Page 21 of Lady Tempts a Rogue
“That is wonderful, dear.” His mother gave him a preoccupied smile as she sought the whereabouts of her other offspring. Upon spying Gladys holding an imaginary cup to her mouth—pinky extended—she visibly relaxed.
Trinity closed her sketchpad and placed her pencils back into their holder.
Georgie sent Devin a consolatory glance. “Mr. Everingham is not vewy good at waw, but he showed me a few satisfactowy fencing moves.”
All was forgiven it seemed.
Devin’s well-practiced fencing poses earned him clemency for his lack of warfare strategies. A pair of rolled up news sheets had sufficed as foils. Even Gladys had tried her hand at a few maneuvers—only after Trinity assured her many girls were adept at the sport, and her mama would not object because it wasn’t ladylike.
Trinity, however, begged off a lesson, all too conscious of the other two men crouched at the other end of the table. It was one thing for a little girl to prance and pose with a pretend sword and another thing altogether for a grown woman. Though, truth be told, she would not mind learning the sport.
“Put your soldiers away, darling.” Mrs. McKinnick said. “The rain has stopped, and Papa wants to take a turn on deck and stretch his legs before we eat luncheon.”
Devin helped Georgie gather his soldiers and place them in the tin. After he rose and brushed off his knees, Devin joined Trinity at the table.
His warm dark brown eyes twinkled with amusement.
Was he ever surly or cross?
Even at his sickest—and he had been deucedly ill—he’d maintained a kindly air.
Pathetically weak and pitiful but kind.
He had not protested at being corralled into being a nursemaid for children he did not know either. For a reason Trinity could not quite put her finger on, that compensated for his roguish behavior at the Mumford’s last summer. A very tiny compensation and one that did not wholly redeem him, but an improvement in his status from rakehell to rogue, nonetheless.
“I should like to stretch my legs as well,” Devin said, helping himself to an apple from a bowl in the center of the table. He must be famished, yet he had not grumbled a jot. “Might I persuade you to join me, Miss Ablethorne?”
Yes, he might.
But before Trinity answered, he added, “Perhaps Mrs. Peagilly is feeling up to a bit of exercise as well?”
He bit into the apple with a satisfactory crunch.
“I know I am,” Mr. Truman-Shelton said as he stretched his arms wide and arched his back—his spine rendering a popping crack—before he gathered his papers into a sloppy stack.
“Me too,” agreed his business associate. Mr. Meriwether also scooped several documents and ledgers together. “Although, I would like to discuss a business proposition with you when it is convenient, Mr. Everingham.”
His mouth full of apple, Devin merely arched a quizzical eyebrow.
Scratching his nape, Mr. Meriwether gave a sheepish grin. “It is no secret you are a partial owner of the Daunting Duchess and that you inherited your father’s business enterprises. We”—he veered his business associate a swift glance to include him—“believe we have an opportunity that would be advantageous to all of us.”
He slid his comrade another indecipherable look.
“Erm, yes.” Mr. Truman-Shelton nodded, slightly taken aback. He ran a finger along the edge of his neckcloth in a decidedly nervous fashion. He recovered quickly, schooling his face into a bland mask. “Yes. Yes, indeed. A most advantageous proposition, if I do say so myself. Which I do, of course. Otherwise, why mention it, aye?”
Mr. Meriwether speared him a shut-up-for-god’s-sake scowl.
His Adam’s apple jiggling his cravat like a mouse scurrying up and down, Mr. Truman-Shelton gulped and meshed his lips together.
Trinity eyed the pair, taking in their neat suits and polished but well-worn shoes.
Something was not as it seemed about those two.
She would wager on it.
Devin’s other eyebrow crept up minutely as he regarded the men and chewed happily on another bite of his apple. He swallowed. “I am sure we shall find an opportunity for a discussion on the voyage.”
Oh, very clever.
