She shook her head. ‘No.’ She put the basket on her coffee table and pulled off the card that was tied to the handle. There was only one word scrawled on it:Alex XXX
Boris reached inside. ‘Crusty sourdough bread. Salted butter. Apples. Grapes. Cured meats. Coffee. Chocolate.’ He pulled out a box and frowned. ‘These appear to be home-made pancakes.’
Mallory felt a burst of warmth and ran her fingertip across the three kisses on the card.
‘That’s weird,’ Boris said.
‘What?’
‘There are four different types of honey.’ He pointed to the small glass jars. ‘Runny honey, lavender honey, set honey and honeycomb.’ He picked up the jar of lavender honey. ‘This one has been laced with magicked tribulus. You know that’s an aphrodisiac?’
Alexander’s voice echoed in Mallory’s head.Sweet, golden honey drizzled from edge to edge, seeping into buttery crevicesso that sweetness coats your lips with every bite and lingers, like an intimate sensual kiss.Her mouth dried.
‘He keeps complaining that I don’t eat properly,’ she said. ‘That’s all this is.’
‘Sure.’
‘My job is to help him find a mate, Boris.’
‘Yep.’
‘He doesn’t want me.’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘He’s only being kind.’
‘Absolutely.’
She gave him a long look. ‘If Alexander MacTire had any romantic designs on me, he would state them directly. He’s not someone who plays games, he’s very direct and truthful. If he felt anything for me, he’d tell me.’
As soon as she spoke, Mallory knew the words were true; just because she’d developed a painful crush on Alexander didn’t mean that he felt the same way. Far from it. He was her client: this wasbusinessand she couldn’t allow her feelings to get in the way. ‘He sees me as a valued employee. Nothing more. Nothing less.’
Boris grinned. ‘If you say so. You’re better at understanding people than I am. Can we have some pancakes and honey now?’
It took longerthan Mallory would have liked to arrange access to the exclusive Belladonna Hotel, although the distraction was helpful; it was good to focus on something other than the deepening ache in her heart.
While Boris researched Richard Stone-arm, she was forced to fill her hours with investigating various promising womenwho would be at the Wolf Ball. She made copious notes, checked backgrounds and even, on occasion, followed some of the more likely candidates for Alexander’s hand as they went about their daily business. None of it was enjoyable and she was relieved when her contact at the Belladonna finally said that the arrangements were in place.
She was struggling to find a woman who seemed good enough for Alexander MacTire; he deserved someone truly amazing and so far Mallory hadn’t found her. She needed to get a move on because time was running out; by the time she set off for the Belladonna Hotel on the last day of the Association of Ogres’ AGM, the ball was only two days away. It felt less like the countdown to a posh party and more like a ticking time bomb.
The hotel’s concierge, a whip-smart basilisk whose massive girth and height were matched only by his willingness to help, met her a few streets away from the rear entrance in a deserted alleyway that they both knew well.
‘I’m sorry it took so long to sort this out,’ he said. ‘It was a lot harder than eavesdropping on a few secrets – I needed time to arrange the work shifts. Some of the other hotel staff won’t pay you any attention because their heads are in the clouds or they simply don’t care, but there are a few jobsworths that I needed to get out of the way.’
Mallory beamed at him. ‘George, there’s no reason for you to apologise. You’ve come through for me on this.’ She pulled a sealed glass bottle out of her bag. ‘Here, as payment. It’s fresh.’
‘Druid saliva?’ George asked hopefully.
She shook her head. ‘I’ve gone one better. This is vampire drool.’ Despite his disgust at her request, Chester Longchamps had managed to produce a half-pint of the stuff when she’d told him it would help her find a bellarmine jug. He hadn’t asked for details; it was probably better that he didn’t know.
‘Mallory Nash, you are amazing,’ George breathed. He secreted the bottle in the folds of his overcoat then passed her a bag.
Mallory peered inside at the neatly folded uniform. ‘Housekeeping?’ she asked.
He nodded. ‘That gives you access to all areas.’
Mallory pushed herself on tiptoe and planted a kiss on his cheek. He blushed. ‘Any new guests or surprising secrets I should hear about?’ she asked while he turned his back as she hastily pulled on the uniform.
