In the Shadow of Secrets | Sebastian Sallow

Prologue

WARNING: Alcohol abuse, prostitution, references to death, references to sex

14 July 1893

Sebastian opened his eyes, squinting against the bright light filtering through the dusty window. He wasn't entirely sure where he was, but it smelled of strong perfume and incense. Breathing deeply, he turned his head toward the sleeping form of his companion. Her back was to him as she slept, long brown hair spread across the pillow. The sunlight kissed her smooth skin with a vivid glow. It hurt his eyes.

Blinking a few times, he sat up. His head was pounding, and he already felt he needed a drink to dull the ache there.

A sigh drew his attention, and he looked back toward the woman who stirred beside him. The soft curve of her breast rose and fell gently in sleep. She was beautiful, he supposed. Part of him wished it mattered.

The first time it had happened, he'd been so drunk he couldn't remember what had happened the next morning, when his bed companion had gently reminded him of the Galleons he owed her for an entire night. He'd been flustered and embarrassed, but nearly a month later, he'd grown used to it. What the alcohol couldn't erase, the girls distracted him from, at least for a few hours.

Though it wasn't always her, he preferred Josephine. Sometimes, in the dark of night, he could look past her dark hair and pretend to see a hint of turquoise in her blue eyes. She smelled of lavender, and sometimes he could convince himself there was a hint of citrus beneath it, too. Sometimes, he was too intoxicated to care and that made it easier to pretend the moans and whimpers and even screams were those of someone else entirely no matter who lay beneath him.

Standing with a wince, he found his trousers and pulled them on. Josephine stirred again, this time waking and rolling to face him, her sapphire eyes looking up and down his form as he dressed. He couldn't help how her movements drew his gaze to her breasts before trailing down her belly to where the sheet barely obscured the triangle of curls between her legs.

He swallowed.

Josephine smirked, voice saccharine, "You're welcome to stay, if you like."

"Not today." Sebastian turned, using the mirror to fasten his tie. They always said it, of course, and he was fully aware it would mean more money for their time. He could appreciate the concept of good business, at least.

"Perhaps one day you'll take me up on the offer." He heard the bed protest as she slid off of it, appearing behind him in the mirror a few moments later with his waistcoat, seemingly uncaring of her nakedness.

"Someone might think you're becoming attached, Josie," he teased softly, unable to stop his eyes from roving over her curves. He had little desire to bed her with such an awful headache, but he could still appreciate the view.

She smirked as he turned to face her, nearly ready to go. "What can I say? You've won me over with your charm...and that talented tongue of yours."

Their eyes met. He felt his face warm at her implication. Books only got one so far, and he'd been eager to learn the practicalities of every aspect of the bedchamber. Josephine and the other girls had been more than happy to teach him.

She laughed, pushing his arm gently before padding over to her vanity to pull on a dressing gown. As he watched the roundness of her arse retreating, he wondered how he might feel about her if... He pushed the thought away.

"How's your...sister, yes?" she asked as she tied the garment, depriving him of her raw femininity.

He smiled softly at her effort to make small talk. He knew it wasn't really one of her talents. "A bit ill, of late, but she insists she's getting better."