“I shall not tell you. You would run right back to my brother with the information. Or worse, he would extract it from you in some unsavory way.”
“I don’t ken that Kendall stoops tae torture.”
“Of course not. Torture would sully his kid-leather gloves. He is much too Machiavellian for such bourgeois behavior. He would merely threaten to see your elderly Aunt Sara evicted from her cottage. Or ensure that your publisher drops your works.” The lock clicked. “Ah-hah!”
Lady Allegra began tucking her tools back into the pouch with startling alacrity.
“Meeting you like this has been lovely, Mr. Penn-Leith,” she said, “but here we must part ways.”
She held out her hand for the candle. Ethan lifted it higher and stepped between her and the door. “Ye cannot mean to rush out into London in that absurdly expensive dress, hail a hansom cab, and dash off tae heaven knows where. Ye will be robbed and assaulted faster than it took ye tae pick this lock.”
Crossing her arms, Lady Allegra scowled at him. “Really, Mr. Penn-Leith. Our time together has always been delightful. Do not taint our memories with hysteria. You know perfectly well I am more than capable of taking care of myself.”
Och,she would drive him mad. “Have ye spent any time in London, my lady? Do ye know the city at all? At least, permit me tae escort ye tae wherever ye have arranged lodging for the evening. If something were tae happen to your bonnie self, I cannot think—”
“I am hardly your concern, Mr. Penn-Leith,” she snapped. “Please return my candle and remove yourself from the doorway!”
“Lady Allegra, the gentleman in me simply cannot—”
“Well, this is quite the scene.” The aristocratic tones of the Duke of Kendall resonated down the dim hall.
Ethan peered over Lady Allegra’s head to see her brother emerging from the dark passage, gray head gleaming in the candlelight.
Both Kendall and Lady Allegra looked about two seconds away from skewering Ethan.
Truly, the resemblance between the siblings was remarkable.
“Your Grace.” Ethan inclined his head. “Pleasure tae see ye again, as usual.” His breeding was too reflexive to do anything but greet a duke with formal politeness. Besides, if Ethan made an enemy of Kendall, his uncle would disinherit him.
“Penn-Leith.” Kendall looked at Ethan, dark eyes blazing. “How odd to find you here.”
“Simply trying tae help,” Ethan replied, faintly. He was surely seconds away from receiving a blistering set-down.
However, Kendall’s attention moved to his sister, dismissing Ethan entirely.
Lady Allegra morphed before Ethan’s eyes—gaze hardening, chin lifting, shoulders tensing.
Here was a woman prepared to battle.
“How charming,” she hissed at her brother. “My prison warden has arrived.”
Ethan’s eyes widened at her tone.
Kendall, however, did not so much as flinch.
“Lady Allegra.” He nodded. “I do believe the coachman is awaiting our departure.”
“Eager to return me to my cage, are you, Duke? Maybe include some shackles this time?”
Ethan barely stifled a gasp.
Lady Allegra was high-spirited and forthright, but baiting Kendall so vociferously could only harm herself.
The duke visibly stiffened.
“As always, your comfort is my only goal, my lady,” Kendall replied, the urbane smoothness of his voice belying the anger crackling in his gaze.
“Of course, it is.” Lady Allegra’s words dripped acid.
