Inamorata

Chapter Fourteen - On What Wings?

Chapter 14. Author's note - New chapter, sorry for the wait! Comments and votes are always lovely!

"What?" hissed Nightingale. "What do you mean?"

"I mean what I said," said David with an air of explaining something rather simple to someone unintelligent. "There's an anti-bordello movement, Nightingale. Quite a big one. Rather like the abolition movements a few hundred years ago. Many people are against the bordellos and Robin is one of the most outspoken of them. Not to mention that he, rich as he is, can afford to give speeches and do other things most real people don't have time or money for."

"Do you mean-" she whispered.

"That's Robin's rich enough to do what he wants and piss away his cash on anything. He runs this store for his own interest, just like he reaps no rewards from his political work," said David. And even in David's cold, reserved voice, Nightingale could discern a grave respect for Robin. "He's coming with us because it's his money that finances our investigation, that is helping you."

Nightingale's eyes swam with tears as she looked back at the lanky man. Shuffling around his desk, tossing things into drawers, she suddenly had a new respect for him. So when he joined them, she thanked him in the only way she knew how.

The moment he was close enough to her, she sank her fingers into his hair and drew his face to her. Thereupon she gave him the most passionate, prolonged kiss she'd ever given anyone. When she drew back, she found Robin looking surprised by smiling in his way, with one side of his mouth pulling up higher than the other.

"It's a good book, but that was far more than I expected, Miss Larkin," he said teasingly. With a little shake of his head, he continued to grin.

Meanwhile, Nightingale was aware of David. The moment she drew back, she saw his fists clench, his jaw tighten, and his eyes flash. He looked utterly furious.

"Perhaps there's something I should tell you about Ava," he muttered through clenched teeth.

Robin's eyes widened. "Oh, dear God, what? Is she your wife or something? Ava?"

"It's not for public ears. When we're in the hovercraft, I'll let you know. Come on, Ava," said David. With one hand, he dragged her by the elbow from the shop, through the building. All the way to the hovercraft, Robin bounded beside them, grinning slyly at Nightingale.

When David saw his expression, he rolled his eyes.

"Just get in the damn hovercraft and stop looking so smug," he snapped.

Robin obeyed. Nightingale could not help but admire the fluidity of his gait - more like an Inamorata's than a man's - as he sprang elegantly in and seated himself behind David and Nightingale.

David waited until they were in the air, until he said to Robin, who'd been waiting eagerly.

"No, we're not married. Her name's not even Ava Larkin."

Robin's eyebrow arched. "Interesting," he said. "That makes how much you like her even more fascinating."

Nightingale laughed with Robin at David's stormy expression. However, she did observe that, in storminess, the attractiveness of his features was accentuated until he was quite possibly the handsomest man she'd yet seen.

"Don't tease me, Robin," he growled.

"Of course not. And if her name's not Ava, then what is? And who is she? You would never conceal the identity of your assistant, so she must be ever so much more important," observed Robin.

"Tell him," said David to Nightingale.

She felt her stomach twist into a knot. "Me?" she whispered.