One Night Is Never Enough by Anne Mallory

Author:Anne Mallory
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HarperCollins US
Published: 2011-02-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Roman paced outside, the wet grass squishing beneath his boots. All of the windows were dark.

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” One-eyed Bill muttered.

What was he doing?

“Of course I do.” He stopped and sent a charming grin the man’s way. Bill grimaced but looked mollified. When he had first met Bill, that grin would never have worked, but he had spent a lot of time honing it, and Bill had been properly reformed and enlightened since. Always useful to have people who thought you walked on water.

Andreas liked to knock him into the dark depths often enough.

“You are sure that is her window?”

“Saw her through it earlier before she drew the drapes.” But Bill looked shifty.

“One-eye, I swear if you have me entering some nitwit maid’s quarters, I’ll skin you alive.”

“No, it’s hers,” he said quickly.

Roman watched him silently, making Bill shift nervously, until Roman was satisfied it was the truth. Obviously, someone else had grabbed the man’s attention. Probably a maid who liked to pose in open windows, hoping to provide a show.

“Fine. Thank you. Go home and get some sleep for once.”

Bill scratched his neck. “Well, you see . . .”

Roman narrowed his eyes, and Bill scratched more vigorously.

“What with all of the dealings . . . it’s just that . . . well, and the irons . . . and the fire pits . . . and the trouble . . . and this particular consolidation . . .”

Roman motioned with his hand, trying to encourage him to speak faster. He was fond of the man, but his patience was limited at the moment, as close as he was.

“Well, it’s a lot of things, yes?” Bill finished, hope and dread in his expression.

“Things that happen every day.” She was twenty paces away, waiting to be stripped behind those drapes, and Bill wanted to talk.

“Well, not quite at this rate of expectancy.” Bill nodded encouragingly, in a way that said he was hoping that if he could get Roman to think rationally, he wouldn’t have to keep speaking. “Usually we are more circumspect.”

Roman gave him another large, charming smile. Anything to get him to leave. “And these past few weeks we’ve been quick.” He patted the man on the shoulder. “Now go home.”

Bill shifted. “Well . . . quick . . . yes. . . .”

“Quick. Yes.” When Bill stayed where he was, Roman dropped the smile and narrowed his eyes again. “Things are moving quickly. And One-eye, I’m not in the mood for discussion,” he warned.

“Right. Well, see . . .” He rubbed his neck again. “Well, see . . . Merrick said. . . .”

Knowledge and rage collided together. Bill suddenly looked quite alarmed, hands held in front of him. “Now, Boss—”

“Andreas told you to watch after me?”

“Now, Boss, it’s not like that—”

“Do I look twelve, stupid, and virginal?”

“No, it’s not like that, but with Cornelius stirring up trouble—”

“If you don’t leave right now,” Roman kept his voice low, for once not trying to

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