“I want you happy to accompany me to The Blue Moon Club.”
“I cannot.”
“And why is that?”
“Because I don’t want to.”
He laughed outright, obviously finding this statement hilarious. His laugh was cut short, however, by an abrupt, “Ow,” and a look of some surprise. This look was followed by one of pain, and another, more emphatic, “Ow!”Lord Bruxley looked down at his striped trousers to find a vicious tiger lily worrying at his shin. Even as his startled gaze struggled to make sense of what he saw, another lily launched at his shoe, growling like a wild animal. A third one appeared, this one aimed at his posterior, where it caught hold with shocking ferocity, considering it had no teeth.
Lord Bruxley uttered a wordless cry and, using his walking stick, tried to beat them off. But tiger lilies are tenacious blighters, and these would not relent. They were joined by another, and another, until the gentleman let out a shriek of dismay. He spun in place, whacking right and left with his walking stick, to no avail. At last he turned and fled down the center aisle of the shop, trailing lilies behind him, even as his two lady companions burst into giggles and cheers.
Nigel waited for him at the door. He held it open just long enough for the man to dart into the street, then shut it fast against the lilies, who hit the lower panels with a series ofaggressivethuds,stunning themselves and sinking down to their bulbs, leaves still aflutter with the thrill of the chase.
Nigel looked up. Caught Luna’s gaze from over the counter.
“Mr. Grimm,” she said rather sternly and pointed at the series of clay pots, overturned beneath their table. “Are you responsible for this?”
“What?” Nigel blinked, the picture of offended innocence. He turned his gaze to the pots andtsked,shaking his head. “Blasted lilies, always escaping their pots. Do give me a hand, won’t you, Miss Talbot?”
Luna helped him collect the stunned flowers, then returned to the counter to ring up the two young ladies, who were in no hurry to leave, despite Lord Bruxley’s abrupt departure. One of them even leaned over the counter to say to Luna, “Served him right, whatever you did to him. My cousin truly is anappallingfellow!”
Nigel grinned to himself as he tamped down soil around a lily bulb. But when their customers had left, and they were alone once more, Luna’s sharp voice caught his attention: “Mr. Grimm!”
“Yes?”
“That wasn’t a good idea for you to . . . to set the tiger lilies on Lord Bruxley. We need all the business we can muster, and a man like that is apt to spread nasty rumors.”
Nigel cleared his throat and focused his attention on potting. “You know I haven’t been able to control the lilies, Miss Talbot. I assure you, I’ll give them a stern talking-to.”
“Besides,” Luna continued, folding her arms and refusing to relent, “I can take care of myself. I’vebeentaking care of myself these last two years, and I expect I will continue to do so for years to come. I don’tneedyou butting in.”
Nigel looked up from his pot and met her stern gaze. A rush of feeling flooded through him, strong but conflicted, notsomething he could quite put a name to. “Miss Talbot,” he said earnestly, “while I have no doubt you are more than capable of managing the Lord Bruxleys of the world, that doesn’t mean you shouldhaveto. Not while among friends.”
Her stern expression broke, replaced by something rather more gentle. “Friends?” she echoed softly.
“Yes, well, um . . .” Nigel swallowed and shrugged, pulling at his necktie. “I thought I sensed somefriendlyfeeling between you and the, erm, tiger lilies.”
Luna maintained a level stare for some moments. Then she snorted, a short little sound of mild amusement. “Yes,” she acknowledged, “I suppose I have become rather fond of the fool flowers.” So saying, she left the counter and came to join him at his efforts, placing growling lilies into pots and patting them snuggly in place.
“I do wish you would take care, Miss Talbot,” Nigel said after a few moments of quiet work. “The way rumors are flying, I fear that wardsman will come snooping around again sooner rather than later.”
“You think so?” Luna asked quickly, then flushed and looked away. “No, I’m sure you’re wrong, Mr. Grimm. Officer Ward no doubt hasfarmore important things to occupy his attention!”
Nigel’s stomach turned over in a manner he did not like to acknowledge. It was probably nothing, really. Just that the day was getting late, and he hadn’t eaten in several hours, and Mrs. Goddard would be coming soon with a platter of some mystery stew, and . . . and . . .
And nothing whatsoever to do with that musingly sweet tone of voice Luna had just used when she spoke the nameOfficer Ward.
“Oh no.”
Nigel’s head jerked up, heart leaping. Luna, kneeling on the floor across from him, counted the remaining pots and lilies. Her eyes flashed to meet his. “We’re missing one!” she gasped.
“What?” Nigel was on his feet in a second. Dodging around tables and displays, he raced across the shop, following the trail of dirt which led to the door where Lord Bruxley had made his escape. To a peal of brass bells, Nigel yanked the door open and sprang out onto the sidewalk. Sure enough, the dirt trail led away from the shop and up the sidewalk, before vanishing abruptly a good ten paces from the door.
Nigel’s blood ran cold. What was he to do? A wild tiger lily on the loose was thelastthing he needed! Such an obviously magical thing would surely lead to questions from the wardsman, and while he might be able to argue the legality of Green Magic, what if he couldn’t prevent an official inspection?
What if . . . what ifOfficer Wardreturned to conduct that inspection?
Luna appeared at his elbow, a little breathless and windswept. She stared at the evidence on the sidewalk before them. “It escaped, didn’t it?”
