“You won’t die if you get help now,” Cull said.
The man’s eyes widened. Then he surged to his feet, groaning as he stumbled away.
Cull heard a click and spun around. Squibb had a flintlock aimed straight at him. An instant later, a shot exploded, and Squibb screamed as the bullet hit his hand, sending his weapon skittering across the dirt.
Cull spared a quick glance at the Nest, where Molly gave him a jaunty salute from a window.
Then Cull advanced toward Squibb, who backed away, clutching his shattered hand.
“I d-don’t want no trouble,” the sweep stammered.
“I told you that you would get what you deserve,” Cull said softly. “Yet you stayed.”
Squibb stumbled backward. “I-I’ll leave now. I swear, I won’t bother you again.”
“Will you send cutthroats to murder me?” Cull held up his bloodied knife, seeing it gleam in Squibb’s terrified eyes. “Try to take overmygang?”
“Never again, I swear it. I-I’m sorry.” The coward fell on his knees, blubbering. “’Ave mercy, Prince. I’m begging you.”
When Cull raised the knife, Squibb whimpered, the stink of his piss filling the air. Cull brought the blade down…into the sweep’s tall hat. Squibb’s gaze rolled upward, and he gave a moan, crumpling onto the ground.
The lily-livered bastard had fainted, although Cull hadn’t even nicked him.
Shaking his head, Cull retrieved his blade, unskewered Squibb’s hat, and tossed it aside. He assessed Squibb’s remaining men, who were wounded but alive. They were looking at their leader, swooned in his own urine, their faces reflecting the disgust that Cull felt. He knew that gossip was spreading like wildfire behind the shuttered windows and closed doors.
By morning, everyone would know of Squibb’s spinelessness and defeat. The sweep was done in the underworld. Cull had achieved his goal, and he’d done it with minimal casualties.
“Mudlarks never forget a wrong.” He let his voice carry through the streets. “Next time, we’ll show no mercy.”
Cheers and whoops erupted from the Nest, the doors opening for their prince’s return.
30
As Pippa ushered Cull into her cottage, he halted abruptly.
Grabbing his chest in an exaggerated manner, he declared, “God’s teeth, woman. Your beauty could stop a man’s heart.”
Cull’s playful appreciation set off happy ripples in Pippa. She had hoped that he would like her new dress. She hadn’t worn anything this beautiful in a long time and had fretted that the golden gown might be a bit much for an intimate night at home. Yet tonight felt like an occasion: the celebration of a new chapter in her relationship with Cull.
Perhaps Cull shared that sentiment, for he’d taken obvious pains with his appearance as well. He removed his stylish new hat, revealing that his chestnut-brown hair had been trimmed and combed into gleaming waves. He wore a Prussian blue frock coat and mustard-yellow brocade waistcoat expertly tailored to his strapping form. A matching stripe of yellow ran down the sides of his dark trousers, which skimmed his muscular legs. Even his cravat was perfection, tied in an elegantDe Joinville.
Best of all, he hadn’t bothered with his mask.
“Thank you, sir.” Smiling, she curtsied. “You look exceedingly handsome yourself.”
Color rose on Cull’s broad cheekbones, deepening the chocolate brown of his eyes. He rubbed the back of his neck, muttering, “Fanny has been nagging me to visit her husband’s tailor. I obliged her.”
“I shall have to thank Mrs. Grier when I see her next.”
Cull looked around the small antechamber. “Where are the servants?”
“I dismissed them for the eve. I thought privacy would be nice—”
Her words faded into a gasp as Cull pulled her into his arms and kissed her senseless.
“Now that is a proper hello,” she said breathlessly when they parted.
“Been thinking about kissing you for days.” He brushed his knuckles along her jaw before taking her hand. “Now show me your home, sunshine.”
