Worlds of Ink and Shadow by Lena Coakley Page B

thescissors. “One, two, three,” she said under her breath, and she pulled the drawer open.
    â€œGood heavens,” he said. “Is that an antique stiletto?”
    â€œYes,” she said, surprised as he, but pleased with her result. “Indeed it is.”
    Carefully Rogue took the long, thin dagger out of the drawer and held it up. “Beautiful. Look at the workmanship on the hilt. I collect these, you know.”
    â€œI know.”
    â€œFor heaven’s sake, Emily,” Anne hissed. “Now you’ve armed him.”
    â€œHe was armed already,” Emily retorted. “He has his pistol.” Rogue started at this, and she smiled sweetly at him again. “One assumes.” She sat down and gestured to the place next to her on the sofa. “Do make yourself comfortable. I’m sorry we have no refreshments to offer you. All the servants are occupied with the party.”
    He sat down. “Cousins of Zamorna, you say? I’m surprised to find the duke has such amiable relations. You’ll forgive me. He and I are not exactly friends.”
    â€œOh, that’s all right. We think our cousin Zamorna is the most colossal ass. Don’t we, Anne?”
    Anne glowered, and Rogue barked a laugh at Emily’s candor. “I can’t say that I disagree.”
    He toyed with the stiletto, trading it from one hand to the other. Then, as if coming to a decision, he gripped the handle andpointed the tip toward Emily. “I suppose he’d pay a high ransom for you girls, should you go missing.”
    Emily’s heart leapt. “Oh,” she said. “Are you going to kidnap us? What a wonderful idea!”
    Rogue frowned. “I can’t say that anyone has ever reacted that way before—and I’ve carried off a dozen women.”
    â€œThirteen,” Emily said. “If you count the Hawthorn twins as two.”
    He looked at her now, and his wide smile was a beautiful surprise, piercing her heart as surely as the stiletto. “What a strange young lady you are. I’m beginning to wonder why I’ve never been to the provinces.”
    She stopped breathing.
Oh
, she thought.
This is how I’ll die. From a look.
It wasn’t a handsome face by most standards—his brow was too heavy; his eyes were too wide-set; his whiskers and eyebrows were too bushy—but in that moment she couldn’t possibly look away.
    Lightly he brushed her cheek with his finger, making a chill run down her spine. Somewhere Anne began to cough, but it seemed far away.
    â€œYou’re not one of those women who screams all through an abduction, are you? I find that very trying.”
    â€œScreaming is a very sensible response to kidnapping, in my opinion. But no, I’d be meek as a lamb. I’d faint a lot and sigh like a bruised flower. Then, when you least expected it, I’d stab you in the eye with your own knife and steal your horse.”
    â€œMarvelous,” he said.
    â€œI know!” Anne’s voice punctured the moment. “Perhaps the earl would like to help us wind our wool into balls while we tell him all the gossip of the provinces.”
    â€œPardon?” he said.
    Emily blinked as if awakening from a dream.
    â€œWe country girls would find such an evening a thrill, I dare say,” Anne went on. “And—goodness!—if we are kidnapped, we shall have many such evenings in front of us. We may bring our knitting with us, mayn’t we? Lord Percy, my sister tells the most amusing story about a vicar’s cat getting caught in a tree.” She feigned a laugh. “Wait until you hear it.”
    Rogue was looking around the room as if wondering how he got there. Emily flushed, suddenly aware of her youth, her scarlet dress, her ridiculous plaited hair.
    â€œBut I hope we are not keeping you from other engagements, Lord Percy,” Anne continued. “Didn’t you have someone to meet? An evil plan to