“Matilda,” Right Ned said. “You do not have to go with him. You do not have to sell yourself to a House. We can find somewhere else to hold out until this blows over.”
“I don’t even know whatthisis,” I said. “The Houses are looking for my father, who is dead. They think my mother told them he’s alive, but she’s dead too.
“And now, somehow, I’m property that’s going to go to the highest bidder? I don’t think so. Let me settle things here, Abraham. Then I’ll travel to the city and meet you there.”
“No. That’s not how it’s going to happen,” he said.
“No? I’m sorry. You might speak for House Gray, but you do not speak for me.”
“I’m not leaving without you.”
He advanced on me.
I advanced right back. “I’m not leavingwithyou.”
He looked like he was going to yell, but clenched his teeth. “Rent me a room.”
“What?”
“I want a room. For two days while you get your affairs in order. How much?”
“I said I’d patch you up, not open a boarding house.”
“How. Much?”
Neds stood just out of the man’s line of vision. Right Ned shook his head while Left Ned drew a finger across his throat in the “kill him” gesture.
“You couldn’t afford it,” I said.
“You don’t know what I’m willing to pay.”
There was a fire in his eyes. Some of it was anger, yes. But there was a glint of something else. Amusement. He was getting a kick out of arguing with me, of trying to make me bend to his authority.
Not going to happen.
If he wanted to pay, he’d have to pay big.
“Are you carrying gold?” I asked sweetly.
He frowned.
“No? Silver? Lead? Copper?” I made big, innocent eyes at him. “A girl out in the brush doesn’t need credit chits, Mr. House Gray. What do you have in your pockets that’s worth my hospitality?”
One of the Neds coughed, and I realized that could have been taken in a very different manner.
Abraham flashed me a wicked smile.
“Don’t flatter yourself,” I said before he opened his mouth, even though a rush of heat stung my cheeks.
He didn’t say anything for a long moment. He didn’t have to. We’d searched his pockets. They were empty. But his eyes still burned with delight. He thought he had something I’d want. Something that would make me let him stay here.
“Information,” he said.
“I don’t need information, Mr. House Gray.”
“Abraham,” he corrected. “Are you sure about that? I have access to more information than you could glean from ten lifetimes out here, Dumpster-diving data off hacked lines.”
“Dumpster-diving?” Left Ned started.
