Page 38 of The Mating Fire
“May I serve your meal?” the woman asked in perfect English.
No trace of an accent, but for a slight lilt.
“I thought I was dining with Jared,” Harper told her.
“He’s indisposed this evening. He asked for me to help him.”
Oh, help him how? Annoyed, she gestured to the table by the French doors.I was wrong about Jared. He’s a player. That woman is not a maid. Probably his mistress.
Gliding over to the table where she and Jared had shared breakfast, the maid set the silver platter upon the surface. She fussed over the teapot and fiddled with a fine bone china cup.
“I daresay tea would be soothing with your meal. The castle gets so drafty,” the maid said.
Looking at the woman’s short skirt, Harper sniffed. “Depends upon what you’re wearing.”
She went to the table, glancing at the maid, her jealousy rising. “I didn’t know Jared kept a staff.’
“He doesn’t, but for me.” The woman pulled a seat out for Harper. “I made a Latin fusion dish, withropa viega, which is a Cuban dish of shredded beef. I also made yucca with a touch of cinnamon, black beans and rice and mixed vegetables. Jared said you’re a recovering vegetarian who needs protein, so the rice and beans and vegetable mix has plenty of that if you desire to skip the meat.”
Don’t be a bonehead. The woman is nice. “That was thoughtful of you. Thanks.”
She placed the white linen napkin from the tray onto her lap. Harper picked up a fork and speared a little of the shredded beef and tasted it. The tomato sauce, onions, cumin, peppers and spices flavoring the meat made her realize what she’d missed bypassing meat.
Harper ate more. “Have you worked for him a long time?”
“I was once one of Jared’s… conquests.” The woman shrugged. “A failed one that went wrong. Now I help him out when he requires a servant. Though I do so under disguise, and he fails to recognize me.”
The woman leaned close and gave a conspiratorial wink. “Men can be clueless, you know? Even a 234-year-old incubus demon.”
Harper’s jaw dropped. “He’s… you know what he is?”
“Of course I know. I wouldn’t have let him seduce me otherwise. I am a powerful witch.”
As if to demonstrate, the woman flicked a hand at the logs on the fireplace. They ignited, casting a warm glow on the stone hearth.
“It is cold outside, and I thought you could use the fire.”
Stunned, she stared at the woman, wondering how many more Others she’d encounter. “Who are you?”
“I’m Serena. But don’t tell Jared my real identity.” She pressed a finger to her lips.
Harper traced the edge of the fine bone china teacup. “Seems unlikely you’d be able to fool that one.”
“Seems unlikely for several things with Jared, but he does have his vulnerabilities.”
A pretty flowered pot, steam wafting from the spout, lifted into the air and hot tea poured into Harper’s cup. “I thought some chai tea would help you relax.”
“Thoughtful of you.” Harper watched the teapot return to the silver trap, though Serena didn’t touch it.
The woman’s powers were amazing.
You have untested powers of your own, Jared had said.
“I also brought your cell phone. Jared had it downstairs. I do think he meant to return it to you eventually.”
“Cell phones probably don’t work here, with these walls.”
“Oh, the internet works, despite the stonework. Jared installed satellite internet. “
