“It was my pleasure.”
Do not associate Glory Cavendish with pleasure. Do. Not.
“Was it?”
The note of knowing humor in Hadleigh’s tone made Wei wary.
“From what I hear, there was rather a lot of mayhem, which is to be expected where the Angels are concerned,” the duke went on. “But you apparently took everything in stride. Lady Glory was singing your praises to Livy this morning.”
Wei ignored the kick of warmth in his chest. “I was glad to lend a hand.”
“According to Lady Glory, you rose to the occasion.”
Bloody hell, she didn’t notice my arousal, did she?
Wei’s heart thumped. “Pardon?”
“The way the chit told it, you had wings on your feet. She claims that after the two of you were discovered, you engineered an ingenious escape that involved evading an army of guards and scaling a towering gate.”
The speed and agility of Wei’s lightness kung fu had proved useful as he’d navigated Lady Glory to safety. Yet she had also played her part. He had never met a female with her energy and stamina. Moreover, she was fearless…
Dangerously so.
“I take it Lady Glory mentioned our discovery of the Fancy’s involvement,” he said grimly.
“She did, yes.”
Hadleigh’s reply was somber. He had participated in Wei’s neighborhood watch and witnessed firsthand what happened to those who stood up to the Fancy. When Mr. Calder, a grocer who owned a shop close to the clinic, had refused to pay protection money, the gang had set fire to his property. Wei and his team had arrived in time to put out the flames, but Mr. Calder had suffered burns that required treatment to this day.
The idea of Lady Glory attracting the Fancy’s notice chilled Wei.
“You know, as I do, that the Fancy is not to be trifled with,” he said. “This case is not suitable for your duchess and her friends.”
“Be that as it may, the Angels tend to decide for themselves what is suitable.” Hadleigh took a drink of tea, replacing the cup in its saucer. “In this instance, they remain committed to helping their client recover her pet.”
“It is far too dangerous. Surely you can dissuade your wife—”
“You have met my Livy?” Hadleigh quirked a brow.
Wei clenched his jaw. “Don’t you English have a saying about a man being the master of his own house?”
“I am undoubtedly Livy’s lord and master. When it suits us both.”
Seeing the male gleam in the duke’s eyes, Wei felt the bite of frustration. While Hadleigh deserved the hard-won happiness he’d found in his marriage, there were more pressing concerns to contend with, Lady Glory’s welfare being at the top of the list.
“Perhaps if we inform Lady Fayne of the dangers associated with the Fancy, she will listen to reason,” Wei said tightly. “When does she return?”
Hadleigh tilted his head. “Why do you care?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“About the Angels.”
As a shifu, Wei was used to providing advice and guidance to others. Now he found himself in the unaccustomed, and not entirely comfortable, position of explaining himself.
“As a gentleman, I extend my assistance to those who require it,” he said stiffly.
“The Angels are hardly damsels in distress. You’ve seen them in action.”
