Even shaded by the brim of her cap, the girl’s amber eyes glowed with hostility. And it wasn’t the first time; Molly had been less than friendly during Pippa’s visits to the Nest. Pippa had chalked it up to the girl’s concern over Ollie…but perhaps that vein of dislike ran deeper.
“We mudlarks don’t need outsiders butting in.” Fair Molly’s chin jutted out. “We ’andle our own business and don’t need nobody’s ’elp finding Ollie’s attacker.”
“Ollie wasn’t the only one attacked.”
“And since nobody’s paying us to stick our nose in that lady’s business, we ain’t got no cause to do so,” the girl shot back. “Ollie wouldn’t ’ave been ’urt in the first place if ’e ’adn’t been sent on that fool’s errand.”
“That is between you and Cull, is it not?” Pippa said evenly.
Molly’s cheeks flushed, and Pippa could see the girl struggle between her loyalty to her leader and her desire to give Pippa a piece of her mind.
“’E ain’t thinking straight,” Molly muttered. “Not since you came into the picture. You’re a distraction ’e can’t afford.”
There it was: the crux of the animosity. Pippa wondered if Molly might have a bit of a tendre for her fearless leader. Or if it was the strong-as-blood bonds between the mudlarks that made Molly so protective.
Pippa pondered her options. On the one hand, what went on between her and Cull was a private matter. On the other…she liked Fair Molly. She suspected that beneath the adolescent’s prickly attitude lay a fiercely devoted nature. Although Pippa didn’t take Molly’s attacks personally, she wanted to nip them in the bud.
“Cull made the decision to work with my society, and it was a wise choice,” she said mildly. “Combining our resources will help us achieve our common goal. As for the personal connection between Cull and me, I will say this once: he and I have an understanding that is no one’s affair but our own. Out of respect for your position in the mudlark family, Molly, I will tell you that I have no intention of being a distraction or hurting him.”
Molly’s gaze widened, her throat bobbing above her collar. She looked surprised as if she hadn’t expected her concerns to be addressed directly. Then she squared her thin shoulders.
“Your sort can’t ’elp it,” she said with disdain.
Pippa was grateful for the patience honed by years of working at the academy. “Can’t help what, exactly?”
“Being a ’oneypot.” The girl sneered. “With your fancy dresses and come-’ither ways.”
The unfair statement edged Pippa’s temper toward a simmer. “I think you have me mistaken for someone else.”
“Oh, I ain’t mistaken. You and ’er…you could be twins.” Molly’s hands fisted in her lap, emotion seething in her voice. “And when ’e was at ’is lowest, she abandoned ’im. Kicked ’im when ’e was down with ’er fine ’eeled shoe and left ’im bleeding like some mongrel at the side o’ the road. The rotted bitch.”
It took Pippa a few moments to piece together what the adolescent was saying.
“Are you referring to a previous lover of Cull’s?” she asked with a frown.
Molly’s look was gloating. “Didn’t think you were ’is first, did you?”
Although Cull had obviously had lovers before, the truth was Pippa hadn’t thought beyond the present. Or at least, not beyond the twisted thorns of her own past. She’d been so caught up in her own pain that she hadn’t considered Cull’s romantic history. He’d told her that he had only the moment to offer her and hadn’t changed those terms, even after revealing his scars. She’d assumed it was because of his commitment to the mudlarks or his lack of interest in a permanent relationship.
He’d always been so accommodating, so focused on her needs, her pleasure that…
You didn’t think to ask. About him. His past.
Heat scalded Pippa’s cheeks. As tempted as she was to ask about Cull’s mysterious ex-lover, she didn’t. Because she shouldn’t be hearing about this from Molly. If Pippa had learned anything, it was that she wanted honesty and openness in her relationship…which meant this discussion should be happening with Cull.
“As I’ve said, what goes on between Cull and me is private. However, you may rest assured that I hold him in high esteem and would never betray him. You have my word.”
Was it her imagination, or did respect flicker in Molly’s gaze?
“Now, we are not here to discuss your leader behind his back.” Pippa made her tone crisp and professional. “Tell me what you and your team know about the target.”
“Tom Watkins, age forty-three, valet to Sir Forsythe-Legg for the last two years,” Molly said grudgingly. “Got a bone to pick wif ’is employer and apparently starts talking everyone’s ear off ’bout the ‘cheeseparing slavedriver’ once he downs an ale or two. Since ’e was on ’is third pint last I checked, you shouldn’t ’ave any problem getting ’im to sing. But if ’e needs encouragement, coin should do the trick.”
“Thank you.” Pippa reached for the door handle. “I’ll be out shortly.”
“You’d better,” Molly said under her breath. “Or Cull will ’ave my ’ead.”
Leaning against a wall in the great hall, Cull watched from a distance as Pippa read Ollie a story. She had changed out of her disguise and looked a treat in her pale purple frock trimmed with bows, her shiny ringlets glinting in the firelight. The colorful voices she gave to the characters in the book coaxed a giggle from Ollie and the other larks who’d gathered around to listen. Seeing their rapt expressions, Cull felt a pang in his chest.
