“Didn’t I tell you I wasn’t like most women?” Poppy lifted a brow flirtatiously.
“You didn’t have to tell me for me to know that,” Richard said. “Not many women have studied the Founder the way you have. Oh, they all attend the monthly services, but your comprehension of his texts is far more advanced. Tell me, Miss Sutherland, what is it about the Founder’s texts that fascinates you?”
Fascinationwas an apt descriptor for Poppy’s feelings about the texts, though likely not for the reason Richard thought. Her dilemma was this: If they were a guide to replicating the Welkish utopia in Welkland’s colonies, why was Viryana suffering? If every man had an equal right to a role in society, why had her people been forgotten in the slums?—or, worse, the morgues? Where was their place? Where were their rights?
But she couldn’t criticize her father or his ancestors on the first date, so instead, she chose a half truth: “I find myself drawn to the Founder’s conviction that all other nations of men can become equal to Welkland,” she hedged. “I am, of course, an example of this. But so many of my brethren resist the teachings of the Founder. I took it upon myself to learn his works better so that I could enlighten other Virians, just as the Founder commanded.”
“A noble cause,” Richard said, “especially given the example you’ll set once you’re wife to the viceroy. Do you see yourself ruling by the side of your husband, then?”
It didn’t escape Poppy that this was the second time he’d asked how she intended to work with her husband. Hopefully, he was envisioning himself in the role.
She tilted her chin down, glancing up at Richard demurely. “Well, it would depend on whether he wanted me there. But I wish to be more involved than previous wives.”
Richard winked. “I don’t think there’s any man on the island who wouldn’t want you beside him, Miss Sutherland.”
Though Poppy assured him she was full, Richard insisted on ordering a three-tier stand of pastries. They couldn’t bring themselves to finish even two tiers and had to send the rest back to the kitchen. Richard handed the waiter a wad of bills without counting them and rose to his feet.
As promised, he returned Poppy to the Sutherland estate by sunset. As he helped her out of the car, she gazed up at him through her lashes. “I had a lovely time, Captain Montrose.”
He flashed her a charming grin. “It was my pleasure, truly.” He offered her his arm, and she threaded her own through his, resting her hand against his bicep. Interlocked, they made their way up the staircase. Just as Poppy was about to knock, Richard laid his hand over the knocker, stopping her.
His blue eyes met hers. “Forgive me if my directness offends you, but would you be agreeable to meeting again, sometime soon? Perhaps in two days, for luncheon?”
Poppy had to bite the insides of her cheeks to keep the satisfied smirk from blooming across her face. “The idea would bemostwelcome. I look forward to it.”
Chapter Seven
Unbalanced
Hasan summoned his crew leaders back to the shipping office to compile their notes so far. He’d been in touch with Samina and Vinay as they’d conducted their stakeout of the police precinct, and what they had reported back had been less than promising. A week ago, he would have secretly hoped that Zeyar’s plan had crumbled as well, just so he wouldn’t have to hear his brother gloat until the end of time. But now, two weeks into Paranjay’s arrest, he would have gladly traded a lifetime ofI told you so’s from Zeyar to have his brother back.
Once the eight had convened, Hasan tilted his head to Samina and Vinay. “You two go first,” he said. “Get the rest of the room up to speed.”
Vinay cut to the chase. “Attacking the police precinct is not a viable option.”
Hasan snuck a glance at Zeyar, expecting to see a smug grin. But Zeyar’s mouth was pressed into a flat line, which could only mean one thing: He didn’t have good news, either.
“Long story short,” Vinay continued, “Paranjay and his men are not being kept in the standard cells. They’re being held below ground, in isolation cells reserved usually for the most violent of criminals. At least one of Montrose’s men is scheduled on every shift.”
“Poppy Sutherland’s return has complicated things immensely, as well.” Samina’s lips puckered slightly, as though she’d bitten something sour. “The security measures have tightened, and there are more police per shift than usual.”
“Thank you,” Hasan said, permitting them to sit with a nod. “Jayendhra, Kaushal, Zeyar?—any luck on your front?”
“None,” Kaushal said, confirming Hasan’s earlier intuition. His heart sank.
Jayendhra lay out tables of calculations. “We were able to collect on the debts owed from two men, and two more indicated they could repay us this week. Even so, if we set the cost at a hundred thousand crowns per prisoner, we could only realistically afford to spring five.”
“This, of course, doesn’t factor in what you learned, which is that Montrose has handpicked a guard on every shift,” Kaushal added. “With that in mind, our odds go from low to nonexistent.”
“So we’re back to square one,” Harithi said. “I told you from the start?—we need to think out of the box on this one.”
Hasan had run out of patience. Nothing was going right. Despite his prayers and hard work, their position hadn’t changed in the last fourteen days. The gods mocked Hasan?—he didn’t need Harithi to deride him too. “Do you have any suggestions?” he snapped at her. “No? Didn’t think so.”
Harithi pursed her lips. “I understand you’re frustrated, but that doesn’t mean you can lash out at the rest of us.”
“Frustrated?” He barked out a humorless laugh, crossing arms over his chest. “Harithi, my brother has been in the clutches of the police for fourteen days, and we still don’t have a plan to rescue him.Frustrateddoesn’t cover it. What if it were one of your brothers arrested? Would you like it if all I had to bring to the table wasI told you so?”
Harithi bared her teeth at him. “My brothers will never be part of this world. You leave them out of this.”
