Page 16 of The Trick of It

“A priory,” she said, and then she watched him smile too. “Lewes Priory.”

He bit his lip on his grin, nodding slowly. “Lewes Priory,” he repeated with glee. “October tenth. We’ve solved it.”

Part II

Misdirection

Chapter Five

She was being unreasonable.

She was always so damned unreasonable.

Rhys dragged in a breath to steel himself against more nonsense, ignoring the dull thrum that was starting to build in his left temple.

“The other card is at Starling’s Rest,” he said for the fourth time, wiggling his fingers on either side of his face for emphasis. “Why not just come with me? We can show the Old English to Hattie and I can—”

“Don’t you think that will raise some eyebrows?” she snapped, making him sigh before he’d even finished the thought. “You bringing me home?”

“Who cares about eyebrows?!” he retorted, going a bit shrill. “You can say you’re there to see Libba if you like.”

“Libba doesn’t live there anymore,” she reminded him.

It was the second time today someone had pointed out that sad fact.

“Monica, then,” he persisted. “You like Monica.”

She frowned at him. “Do you want to tell your entire household about that invitation? I get the impression it is supposed to be a secret.”

“Well, of course not,” he shot back, matching her frown. “But I don’t want to drag out further revelations for a round trip on foot, either. Just come home with me!”

“Oh, just come home with you,” she mocked. “Just sit on your lap while we read letters together next to the fire.”

He hesitated, blinking several times at that mental image. “What?”

“I’ll get my coat,” she said, slapping the table and forcing herself to stand. “And I’ll put it on. If…”

“‘If’ …?”

She grinned at him, her fingers curling against the wood. “If you eat five more pieces of the spiced fruit. No cream.”

He narrowed his eyes at her, which only seemed to widen that sharp, feline grin of hers.

“Those are my terms.” She straightened, tossing her long, golden hair like the matter were already settled and he’d admitted defeat.

“One,” he said, reaching out and plucking a piece from the tin.

It clearly surprised her, her smile faltering a little as she tracked the path of the little ball of tamarind from its wax wrap onto his tongue.

He chewed slowly, smirking at her as he did.

When he anticipated pain, Rhys could handle it quite well.

“Want to feed me the next one, Persephone?” he taunted, going back, this time for mango. “Do you have spiced pomegranate seeds in there?”

“I could find some,” she retorted.

“Two.” He popped the mango into his mouth, flashing his teeth at her this time as he chewed.