Chapter 4: the Mystery Guest(excerpt)

Standing amidst the heavy, double doors, was a petite woman draped in black. At first sight the woman reminded James of a drowned feline. She wore a wet, black frock that stuck to her feminine frame as if it were a second skin. The black cape she wore much like her dress, was splattered with mire, and the veil hanging around her face looked as if it were permanently glued to her cheeks. After a second of delay, the doors swung back and crashed closed behind her. The two men watched as she began her approach, but when she stepped forward, her body was forced backwards. James watched, cringing, as the back of her head smacked into the heavy, oak doors.

Salome's mystery guest, again attempted to move forward, but to no avail, she still couldn't get away. Turning her head and resting her chin on her shoulder, she found the hem of her skirt was caught between the two doors. She pulled and pulled, but the heavy material would not budge. Mr. Lester watched as she twisted and turned and ran in place to get the hem unstuck. "Please Madame, allow me to help you." Hoping to aid, the woman, Mr. Lester hurried through the antechamber. She quickly shoved him away with her arms. "Remove your hands from me! Why should I allow you to help me after you slammed the door in my face?" The petite woman barked. "I do not need your help. I will do it myself!" She refused his assistance and ripped her dress out from between the two doors.

"Forgive me, Madame, but I thought you were a man." Mr. Lester apologized. Fed up with his insensitivity and crudeness, the woman whipped off her cap. "Do I look like a man to you?" She appealed. A humorous situation indeed, James moved across the floor laughing. "Good evening, Lady Chamberlain!" A familiar voice rang through her tender ears, she was just curious enough to turn around. "Who is calling me?" Her violet eyes immediately locked on James. "You!" Iris growled. "Is that any way to receive an old friend?" James coyly smiled. "Then again, there was once a time, when we were a bit more than just casual acquaintances. Isn't that right?" Lady Chamberlain hatefully glared up at him for his crude implications. "What are you doing here? Surely no one would have invited you!" She stomped her foot. James ignored her remarks. "I cannot say I am surprised to see you either, Lady Chamberlain, it seems I cannot take one step forward, without you being only one behind." He smiled.

"Coincidence." She arrogantly turned up her nose.

"Hardly! I believe in coincidences, but this is too convenient, even for you." He laughed. "And let's not forget about the veil! You wear mesh marks well!" James took her hand into his palm and kissed it. Lady Chamberlain was reeling at the sensation she felt, when he pressed his lips softly to her skin. She was left stunned the moment he looked up and into her eyes, she forced herself to look away before she was captured forever by him. "Lady Chamberlain, what's wrong?" The dazed look on her face, had James apologizing. "Have I done something to offend you?" He smiled. He stopped to admire her full black attire. "Oh." He frowned. "My apologies, indeed, I had no idea! Were you with him when he passed?" He whispered. Appalled by his remarks, Iris stepped back and smacked him across his face. "My husband's not dead!" She boldly persisted through gnashed teeth. James rubbed his cheek. "In that case, my sincerest condolences!"

"Mr. Knight, are you quite finished insulting my husband?" Lady Chamberlain shouted. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't slap you right here?"

"No thank you, I'm still stinging from the last." James playfully tweaked her chin. Before their argument could get worse, Mr. Lester found it his duty to interrupt. He pushed himself between the dueling pair.

"Excuse me, Madame, though I hate to interrupt, are you a guest of Miss Apostolos' or are you not?" He asked. "No . . . yes, of course I was . . . I am!" She stammered. "Mr. Lester, is just doing his job, he has to keep the undesirables out somehow!" James smirked at Lady Chamberlain. "I will accept no excuses, Madame, I must see your invitation!" Mr. Lester sternly ordered. "I repeat, are you a guest of Miss Apostolos' or not?" Due to his insistence, Iris searched her shawl for the missing invitation. "How absently minded of me, no pockets," Iris could not help, but giggle at herself. "Just a moment, Mr. Lester, I do think I remember where I placed it." Iris bent at the waist and began to roll up her skirt. From her exposed calf to the soft base of her thigh, James stood back and watched as Iris' skirt slipped further up her leg. She looked up to find his curious hazel eyes skating delightfully up her leg. Offended, Iris turned her back to him. After a moment of pinching and fumbling, Iris finally pulled the gold foil envelope from her garter belt. She turned and extended her hand out to Mr. Lester, and waved it in front of him.

"You said you needed to see my invitation, then why don't you take it from me?"

"Yes, it is Miss Apostolos' invitation, and how you received it, I cannot imagine, but I cannot allow you to be here, My Lady!" He conspired angrily. "Now I must ask you to leave!" James stepped in to correct the situation before turning ugly. "I apologize for the hassle, Mr. Lester, but she is with me," James pulled her by the arm and forced her to stand at his side.

"I am?" She glared up at him. "You are!" James pinched her elbow. "Ow! That hurt! What did you do that for?" Mr. Lester first looked at James and then at Lady Chamberlain. He appeared skeptical and squinted hard at James. "She is my assistant." Iris frowned up at him. "I think not!" She exclaimed. "Do you want to stay or not?" He whispered to her. She quietly nodded. "Then play along won't you?"

"How forgetful of me, Mr. Knight is right, I am his assistant!" Iris feigned a cordial smile.

"Now that this fiasco has been resolved," Mr. Lester turned on his heels. "Please, follow me." Mr. Lester was about to escort James and his guest to the drawing room, when Salome made an unexpected visit to the foyer.

"Mr. Lester, what is all of this commotion I am hearing? There was shouting and screaming?" Salome whined, but immediately stopped, when James, came into view. Fluttering her dark, eyelashes, her hips swaying, her body shaking, Salome seductively glided in James' direction. "My, my, Mr. Knight, it seems I have been proven wrong, you do look just as appetizing in your trousers as you did out of them!" She eyed him from head to toe, just as she did the night they met. James found himself speechless, he didn't need to say much as his naturally olive complexion turned an embarrassed crimson. "I'm sorry, I did not realize I had such an effect on you!" Trapped by her own feminine mystique, Salome extended her hand out to James, the back of her palm was floating towards his lips, but Iris boldly nudged her way between them.

"And who is this waif? Whose funeral are you dressed for, Dear?" Salome openly mocked her full black attire. "Insult me if you must, Miss Apostolos, but I've seen him naked!" Iris proudly stuck out her chin. "How interesting?" She moaned. "Mr. Knight, who is this person?" Salome glared at Iris. "My apologies, Miss Apostolos, I don't believe you have been introduced," Suddenly, James snatched Iris and pulled her closer to him. "Miss Apostolos, this is," Iris broke in before James had a chance to explain. "I am Mr. Knight's assistant!"

"Mr. Knight, when I visited your flat the other night, you said nothing to me about having an assistant," She paused. "However, I do recall you mentioning a Lady Chamberlain," Salome flipped around. "Is that you? To think, I had no idea, you had such a lovely assistant!" Salome droned on. "You're surprised? I didn't even know myself until five minutes ago." He nervously replied.