be, hearts to break, gold to collect."
He blinked at me, dazed, still half-sprawled on the enormous feather-stuffed bed, his belly showing from where his nightshirt had ridden up during our little, "negotiations." Not the most impressive figure, but he had money and, more importantly, that damned ring I was after.
"K-Katie, you can't leave so soon," he stammered, propping himself up on his elbows with all the grace of a drunken mule. "You were just remarkable. We could have breakfast, maybe? Spend a little more time together,"
Breakfast. Gods. Men are so predictable after a tumble. I let out a soft, musical laugh, getting up slowly--giving him a little show as I sashayed around the room in search of my boots. I could feel his eyes drinking in every movement.
"Oh, sweetie, we already had all the fun I needed," I teased, bending over just a little too far to pull on my boot. "Besides, you've got work to do, don't you? Some boring council meeting or other noble nonsense."
He didn't respond--too busy staring--but that was fine by me. Let him be a little dazed and confused. It made slipping out much easier. And I had what I came for, anyway.
The wedding ring--ornate and heavy with a decorative engraving all around--was safely tucked into my bodice, snug against my chest. Poor fool hadn't even noticed when I plucked it from his bedside table, not with all the other distractions I'd given him.
It was supposed to be some heirloom, too. Family treasure, lost in a game of cards when Lord Hamish's dice had been working well for him. A local merchant had hired me to get it back--something about saving his marriage. I hadn't asked for the details; the fee had been more than enough to cover my curiosity.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay?" he asked again, hopeful and pathetic all at once. "I could, well, I could make it worth your while."
I slid the second boot on, then turned, planting one hand on my hip and giving him a little smile, just enough to keep him yearning. He thought he could buy more of my time with coin? Cute.
"Sweetheart," I said, crossing the room and leaning in close, my lips almost brushing his ear, "even you couldn't afford me."
Before he could respond, I gave him a playful pat on the cheek and slipped out of his bedchamber, leaving him a flushed, stuttering mess. The man would be daydreaming about me for weeks. Perfect.
The corridors of his estate were quiet as I made my way out, slipping past dozing guards and servants too deep in their cups to notice me. It wasn't my first time sneaking out of a noble's bed, and it certainly wouldn't be the last. People like Lord Hamish never looked too closely at women like me. They didn't realize until it was too late that they'd been robbed.
By the time I reached the street, the sun was just beginning to rise, casting a soft golden light over the city of Greyhaven. I pulled my cloak tighter around my shoulders and set off toward the merchant district, where my client waited. With the ring back in his pudgy hands, he'd probably sing my praises for a week, maybe even send a few of his friends my way.
Easy money, I thought with a grin.
The streets were already waking up, merchants setting up their stalls, craftsmen hammering away at their anvils, and nobles sleepily returning from their revels of last night. Greyhaven was a melting pot of races and trades, and I fit right in with the hustle and bustle--though few people had my unique skill set.
As I rounded the corner to my destination, a voice called out from behind me, sharp and familiar.
"Katie, you slippery fox!"
I turned to see Lenn, my client, huffing and puffing as he jogged toward me. A plump man with a head full of thinning hair and a face that always seemed on the verge of panic, Lenn looked even more frantic than usual. He practically skidded to a stop in front of me, hands wringing.
"You've got it?" he asked breathlessly, his eyes darting around as though Hamish himself might leap from the shadows and strike him down.
I let out a sigh, producing the ring from my bodice and holding it up for him to see. "Lenn, darling, I'm hurt. Do you really think I'd let you down?"
His eyes lit up like a child at Winterfest, and he reached for it, but I held it just out of reach. "First things first," I said, wagging the ring between my fingers. "Payment."
Lenn blinked, then fumbled at his belt, producing a small purse and shoving it into my hands. I opened it, glanced inside, and gave a satisfied nod. The weight felt right. More than right, actually.
