Page 42 of Devil in Her Details

But one started at Peregrine’s, outside of her control. Calvington, on the other hand, was forcing her hand.

Where would a reptilian like him even hide? Where had he belly-crawled into with no working thumbs? Impossible to guess. However. She smoothed her skirts. “I shall take my chances.”

He didn’t object as she thought he might.

“Then I’ll escort you.” He turned and strode to the door. “I’ll have a lad ready some horses.” He stopped at the door, glancing at her over his shoulder. “You ride, don’t you?”

“I do,” Lilly murmured, still a bit dazed at how easily he acquiesced.

He nodded and left.

Lilly suddenly found herself alone in the tavern. Her gaze drifted to the glass on the spot Dagger had occupied before sweeping the tap room. On reflection, Dagger had told her they were bound for his lodgings. Did that mean he, they, lived here? In a tavern? Could she claim to be surprised? Did it not seem rather fitting for a man as untamed as him? The simplicity struck her as right. Peregrine’s lack of clientele also made much more sense. She couldn’t exactly envision him living in a duke’s mansion with riches at his feet.

On second thought . . .

She could very well imagine that.

The door opened, and Lilly thought Knight had returned, but another man stepped through, so similar in countenance that no one could mistake him as anything but one of the six brothers.

He stopped short when his gaze fell on her. “Who are you?”

She started at the cold demand. “I’m Lilly.”

“Not what I asked.”

Blazes. Shivers trickled down her spine and not the good kind. Then what are you blazing asking? “You’re one of Dagger’s brothers.”

“You’re here with Dagger?”

“Yes,” Lilly murmured, suddenly restless to escape. “But I’m off now. Your brother Knight is arranging horses.”

“You’re leaving?”

What was with these men? Why was that so odd to them? And were all the brothers the same? Lilly suddenly missed her own. Carlisle was her only family. Well, the only family that mattered. She wasn’t close to her aunts and uncles and their families. They were far too set in their snobbish ways and always found fault with her. Especially for not “securing” a husband yet.

Could a lady not enjoy her youth?

Well, apparently not without raising some high brows.

But she digressed.

First and foremost, home.

She wished to fall back onto her bed and shut the world from her mind. At least until tomorrow. Then she would plan in earnest how to deal with Calvington. With a man such as him, violence would only spur him on.

No, he required a beating of a different kind.

Plus, she couldn’t settle back while Dagger dealt with him. His methods aside, his comment about family aside, the marquess was her problem. She should never have been tempted to hand the responsibility off.

Dagger’s brother’s eyes narrowed on her.

“Can’t I leave?” she retorted to his question. “Am I your brother’s prisoner?”

He scowled and turned away, striding to where a bottle of whisky had been left on the counter Knight had earlier occupied. His eyes never left her as he yanked the cork out with his teeth, spat it aside, and took a deep swallow.

Well then . . .

Just how long did it take to ready horses?