Page 35 of The Forsaken

“What you were up to,” she said.

“Your moans and eager mouth told a different tale.”

That shut her up.

Kerr fished out his pocket watch and popped the gold piece open. “Yes, why hurry? It is not as though I have anything better to do?” he muttered. “Is he going to gather his footwear?”

Another servant brandished a pair of Crockett and Jones half-boots.

Kerr tucked the gift Culross gave him when he’d signed on to partner with him back into his pocket.

“Edgar?”

“What?” Now.

“Comptez-vous me mettre à genoux, à présent?” Do you intend to turn me over your knee now? “Je ne suis pas sûr que Culross approuve.” I cannot say Culross will approve.

A hot flush rushed up his neck.

Logic whispered it was his own damn fault for assuming she hadn’t mastered French. Pride and power didn’t care about his miscalculation; they only tasted the razor-edge of her mockery, didn’t give two shites for anything other.

With her impudent, impeccably delivered French, she smiled at the Earl of Culross’s approach.

Naturally, the imp waited until Kerr’s damned captain arrived to say; “Devons-nous le lui demander, Lord Kerr?” Shall we ask him?

Culross frowned. “Ask me what?”

“So bloody good of you to join us,” Kerr said. “We were debating whether Miss Smith requires a bodyguard assigned her at all times.”

Andromena gasped. “We were most certainly n—”

He bullied his voice over hers. “I’m of the firm belief she should. The lady is obviously of the contrary. What say you, Culross?”

“I’m not certain—”

“Your wife, my sister, will approve, August? Having the pleasure of knowing her my entire life and most of hers, I can confirm she will not.”

“Would she rather her witless sister get herself killed in the Rookeries?” Kerr asked out of genuine curiosity.

“The Rookeries!”

Culross finally made an appearance in the quarrel. About bloody time.

“Andromena, what is this?”

The young lady ignored her brother-in-law’s question outright. “With all your grand self-praise, Lord Kerr, you failed to mention you’re a busybody.’”

Culross looked back and forth from his sister-in-law and quartermaster with all the confusion in the world.

“It is late. Why don’t I escort you inside, Andromena.”

“My sister—”

“Is sleeping, and unaware you are here, but the longer I’m away the more questions she’ll have.”

The captain knew precisely what to say to get the impudent chit moving.

Culross personally delivered the McQuoid chit inside and returned, with the same questions Kerr had upon finding the lady scurrying about St. Giles.