Chain of Lust (Spirit World 2)

Terry lounged on a chair lazily with a pipe in her mouth. The smell of burnt tobacco and expensive perfume assaulted Maddie’s nostrils as she poured Terry the tea. She didn’t know why Genevieve allowed her clients to smoke in the shop. The smell could ruin the merchandise.

“Here you go.”

“Thank you, darling.” Terry put her pipe in an ashtray and took a sip of the tea. She clicked her tongue. “Hmm. Excellent tea.”

“Genevieve made it just the way you like it.”

“Bless her heart. She’s the best tea-maker I’ve known.”

Terry sipped it some more, then abandoned the tea for her pipe. Big plumes of smoke drifted to the ceiling. The acrid smell made Maddie’s eyes water.

“How can I help you?” Maddie asked. “Do you have anything specific in mind?”

“I did, but then I didn’t. I am clueless, you have to forgive me. Mayor Sclize’s charity event is next month and I don’t know what I’m going to wear. Countess Morriad will attend the gala. Lady Constantine and Dowager Lysse will too. Naturally, I want to look my best.”

“Of course. So we would be looking for a full-length gown?”

“What do you think, dear?”

“It’s a gala, isn’t it? A girl needs a pretty dress.”

Terry’s laughter filled the room. She batted her heavily mascaraed lashes. “You’re right. A girl does need a pretty dress. Oh, it’s been forever since I felt like a little girl.”

Maddie grinned. Terry looked fiftyish, in human years. She couldn’t really guess. Nor could she guess what type of Unseen she really was. Her boss, Genevieve, was a fae. Maddie saw her transparent wings sparkling each time Genevieve walked under a bright light.

“What’s your favourite colour?” Maddie asked Terry.

“Can you not tell? It’s blue.”

Why of course. Maddie nodded. “Give me a few minutes. Genevieve just received some beautiful new gowns yesterday. I think you’ll love them.”

“Marvellous. Just marvellous.”

Maddie went to the storage room and consulted with Genevieve about Terry’s size. She picked up several gowns from the racks and returned to the fitting room. Her client’s eyes lit up like she was a kid in a candy store.

“How delightful. The colours! Look at those lush fabrics.”

“I know. They’re gorgeous, aren’t they?” Maddie hung the gowns in the rack. She picked a princess cut taffeta gown layered with sheer chiffon. “Don’t you think it’s beautiful? Deep sapphire is perfect for evening wear.”

Terry clapped her hands happily. “Can we try it?”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Maddie was sure that on Earth, a personal shopper didn’t assist their clients in undressing. It was different in the First Realm. It seemed people here weren’t self-conscious about the shape of their bodies. Maddie put the gown back on the rack and helped Terry out of her clothes.

Underneath her eyesore of a suit, Terry wore a boned corset. She looked as if she was ready to burst from the seams. Maddie wondered how Terry could even breathe, being compressed with wickedly tight lacings like that.

Terry donned the gown and examined her reflection in the standing mirror like a school girl trying on her prom dress. The gown needed a few adjustments here and there, but Terry looked pleased about it. It was too flashy for Maddie’s taste, especially for a woman of Terry’s age. But she guessed Terry only liked glamorous, bordering on ridiculous, stuff. If she offered more classy styles, her client probably wouldn’t like it. Maddie threw a few compliments and made them sound sincere. Terry ate them up.

“What do you think?” Maddie asked.

“I love it.” Terry took a swirl. “My husband will love it too.”

“I bet he will. But it won’t be fair if you don’t try the others.” Maddie walked to the rack. “How about this navy one? If you don’t like it, I’ll let you have the one you’re wearing right now.”

Terry giggled girlishly. It sounded pretty weird for a middle-aged woman to do that. She turned to Maddie curiously. “You know, I just had a wonderful idea. You have to attend this gala. I happen to know someone, to get you an invitation. You have to meet my friends. They will adore you.”

Going to a charity gala? With her as the only human in the party? Maddie frowned. Didn’t seem like a very good idea. Besides, Jean-Luc had told her to keep a low profile until he sorted out the person behind the Jerry’s World incident. He didn’t discuss it much when they were together, but judging from the way he acted, it seemed it bugged the hell out of him.