Page 98 of The Artist and the Dragon

Osric’s gaze darted around before settling on Malik once more. He scooted in, dropping his voice even lower than before. “Is it true you took care of Elis? I thought he was a favorite?”

Malik shrugged. “He’d been seen. By Miss Kinsley, no less.”

“I know orders were not to harm her, but given the circumstance, might it have been better to have offed her instead?”

Instantly, Malik saw red. In his mind’s eye, he saw himself smash the heavy glass he held into the man’s face, and it took all his composure not to do just that. Even so, he failed to keep all the rage from his features, and Lord Osric noticed, sitting back quickly in his chair.

“I—I meant—"

“Miss Kinsley is of interest tohim.” He slammed his empty glass on the table. “Tome. She is not to be harmed.”

“Apologies!” The other man held up his hand, looking suddenly terrified. “I thought—”

He snarled, “You thought wrongly.” Goddess above, if the sniveling, slimy man wasn’t useful to him, he’d have half a mind to throw him out the nearest window, onlookers and consequences be damned.

“Please, let me make amends… For the offense, a-and the racecourse.” Lord Osric loosened his collar. “I-I didn’t know. I’ve only tried my best to follow orders.”

Silence hung between them, filled only by the din of the club. Malik let the man stew in his misery until he finally said, “You have a reprieve. For now.” Malik’s nails dug into his palms even as he forced a smug smile. “Why else do you think I asked you here tonight?” He leaned back in his chair and crossed one leg over the other. “The pieces are almost all in place, and we have work to do.”

Osric swallowed thickly and sat a little straighter. “There’s been no letter…”

Malik chuckled. “Have you not figured it out already? Consider the appointment Elis promised fulfilled.” He signaled the barkeep for another glass, waiting.

The revelation came across in pieces: first the widening eyes, then the slight parting of his mouth, and finally a thoughtful turn of the head.

“Neutral sleeves, remember.” Malik raised a finger to his lips. “And there is now a vacancy at my right hand that I need filled.”

The smile that bloomed on Osric’s face was truly unsettling. “It’s an honor.”

The barkeep refilled their glasses, and Malik clinked his against the other man’s before continuing. “We’re going to need to gather our comrades quite quickly. We’ll use the old meeting place. The Briar Rose.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Oh, I always forget the real name.”

“Perrault’s,” Lord Osric supplied.

“Yes.” Malik pointed at him. “That’s it. We need it all to ourselves. Tomorrow.”

He sat a little straighter. “So soon.”

“It can’t wait.”Not a moment longer. “Perhaps you can amend your previous error by assisting me in the reservation and getting word out? There will be even more opportunity in your future if you do well.”

“Of course. Anything.”

The glimmer in Osric’s eyes was so obvious Malik nearly laughed. Instead, he smiled in satisfaction. Some men were so easy to hook with the right bait.

Chapter 41

Bronwyn

Bronwynhadspentmuchof the day before in her quarters, trying not to worry over what Malik was doing. He had a few meetings, he’d said. Better that she stay at the castle with her family than linger at his apartment with no company and, admittedly worse, no food. He didn’t keep much on hand, and they’d mostly gone through the little he had the day before—in bed.

A fresh ache built between her thighs at the memory. Two days. They’d had so little time together, yet it felt like he’d always had a piece of her heart and now it was no longer missing.

At least this morning she had something to do.

The letter had come the evening before, around dinner time. The moment she’d seen the decorative looping of her name on the front, she knew immediately who had sent it. Charlotte’s note had been brief, yet it gave her more true hope than anything had in days.

Come for morning tea at 10. I’ll tell you everything.

Bronwyn woke before dawn and nearly considered heading over immediately. But if Charlotte was willing to talk now, she didn’t want something like an early arrival sending her into a fit or causing her to change her mind.

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