“You presume to know my mind, Chief Constable Kendrick.”She snorted with a hint of annoyance.Just enough to show that he’d yet to earn her respect.“I hope you don’t make the same mistake when interviewing suspects.”
“I—”
“What I was about to say before you interrupted me was that I might find a different perspective.Pick up on something you missed.”She crossed her arms.“Fresh eyes on a subject can often prove useful.Though I really must insist you don’t smoke while I’m in here.The air is awful.”
Peter stared at the horrid woman.She might be attractive to look at, but when she opened that critical mouth of hers and spoke… Lord help him, he was tempted to shove her out the door and tell her good riddance.
However, in light of her position and his, he managed a grimace instead.“As much as I’d like to accommodate you, I fear I cannot.This is my office.A space in which my rules apply.If I wish to smoke in here, I’ll do so.To my heart’s content.”
And just to prove that he meant it, he snatched his silver cheroot case from off the top of his desk and flipped the lid.She glared at him in return.Hell, he could practically hear her teeth gnashing as he selected a perfectly rolled length of tobacco and lit it.He took a deep breath, paused to savor the flavor, then expelled the smoke.Directly toward her.
A gasp of seeming outrage was her first response, after which she waved one hand as though that might clear the air and proceeded to cough.Peter merely smirked.“Thank you for the offer, but given our incompatibility, I don’t believe this will work.”
She muttered a curse the likes of which he’d never believed would spill from any woman’s lips and strode for the door.It slammed shut behind her with jarring force.
Peter blinked.He could not recall the last time he’d engaged in a row with someone.Even with Sir Nigel, Mr.Hastings’s predecessor, to whom he’d voiced his displeasure over various proceedings, he’d remained somewhat cordial.But with Miss Gabriella Hastings?In the space of five minutes that opinionated woman had managed to rile him to the point where he’d finally lost his head.
Devil take it, he’d tormented her.On.Purpose.
Dropping his gaze he considered the cheroot he still held between his fingers.This kind of behavior was not to be borne.He was better than this.But the notion of working with her?Would any man have the patience to do so?
Whatever the cost, he had to get out of this horrible situation.
Intent on doing so right away, he snuffed out his cheroot and went to find his superior.One knock was all it took for him to be admitted to Mr.Hastings’s office.He entered and was promptly met by the very woman he wished to avoid.Of course she’d be here.He wasn’t sure why he’d expected her not to run straight to her father and complain about Peter Kendrick, the rudest man she’d ever encountered.
“Kendrick,” Mr.Hastings said, an unexpected smile on his face as he waved Peter closer.“I believe you’ve met my daughter?”
“Indeed.”Peter cleared his throat.“It’s been a…pleasure.”
Miss Hastings produced an incredulous chuckle, so low Peter doubted her father heard.Peter kept his gaze firmly on him, refusing to offer her any hint of attention.The last thing he wanted was for her to believe she’d gotten under his skin.
“Glad to hear it,” Mr.Hastings said.“Gabriella has echoed the sentiment.In fact, she was just informing me that she’s very excited to help you figure out how that woman you’re looking into wound up in the Thames.”
Peter’s head whipped to the left where Miss Hastings stood, a sweet smile curving her lips.The very image of agreeability.
He narrowed his gaze upon her as if to say, “I know what you’re really like,” before turning to face her father once more.“Yes, we discussed it.However, I’m not sure this case is suitable for her.”
“Oh?”Mr.Hastings raised both eyebrows.
“Studying corpses in order to discern the cause of death is no easy thing.”Peter wasn’t sure why he had to explain this.“It demands a strong constitution.”
“I haven’t been sick since I was a child,” Miss Hastings said.
“It also,” Peter said, sending her a disgruntled look, “requires the ability to remain emotionally detached.I know Runners who have been traumatized by some of the things they’ve witnessed.”
“A valid point I have considered, which is why Gabriella will not be dealing with anything other than hard facts.As long as she merely reviews the information you gather and doesn’t go near the morgue, I believe she ought to be fine.”When Peter opened his mouth to argue, Mr.Hastings added, “She’s strong, Mr.Kendrick.More importantly, she’s clever.I suggest you cease worrying and use that to your advantage.”
It was clear to Peter that he would get no further with this matter.The best he could do was make sure Miss Hastings was kept so busy she’d stay out of his way.
“I’ll see to it that a desk is made available to you in the front office,” he told her once they’d left her father’s office.
She kept a clipped pace beside him.“I realize the situation is not to your liking, but I do wish you’d give me a chance to prove my worth.”
Her comment – the implication that he was the one being difficult when she had begun their acquaintance with criticism – infuriated him to no end.Doing his best to keep a level tone, he told her, “Of course I’ll give you the chance to do so.After all, it’s not as though I have a choice in the matter.Is it?”
For the first time, she failed to provide a retort.When he glanced at her, he saw that her brow was creased, her chin slightly dipped as she kept walking.Somehow, her unwillingness to defend the accusation increased his respect for her a little bit more.
“I’m sorry,” she said once they’d reached the front office where most of the Runners worked.
