Outrageous by Minerva Spencer

Author:Minerva Spencer [Spencer, Minerva]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2021-03-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

For all that Mrs. Crosby looked like an angel and behaved like a courtesan, the woman cooked like a dream. As Godric had only a nightshirt and a robe, Mr. Norton—a large and exceedingly shy man—set the small coffee parlor aside for their private dining chamber, not that there was anyone occupying the bar parlor, where meals were usually served, in this weather.

When Godric tried to draw the man into conversation about his son’s projected jaunt to fetch the constable, he’d blushed and hemmed and hawed in a way that made Godric suspect it would not be a healthy practice for a local business owner to set the law on Flynn’s gang. Godric could hardly blame the man. Who’d want to go head-to-head with a band of violent thieves living right on one’s doorstep?

Although he would much rather get Eva out of this backwater without calling in a magistrate, he worried about whether Flynn or his men would honor their agreement.

“Well,” Andrew said with a somnolent, satisfied smile as he finished the last of his custard and sat back, his slender hands resting placidly on his belly, “that was delightful. I feel positively—”

“Stuffed like a Christmas goose?” Eva interjected. “You ate enough to feed three ostlers.”

Andrew frowned and opened his mouth.

“I agree, Andrew,” Godric said. “That was delightful. And this warm room is making me positively sluggish.” He began to rise.

“You needn’t stay and entertain me,” Eva said, her expression telling him a different story. Godric would have felt flattered but was smart enough to realize it wasn’t his company she wanted so much as not being left in Andrew’s.

So he lowered himself back into his seat. “It’s a bit too early for bed.”

“We’ve got cards.” She sat up in her chair, her expression eager.

“There are a few books if you prefer reading.” Andrew gestured to the dozen or so titles held between bookends that appeared to have been made out of cannon shot. “But I’m afraid they’re mostly drivel.” He cut Eva a quick look. “Minerva Press, mainly.”

Eva frowned. “Why did you look at me when you said that?”

“You’re a female, and those are female books.”

Eva’s hackles rose.

“Actually,” Godric cut in, before the fur started flying, “I’ve enjoyed quite a few of the Minerva titles.”

Really, their expressions were priceless.

“You have?” Andrew asked, as though Godric had admitted to a penchant for going on the strut in Hyde Park wearing only a fur muff and bergère hat.

“He’s lying.” Eva’s voice was flat and her expression was one of profound disgust, like a cat that had inadvertently gotten its feet wet.

Godric clutched at his heart. “I’m stung.”

She crossed her arms, her standard battle stance. “All right then, name one of your favorite titles.”

“Ah, you like them, too, do you?’

She flushed. “No, they’re appalling, but Melissa consumes them like candies and they’re positively littering the house.”

“Hmm,” he said, as though he had to think about the matter when, in reality, he did not. He didn’t tell her that Minerva Press books had been the only ones available while he convalesced.

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