Page 26 of Devil in Her Details

Chapter Six

Lilly hadn’t confessed.

Instead, she prattled.

And prattled.

Entirely unlike her. She never prattled. She had always possessed a respectable talent for conversation, but today she had elevated the practice into something closer to a defensive sport. Like fencing. Words parried from her lips with alarming enthusiasm—observations about Brighton’s weather, the peculiar habits of the residents, and how her brother would absolutely detest the place—none of which bore the slightest resemblance to the truth she had nearly revealed only moments earlier.

“Anyway, enough about me.”

Allie and Leo stared at her in identical fashion, both with their arms folded across their chests.

“So, in other words,” Allie remarked, “you recognized both the men you only ‘thought’ you recognized, but you don’t want to tell us the whole story.”

Lilly sighed. Leave it her friend to be so blunt. “You know me so well. And I only recognized one of them.”

“So?” Leo asked, storm clouds gathering on his brow. “Are you going to keep the truth from us?”

Dagger’s dark gaze swam in her mind. “We met at my shop. What can I say?”

Leo’s eyes narrowed. “The man who just came in, I presume?”

Lilly nodded.

Allie’s eyes widened. “Why? Don’t tell me he came to pick out bonnets and ribbons?”

Lilly almost laughed. Even her friends recognized a predator when they saw one. She retorted, “Why do you think? Rumors of my services reached him.”

Leo chuckled, visibly relaxing. “Didn’t expect that.”

“He commissioned a piece?” Allie said in shock. “That beast of a man?”

My sincerest apologies, Mr. Fury. She knew what her friends would be assuming he had approached her to commission. Or at least close. She wasn’t about to correct them. “Why not him?”

“Fair,” Allie said with a shrug.

“How did he even discover your services?” Leo pondered.

Lilly sighed. “His brother. But do not ask me how he knew. I have no idea, and my client isn’t all that forthcoming in his information.”

“Will this cause you trouble?” Allie asked, concerned, looping her arm with Leo’s. “Just leave with us.”

Lilly shook her head. “Thank you, but no.” Though the man looked menacing, she had sensed no malice. At least, not yet. “I’m not worried, so you don’t have to be either. While they know I take peculiar commissions, they don’t know who I am.”

“Well, that’s a small relief,” Leo muttered, but concern still filled his voice.

To distract them, Lilly motioned to the dressing screen. “Allie will be handling this part. Some fittings are better conducted within the bonds of matrimony.”

Leo groaned. “I had hoped this part could be delayed a bit longer.”

Lilly chuckled. “I’m afraid not.”

Allie seized Leo by the sleeve before he could make any further protest. “Let’s go,” she said so sweetly even Lilly grimaced for Leo.

These two.

Leo looked at his wife with deep suspicion. “I’ll go, but you can’t join me.”