Noble tried to remember why he was so angry and why he had decided that a policy of indifference seemed like such a good idea, but the sight of her parted lips drove all other thoughts from his mind but the desire to sip her sweet nectar. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her up against his chest as his mouth claimed hers, his tongue dipping in to revel in her taste. He stroked the roof of her mouth and saw stars when she suckled his tongue.

“I shouldn’t be seeing this, no I shouldn’t, so I’ll just look out the window at the passing scenery. Or I would if I could see anything, but since it’s nearly ten o’clock and black as sin out there, I can’t see anything. However, since I’m sure if I were to look back at you, I would see…oh, yes, that’s just what I thought I’d see, and I shouldn’t be seeing that either, so I’ll just keep my eyes looking elsewhere until you’re both finished. I hope you finish soon,” Rosse said wistfully. “It gets a bit tedious staring out into the dark when two people who are close enough to you to touch are engaged in an activity better suited to a private location.”

“Harry.”

“Yes, Noble?”

“Get shankered.”

***

“Crouch?” Several hours later, Gillian peered out from her sitting room and waved the pirate in. “Crouch, where have you been?”

“Sorry, m’lady, the Tremaynes was at it again, and I ’ad to get my wager on Tremayne Three.”

Gillian listened for a moment. No sounds of a battle reached her ears, so the fight must be going on in the servants’ quarters. She knew she should intervene, but she hated to do so. The Tremaynes all pouted so when she insisted they behave. “Three? Is he so much better than his brothers?”

Crouch grinned. “Nay, m’lady, worse, but I likes an understrapper, I do.”

“Well, I am glad you managed to tear yourself away from the excitement, but we have an important task ahead of us, and you know you are vital to my plans. Should you not be leaving to meet Lord Carlisle?”

“Aye, m’lady, I’m just about to do that.” He yawned.

Gillian yawned back at him. “Don’t do that,” she snapped as soon as she could. “We both have work to do. Do you have the laudanum?”

He handed her a small brown bottle. “Ye know ’ow much to use?”

“Yes, just a few drops ought to do it. Do you have the Runners with you? All of them?”

“All five, m’lady. Yer two and ’is lordship’s three, and we’ve all got barkin’ irons with us.”

“Barking…irons?”

“Aye, just as ye ordered.”

Gillian tried to remember if she had asked specifically that the men be equipped with iron dogs that barked. She didn’t think she had.

“Oh, pistols, you mean.”

“Aye.” Crouch nodded, his gold earring swinging. “Snappers, just as ye’ve asked.”

“Snappers, yes, excellent. You have the key to Noble’s house in Kensington?”