“Now send him a kiss goodbye,” Lady Charlotte instructed. Obviously enjoying her little performance, Banshee complied with dramatic relish. Lord Hayfield tipped his cocked hat to both monkey and woman. “Banshee. Milady.”
His friends followed suit, and soon the group of young toffs were continuing their way up the street. The rest of the crowd dispersed, leaving only Matthew and Lady Charlotte with Banshee wrapped around her like an oversized furry necklace. Matthew’s heart clattered against his chest… and not because he’d nearly been forced into a duel.
His pulse was thundering for Lady Charlotte.
It was always for Charlotte.
A wildness erupted inside Matthew, and he yearned to push back Charlotte’s veil and press his lips against hers in a fierce kiss.
Of course, he’d never even attempt it.
For one, Banshee was a better chaperone than any dragon of a matron. If he tried to dislodge the capuchin now, she’d spit, scratch,or most likely do both. Nor would he risk revealing Lady Charlotte and ruining her reputation.
But even if there had been no Banshee and no onlookers, Matthew still would not have taken such liberties. It wasn’t his place. She was the sister of his best friend. Lady Charlotte, if she regarded him at all, saw him at best as an acquaintance. Nothing more.
“We best hurry inside before Banshee causes another scene.”
Lady Charlotte nodded. While she opened the door, Matthew retrieved her basket and the racoon’s cage from the ground. The regulars looked up at their entrance but then immediately went back to talking. They’d become accustomed to seeing “widows” slip through the front room, and all sorts of creatures visited the Black Sheep at one point or another.
Banshee began to chatter, but Lady Charlotte spoke softly. Immediately, the little monkey rested its white fluffy cheek against Lady Charlotte’s shoulder. An absurd jealousy toward the creature slipped through Matthew, and he ruefully shook his head at his own folly.
As soon as Lady Charlotte reached the inner sanctuary, she attempted to remove her veil. Banshee, however, would not budge. Matthew didn’t blame her. He wouldn’t have wanted to stop embracing Lady Charlotte either.
“Come here, Banshee,” Matthew cajoled, extending his arms. Banshee emitted an emphatic screech and clung tighter.
“Go back to Dr. Talbot, sweetheart.” Lady Charlotte managed to disengage one furry arm from around her neck, but as soon as she started to pry away the second, Banshee relatched the first.
“That’s an interesting necklace you’ve got there, Lottie!” Alexander called from across the room. Before either Matthew or Lady Charlotte could respond, a seemingly disembodied gravelly voice shouted.
“Hollaaaa.”
A sharp whistle followed the greeting. At the sound, Banshee pointed her chin toward the ceiling, and Matthew followed the monkey’s gaze.
Pan stared down at them from his favorite beam. As soon as the parrot noticed that he’d attracted the monkey’s attention, he stopped moving and puffed out his lime-green chest feathers. He trained his one amber eye on Banshee, and Matthew swore the old bird actually winked.
Banshee immediately released Lady Charlotte and leapt to a shelf on the wall. A few of the new male and female patrons gasped at the sight of a monkey in their midst. This time, Banshee ignored her audience. With single-minded intent, Banshee climbed to a joist close to Pan.
The two creatures froze, staring at each other intently. Pan’s pupil began to dilate and then rapidly shrink as his tail feathers fanned out. Banshee smiled, baring her front teeth and emitting a whine. Fascinated, Matthew debated about pulling out a notebook to record the behaviors.
“My goodness, I don’t know if I should be insulted or relieved that I was replaced so easily in Banshee’s affections,” Lady Charlotte said, drawing Matthew’s attention away from the bizarre overhead courtship.
“I fear she can be quite fickle,” Matthew said. “You should not feel the least bit offended.”
Lady Charlotte laughed merrily, and Matthew’s heart trilled like a songbird in spring. She finally removed her veil, revealing her rose-tinted cheeks and parted pink lips.
Aye, Lady Charlotte was a shining beauty, inside and out.
“How ever did you acquire Banshee?” she asked.
“From a sailor during my last travels. He’d purchased her as a baby from a port in the New World. He couldn’t recall the exact one,” Matthew explained.
“I am surprised he was willing to part with a pet as sweet as Banshee.”
Matthew barked out a huff of laughter as he glanced at the capuchin who was making funny faces at Pan. “She flung her dung in her owner’s face, and the old salt was about to toss her overboard. I intervened and purchased the little minx for two shillings. From what I’ve learned about capuchins, they are too freewill to live contentedly as a mere companion to a human being.”
Lady Charlotte’s expressive green eyes darkened, reminding him of the deep jungles from which Banshee had likely been stolen as a babe. “What are your plans for Banshee then? If she was not happy on a ship, surely she will not enjoy living in London?”
“She will be able to live in relative peace on my estate on the outskirts of the city.” Tavish’s deep brogue broke into the conversation.
