“Did he force you into accepting the invitation?” she asked suspiciously.
“Why would he have to do that?” Cull gave her a quizzical look. “I want to go and meet your kin. Unless…” He drew his brows together. “Would you rather I not go?”
“Of course I want you there. But only if youwantto be there.”
His shoulders relaxed. “Then it’s settled. I’m going.”
“My family can be a handful,” she warned.
He raised his brows. “More of a handful than mine?”
He had a point.
“Papa has never approved of any of my suitors,” she said, bemused. “But he seems to actually like you.”
“What’s not to like?”
When she rolled her eyes, Cull grinned and curled a finger beneath her chin. “Your father isn’t hard to win over, sunshine. He just wants the best for you.”
“And I suppose you’re the best?”
“Have you had better?”
Blushing at his wicked, knowing smile, she asked, “What did Papa say to you on the way out?”
“It was nothing.”
She angled her head. “He saidsomething.”
“It was just man-to-man talk. Your father wanted to make sure I understand the situation.” Cull’s smile was bland. “And I do.”
“What did he say?” she repeated.
“I don’t recall the exact words. But it was something to the effect of, ‘Hurt my daughter and even your larks won’t find the pieces of you in the Thames.’”
32
To Pippa’s surprise and delight, Cull offered to accompany her to talk to the actresses.
“Don’t you have business to attend to?” she asked.
They’d decided to eat breakfast in the kitchen. Even though the bacon and eggs had gone cold, Cull wolfed down the meal as if it was the best he’d had.
“As a matter of fact, I do.” His eyes gleamed. “Very important business.”
She squealed when he hauled her into his arms and carried her back to her bedchamber for a quick but lusty romp, during which she moaned her satisfaction into a pillow…twice. Heavens, the man was passionate in the morning. Afterward, they dressed and started working their way through the list of addresses Marg had sent.
Progress was slow. By midday, Pippa and Cull had interrupted the sleep of several grumpy ladies and narrowly dodged the contents of a chamber pot thrown their way. Now they were at the eastern end of the Strand, knocking on the door of a shabby flat.
“Let’s hope we have better luck with this one,” Cull muttered.
The bloodshot eye that blinked at them from the door’s peephole did not bode well.
“Who’re you and what do you want?” The female voice had an impatient growl.
Pippa kept her tone pleasant. “Good afternoon. We’re here to speak with Miss, ahem, Penny Cunnyngham.”
“You’re speakin’ to ’er. State your business.”
