All amusement fled Glory as she realized that her own position was in jeopardy.
“What is there to consider, Papa?” she said swiftly. “You know the incidence of crime has soared. As a young woman, I need to have the skills to protect myself—”
“As your papa, it is my privilege to safeguard you and your reputation,” Papa countered. “You are a well-bred young lady. No offense to Chen, but his student population consists mainly of opium users. He is hardly the best choice of teacher for you, poppet.”
She flushed at his endearment, which made her sound all of eight years old.
“I am not a little girl.” She angled her chin up. “I can make my own decisions.”
“Be that as it may, you are my daughter and will do as I say.” Papa stirred his tea with undue care. “Until further notice, your lessons will be put on hold.”
“That is dashed unfair!” Glory turned pleading eyes to her mother. “Do something, Mama. Please.”
“Rhys, darling, why don’t we discuss this in private after lunch?” Mama said pleasantly. “Cook has prepared a soufflé for dessert, and we should enjoy it at its prime.”
With a sigh, Papa relented. “As you wish, Maggie mine.”
“I cannot believe my papa,” Glory fumed as she accompanied Wei to the antechamber. “He has no right to stop my lessons.”
“Actually, His Grace has every right,” Wei said somberly. “He is your father, after all.”
She cast a quick glance around. They only had a few moments of privacy before Greaves returned with Wei’s outerwear.
“Well, he is not going to stop me from seeing you,” she said fiercely.
Wei’s frown sent a sudden chill through her.
“Unless…unless you don’t want to see me?” she asked.
“I do want to see you, little tigress.”
The firmness of his reply and the endearment eased her fear.
“There are things we need to discuss,” he said quietly, “but I do not wish to create problems with your father—”
“We’ll talk when I come to the clinic tonight,” she whispered.
“What? No.” He lowered his brows. “I forbid it. It is not safe—”
The crisp resonance of leather soles against marble made them both spring back.
“Your hat and coat, sir,” Greaves said.
As Wei donned the items, he leveled a stern look at Glory.
“As I was saying, my lady,” he said. “I advise patience when practicing your lessons. No hasty moves.”
“Of course, Shifu.” Glory’s reply was airy. “I would not dream of doing anything rash.”
Twenty-Two
“Maybe this was a teensy bit rash,” Glory said breathlessly.
Winding himself tightly around her neck, FF II hissed his agreement into her ear.
At present, she was clinging to a drainpipe, hovering some thirty feet off the ground. Her plan had seemed simple: exit her bedchamber via the rear balcony, climb down the metal pipe, and hail a hackney to Wei’s clinic. Afterward, she would return the way she left, with no one the wiser.
Unfortunately, the pipe chose not to cooperate.
