Rules of Passion by Sara Bennett - Greentree Sisters 02 - Rules of Passion Page A

sitting room the fire was crackling in the fireplace and the lamps were lit, and the occupants were awaiting their visitor.
    “It is such a long journey, and she did not arrive until very late last night,” Lady Greentree said calmly, making another stitch in her embroidery. “I know you haven’t seen her for fourteen years, my dear. Since you and your sisters were taken from her by the baby farmer Mrs. Slater. You may find it a little strange at first, but believe me when I tell you your mother is very eager to reestablish her relationship with you, as far as that will be possible…”
    “Oh, but where is she!” cried Marietta, jumping to her feet and all but dancing in her impatience. “I cannot bear to wait another moment!”
    Francesca rolled her eyes, but Marietta wasn’t deceived—her younger sister was rigid with nerves.
    Just then the door opened and the woman they had all been anxiously awaiting entered the room.
    Aphrodite stood for a heartbeat. Perhaps it was a habit learned in her younger days, when being noticed was so essential to making her living, or perhaps she was just overwhelmed by the moment. In her black silks and diamonds she was magnificent, a creature from a dark fairytale, and Marietta longed to be just like her.
    “Marietta, Francesca, come and meet your mother,” Lady Greentree sounded as tranquil as usual, but even she had an edge of strain to her smile. Lady Greentree had been their “mother” since Marietta was two years old, and now she must give way to another. But it was accepted by all, including Aphrodite, that nothing in their lives would change—all the courtesan was asking for was to be acknowledged by her daughters.
    Suddenly shy now, Marietta moved toward Aphrodite. “Ma’am,” she said, and curtseyed.
    Aphrodite held out her hands, and took those of Marietta warmly in her own. “Marietta, you are grown so beautiful! But then you were always a pretty child.”
    “Ma’am.” Francesca stood well back, not as inclined as Marietta to welcome her mother.
    “Francesca, my baby. It has been so long…”
    But Francesca did not come forward, glancing sideways to the door and clearly wishing herself elsewhere. Marietta felt no such trepidation. As she looked into the face of the famous courtesan she saw that there were tears in her eyes. Tears, because she had found her daughters again! As much as she loved Lady Greentree, this woman was her mother, and suddenly Marietta knew she wanted to be just like her.
     
    In her sleep Marietta smiled. Had she really been so young? The image of herself then seemed as far removed from her present self as the moon. Gradually her memories gave way to dreams. She was floating high above London. Only this time she didn’t have a gas balloon to support her. She was riding in a carriage pulled by four horses, and the horses had wings. This was unlikely enough, but even more bizarre was the fact that she was seated beside Max, Lord Roseby, and he was sucking on her fingers. “We’re going to Mount Venus,” he said, “you’ll like it there.”
    Marietta was enjoying this unusual but rather nicefantasy, when a sound catapulted her back to her chair in the parlor. There were voices in the vestibule, and they were getting louder. And then a shout, and footsteps, running. Startled, Marietta sat up, quickly returning to full wakefulness. She left her comfortable chair and hurried towards the door.
    Dobson had told her not to leave the room, but Marietta didn’t think his instructions would apply in the case of an emergency. And, she thought, as she opened the door and her eyes widened at the sight that confronted her, an emergency was just what was happening.
    Dobson was kneeling on the marble floor, supporting a man’s upper torso against his red-coated chest with one arm, while he pressed a large cloth to the wound on the man’s head with the other. There was blood, lots of blood. A servant was standing, her face very white, holding