“State your business.” A lone guard with short cropped hair and a ferocious scowl narrowed his eyes at Oss.
Before Oss could lose his temper, Thorne leaned past him. “We’ve come to see my brother.”
The guard snapped to attention. “Of course, Master Smith.”
The gates were quickly opened, and the carriage ushered through. I had to wonder if we would’ve made it to the front door without Thorne.
“I knew you would come in handy,” Oss praised.
“Happy to oblige.” Thorne’s mouth twisted into an odd smile, but his eyes held a fond light.
When we stopped at the top of the drive, a servant rushed to the carriage door and opened it for us. He was a tiny scrap of a boy with light brown hair and eyes. The spring in his step told me he had yet to experience the harsh whip of a hard life across his back. Lucky sod.
“Where is my brother?” Thorne asked.
“He’s in his office, sir.” The little thing bowed, a wobbly action of uncoordinated limbs and little grace.
Adorable.
“Thank you, John.” He tipped the boy a silver coin and moved on.
I snickered at John’s wide-eyed stare of hero worship and Oss’s proprietary glare. They were both amusing in their own way.
We were stopped almost as soon as our feet met the marbled floor.
“Hawthorne, how nice to see you on this fine afternoon.” A light female voice greeted us.
I clenched my jaw with such force I’m surprised my teeth didn’t crack.
“Greetings, Miss Grace. We’ve come to see my brother. Have you met my partner Octavius Stalk?”
I hid my smile at his formality. He really must not like her.
“No, I haven’t. A pleasure.” She hid her flash of dislike so fast I doubted Thorne spotted her expression.
Oss saw all. He reached back and pulled me forward. “And we’ve brought our friend Marbrey Small. I believe you’ve met the duke’s lover before.”
Her societal smile vanished, and her eyes grew flinty. “Yes, we’ve met before.”
I glanced at her protruding stomach. “He does get around, doesn’t he?” I didn’t get the chance to say anything more as Thorne made a quick excuse and rushed us past.
Oss waited until we were out of sight before letting out a loud laugh. “That was priceless.”
I sighed. “I probably shouldn’t antagonize her.”
“Probably not,” Thorne agreed. “She has the ear of a lot of your customer base.”
I swallowed the sudden lump in my throat. No doubt that bit of vindictive pleasure would bite me in the ass later. “Such is my luck.”
Thorne stopped before a door that appeared the same as all the other doors we’d passed. He knocked on its surface with a confidence I didn’t feel.
“Enter.”
I squared my shoulders, ready to beard the lion in his den. We entered. First Thorne, followed by Oss, then myself. He looked the same. Perfectly pressed and every hair in place.
Bastard.
His gaze locked with mine and neither of us looked away. “Marbrey.” His voice, barely above a whisper, seeped into my heart and twisted.