"Pleasure doing business with you," I said, finally passing the ring to him. "Try to keep a closer eye on it this time, yeah?"
Lenn muttered his thanks and scurried off like a rat with a stolen wheel of cheese. I watched him go, feeling the weight of the coins in my hand. Easy job, good money, no broken hearts. Well, except maybe for poor Lord Hamish, but he'd get over it.
With a spring in my step, I turned and melted back into the busy streets of Greyhaven. Another day, another job, and I was just getting started.
Chapter 2
A good breakfast paid for by some of the gold from the purse should've been the end to my morning, but trouble has a way of finding me. And this time, it came in the form of a finely folded note, slipped to me by a rather anxious-looking young man just as I was finishing off my morning tea.
The note itself was simple. A time. A place. And the unmistakable scent of wealth on the parchment.
I have a proposition for you. Meet me at The Silver Hart. Private room at the back.
No name, of course. That would've been too easy. But I figured Lenn had mentioned me to one of his well-to-do friends. Maybe he was trying to drum up more business for me--or perhaps he'd let slip about my talents in other areas. The more I thought about it, the more intrigued I became. A tavern like The Silver Hart? This wasn't the sort of place a merchant like Lenn frequented. No, this smelled of someone higher up the food chain. Nobility.
I didn't think twice about heading there, though. If nothing else, it was bound to be entertaining.
The tavern, The Silver Hart, was far fancier than the ones I typically found myself in. This place wasn't the sort of establishment where thieves and rogues gathered; it was the kind of place where nobles conducted discreet business over overpriced wine and where rumors moved faster than the city's fastest messengers. The kind of place where, if you weren't careful, you could find yourself tangled in the webs of the rich and powerful. Exactly the sort of place I loved to avoid--unless, of course, someone was willing to pay me handsomely for it.
By the time I arrived, the tavern was alive with the clinking of fine silverware and the low murmur of conversations. The clientele, draped in silks and jewels, paid little attention to a woman like me as I strode in, my cloak pulled close to hide the less-than-fine clothes beneath. The letter had told me to head to a private room, so I wasted no time.
When I opened the door to the private chamber, however, I froze for a heartbeat.
Sitting elegantly by the window, bathed in the soft morning light, was Lady Elira Hamish--the wife of Lord Hamish. I'd seen her once, from afar at some noble gathering, but this close, she was even more striking. Younger than her husband by at least two decades, with sleek auburn hair, sharp green eyes, and a figure that would make any nobleman forget his vows in a heartbeat.
I quickly snapped the door shut behind me and pasted on a smile, though my mind was racing. This wasn't the kind of meeting I'd been expecting, and I certainly hadn't planned on sitting across from the woman whose husband I'd very recently duped and bedded.
"Lady Hamish," I greeted her, bowing my head slightly, keeping my tone respectful, but light. "This is a surprise."
Her eyes gleamed with amusement, and her lips curled into a knowing smile. "Please, sit." Her voice was soft, but carried the kind of confidence that came from knowing she was the one in control. "And do call me Elira. We can dispense with the formalities, Katie."
So, she knew my name. I wasn't entirely surprised. Women like Elira always knew more than they let on, especially when it came to their husbands' dalliances. But it put me on guard all the same.
I slid into the seat across from her, leaning back, crossing my legs in a casual, easy manner that belied my growing curiosity. "I have to admit, I wasn't expecting you."
Her smile widened, and I could see the spark of something mischievous in her eyes. "Oh, I imagine you weren't. You thought this would be some other nobleman or perhaps another merchant, like Lenn?"
I blinked. "So, did Lenn recommend me?"
"Not directly," she replied, waving her hand dismissively. "But word of your talents travels fast. Especially after you left my dear husband quite disoriented."
I bit my lip to hide the grin threatening to spread across my face. "Disoriented? Is that what he told you?"
Elira chuckled, a low, throaty sound. "Oh no, he told me nothing, the staff on the other hand..."
