Page 94 of Dukes Are Forever
"I'm game," she said, setting her teacup onto her saucer with a clatter. "Though you must call me Adele."
Lark's eyes widened. "You are?"
"You do realize they're going to interrogate you about Malloryn," Ava said dryly.
"But not a word of what occurs here tonight leaves this room," Ingrid promised. "The gentlemen will remain oblivious."
Malloryn would kill her.
But then, Lord Corvus almost had, so really, what was she afraid of?
"As I said," she replied with an insouciant shrug, "I'm game. It sounds like fun."
And it had been so long since she'd truly enjoyed herself like this.
Ava sighed and poured them all a brandy, liberally splashing it into Adele's empty teacup.
"To a lady's secrets, and a promise of friendship everlasting," Ingrid said.
"No Rogue left behind," Lark added.
The three of them clinked cups together.
And then Adele managed to choke down half the cup, while Ingrid and Lark drained theirs.
"The first time Gemma brought out a bottle was just after Kincaid started pursuing Ava," Ingrid said. "There may—or may not—have been a conversation about what precisely a lady may expect in the bedroom. Gemma and I were trying to restrain ourselves for poor Ava's innocent ears, when to our shock and horror she blurted out that our dear Kincaid is a man of stature."
Adele blinked, slowly working her way through "stature" and "battering ram." Then her eyes widened.
Ava groaned, burying her face in her hands. "I will add, neither Ingrid nor Gemma was shocked or horrified."
"Delighted, I presume," Lark said with a snicker.
"You know Gemma." Ingrid waggled her brows. "Your turn."
Heat flushed through Lark's cheeks. Though she wore men's attire, she'd been reticent enough until now that Adele didn't truly know much about her.
"Are you asking about Charlie's, ahem, girth?"
"He's a strapping lad. But you're quite welcome to volunteer any secret you wish. As long as it's naughty." Ingrid's eyes flashed intently. "Our sugarplum is such a sweet young boy, I'm sure he has no dark secrets."
"Not like Byrnes," Ava said.
Lark snorted into her brandy. "Bloody hell. I don't think I want to know."
"Well?" Ingrid leaned forward, and Adele started feeling a little nervous about what she'd be expected to share.
"Our first time was in Russia," Lark muttered.
"Our?" Ingrid arched both brows.
"He waited for me," Lark replied. "We were both virgins."
"Oh." Ava sighed. "That's so sweet. I adore Charlie. He's always so thoughtful."
"Verythoughtful, if one knows what I mean?" Lark said. She turned to Adele to explain, "We grew up together and were friends as children, though it took him a few years to realize I was a girl."
"And then he definitely realized you were a girl," Ava said kindly. "He was mooning after you all through Russia. Gemma wanted to shake him to keep his mind on the job."
