it’s the place where the houses of ill repute are clustered together.
“There was a row of female boarding houses. When a prospective customer was shopping for company, it was called ‘going down the line.’” The ones at the end of the street were more opulent and therefore the girls were more expensive. The last house was called the ‘top of the line.’”
“Is that where that expression comes from? No! I say that all the time. It started out as a description for whorehouses?”
“I don’t know whether that’s the actual origin.”
“Here,” I said, going down the alley to the back gate. A small white sign announced ANABELLE’S ANTIQUES .
I tried to open the gate but found it was locked.
“Bryn, could you use a spell to get us inside?”
“Breaking and entering is illegal. I could lose my law license.”
I sighed, knowing perfectly well he wasn’t really worried about his job. He was just against going on this mission.
“We’re not going to break anything. We’re just going to enter. Plus, we’re not fixin’ to get caught, are we?” I leaned against the gate, and a strand of ivy draped down my shoulder like a curl. I caught the edge of Bryn’s waistcoat and tugged him to me. “Sal would probably suggest using feminine wiles to convince you.”
“That would be the first suggestion of hers that appealed to me.” Bryn’s fingers gripped the bars behind me as he leaned close.
“But I wouldn’t feel right doing something of that nature. I do have a point to make, though.”
“You smell like cocoa,” he murmured.
“If Jenna and Lucy were regular size, we could let them go. They could call Boyd from the lobby of the Tremont House and he could come get them.”
Bryn taste-tested my neck. “Cocoa and something else. Don’t tell me. I like to do my own research,” he said, the tip of his tongue touching a spot just south of my earlobe. I shivered. “It could be cinnamon.”
My mouth moved to his ear. “This is shortsighted,” I said, my voice breathy.
“Ginger. You smell like chocolate sprinkled with cinnamon and ginger.”
Even through our clothes, I felt his heat and magic soak my skin.
“We can kiss all night if you want,” I said.
“It was the best of times,” he whispered.
I smiled. “But out here, that’s all we could do.”
“It was the worst of times.”
I laughed softly. “I’m trying to tell you something.”
“You have my undivided attention, sweetheart.” He kissed me, and magic rode his breath as I inhaled.
I sagged against the gate, dizzy from being trussed up and trapped between Bryn and a set of iron bars.
I put a hand against his cravat and pushed him back an inch. His uneven breathing matched my own. “If Jenna and Lucy were full-sized we wouldn’t have to babysit them anymore. And if I know Mercutio, he’ll be out all night, exploring the island. So you and I could have the hotel room to ourselves.”
“Here, sweetheart, stand over here. Let me have a closer look at the gate. I bet it’s unlocked.”
Bryn whispered a spell, and there was a bright spark and a loud pop. “Damn.”
“Problem?”
“Too much enthusiasm,” he said, unhooking the broken lock. “I’ll send the owner money to cover it.”
I held my breath as he opened the gate and we tread softly into the yard toward the sound of gurgling water. Sal had told us to bring a plastic bag that wouldn’t leak. She said we’d know the fish she wanted when we had them. If we succeeded in the mission and proved our magic worthy of her time, she’d share the spell we needed.
My skirt caught on an oleander bush, and I slowed, not wanting to snag my pretty gown. A few steps behind Bryn, I let out a low gasp. There were lots of odds and ends in the yard, but two focal points froze me in my booties. A wooden woman, her form half rotted away, decorated the prow of a ship, which thrust up from the ground. It pointed like a hunting dog at a fountain. The prow had probably been