Daphne recognized it as a deft change of subject.
“Oh, indeed. And I’ve joined Hardy and Bolt in their Triton Group endeavor, as well.”
“Have you, indeed,” Lorcan mused, sounding somewhat amused, somewhat ironic.
“I’m given to understand you’ve been a privateer, Mr. St. Leger. You must be very well traveled,” Mrs. Pariseau remarked.
“Oh, I’m certain Mr. St. Leger has been to a lot of England’s more intriguing points of interest. Coves at midnight. Secret tunnels. Sea caves. Abandoned cart tracks. Dark alleys.”
Thusly Captain Hardy announced his entrance, followed by Lord Bolt.
Hardy strode casually over to where their little group stood, while Bolt strode over to Mr. McDonald, as Angelique had asked him earlier to make a bit of an effort to get the dour Scot to play chess.
Daphne noted that Delilah was staring a caution at her husband.
Captain Hardy didn’t seem to notice.
Once again he and Lorcan were fixedly regarding each other.
Lorcan was smiling in what appeared to be genuine, if unsettling, amusement.
“I expect you greatly regret we never encountered one another in any of those places,” Lorcan said. “In another coincidence, Captain Hardy and I knew each other as boys in St. Giles,” Lorcan informed the group.
Mr. Delacorte’s expression went at once mistily contented. One of his favorite things in the worldwas to be in a room where everyone knew and liked each other.
“Oh! I’m certain the two of you were ador... adorable... together...” Mrs. Pariseau faltered as she realized that no one really said “adorable” with reference to St. Giles. And that the men in question had probably been dangerous looking even as babies.
That, and Captain Hardy’s lips had all but vanished in a grim line.
Daphne’s stomach clenched again. She almost preferred they would get it over with and fight with swords instead of innuendo.
“We were, indeed,” Lorcan continued. “Hardy disappeared one day when I was about nine years old, and the next time I saw him was decades later, in a pub in Cornwall. Bought him a round, in fact. He was a blockade commander and a hero. I was right proud to know him.”
Daphne studied his face for evidence of irony, and saw none.
“And what wereyouby then, Mr. St. Leger?” Mrs. Pariseau asked with genuine interest.
He paused. “Mainly I was clever,” Lorcan said, with a remote little smile.
“And lucky,” Hardy added.
“Aye, surely you’re correct,” Lorcan said humbly. “I imagine a boy rescued from St. Giles at the age of ten to spend a lifetime within the cozy structure of the navy would know a thing or two about luck.”
“I suppose a boy who never left St. Giles wouldlearn a lot about getting away with things,” Captain Hardy mused.
“I imagine so.” Lorcan was amused, but not in a heartwarming way.
“Funny, but everyone seemed to know St. Leger when I met him,” Captain Hardy said lightly. “Everyone. But no one would say why.”
“EvenIknow St. Leger,” Delacorte contributed. “Have we got a story for you, Hardy.”
“Save it for the smoking room, Mr. Delacorte,” Lorcan said hurriedly.
“The Triton Group’s ship has been delayed nigh on a fortnight,” Delilah shared with Lorcan. “The Zephyr. We’re all a bit concerned, as you can imagine.”
It sounded a bit like an explanation. Perhaps even an apology for her husband’s terseness.
There ensued a little pause.
