Violet and the Bow Street Runner: Garland Cousins #2 by Emily Larkin

Author:Emily Larkin [Larkin, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub

Chapter Thirty-Four

Devereux refilled the glass and thrust it into Perry’s hand. “Now explain this nonsense about not being friends.”

Perry looked away from those hard, angry eyes. He put the glass down on the table. “Dev, I told you, I have no—”

“I understand that you’re not flush in the pocket, but I don’t understand why that means we can’t be friends.”

“Because we live in different worlds.”

“Nonsense,” Devereux scoffed, sitting back down.

“It’s not nonsense,” Perry said, beginning to grow angry himself. “How much did that waistcoat cost? What about your shoes? That coat you’re wearing? I earn eighty pounds a year, Dev, and you’re wearing clothes worth three times that!”

“Then let me give you—”

“Don’t!” Perry said fiercely. “If you’re about to offer me money, don’t.”

They matched stares, then Devereux flexed his mouth in a rueful smile. “Sorry.”

“This is your world,” Perry said, less heatedly. He gestured at the comfortable parlor. “Mine is an attic in Holborn.”

Devereux leaned forward. “I meant it, Perry. You can live here.”

“No.” He shook his head sharply. “I don’t fit here anymore. And anyway, I’m re-enlisting.”

“What? Why?”

“I sold out because Mother begged me to, but she’s dead now, so . . .” He shrugged. “I’m going back to India.”

“But you could be killed!”

“I’d rather die in battle than rot to death in Holborn.”

Devereux frowned and opened his mouth.

“I hate it here, Dev.”

Devereux must have heard the truth in his voice. He closed his mouth again.

“We live in different worlds, don’t you see? We can’t be friends anymore.”

“I don’t see it. What I see is that if you won’t spend time here, I’ll spend time in Holborn.”

“What?”

“Holborn. Tomorrow.” Devereux folded his lips mutinously.

Perry was familiar with that expression. It meant that even if he spent hours arguing—or days— Devereux wasn’t going to budge. He sighed. “You always were a stubborn dog.” But he wasn’t angry. He’d like to be friends with Devereux again, even if it was only for a few weeks. “All right. Tomorrow you’re dining in a chop house in Holborn. Four o’clock. Corner of High Holborn and Kingsgate.”

“I’ll be there,” Devereux said.

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