hadn’t struck Yasmeen as strange until this moment, but Archimedes must have noticed and wondered why Bilson hadn’t spoken about the meeting with his sister.
Now Yasmeen wondered, too.
“An earl? I hope you receive a hearty ransom for him.” Bilson chuckled, all ease and comfort again when he settled against the cushions. “If you are flying to England, may I ask a different favor? I have a contact in London who might be able to assist me. I would have arranged for passage tomorrow, but if you are—”
“We’ll take you,” Archimedes said, then glanced at Yasmeen. “Captain?”
“Of course,” she confirmed. Archimedes apparently wanted to see his friend off in the direction opposite from his sister’s—and though she didn’t quite understand the source of his worry, she’d do anything to help him. “It’s the least we can do.”
* * *
In no time, they’d hired a porter to retrieve Bilson’s belongings from his lodgings and bring them to
Lady Nergüi
. While Archimedes showed Bilson to the stateroom on the third deck, Yasmeen informed the steward of their new passenger and returned to their cabin.
She removed her jacket, boots, and weapons, then settled into the cushions around the table and helped herself to the wine. Archimedes’ expression was still pensive when he let himself in.
Yasmeen waited until he closed the door. “We’re no longer visiting Zenobia?”
He eased down beside her, and Yasmeen automatically curled against his side, her head on his shoulder. His hand rested on her hip. His thumb stroked circles just above the edge of her sash, where only thin cotton separated him from her skin. A purr rumbled through her chest. God, but she couldn’t help it. That absent little touch was pure pleasure to her.
And the touch wasn’t so absent now. Archimedes smiled, pulled her closer. “Bilson usually has a standby plan, in the event that his first doesn’t pull through.”
Was that to warn her or to reassure her? “So he’ll ask another mercenary to help him?”
“No, he’ll try to convince us again. He’ll have some reason for us to help him held in reserve.”
And he would need time to deploy it. “Was that why he asked for passage, then?”
“Probably.”
“Will he try to lay more guilt on you?” Or, if he was clever, attempt to convince Archimedes that infiltrating New Eden would be the height of excitement, more dangerous than zombies. “Or will he try to entice you into it?”
He slanted her an amused look. “Do you think I would be enticed so easily?”
If
Lady Nergüi
wasn’t at risk? “Yes.”
“Yes, perhaps I would be.” His sudden laugh shook through her. “You know me well.”
So did Bilson. Perhaps he hadn’t anticipated that Archimedes’ love for Yasmeen would override his need to pursue a thrill—but surely he must have realized how protective Archimedes was of the people he cared for. After all, Bilson had known Zenobia.
“Would he use your sister in some way?” She hoped Bilson wouldn’t be that stupid, but it would be an effective play. For Archimedes, there could be no more powerful incentive than protecting Zenobia—except, perhaps, protecting Yasmeen…but threatening her never seemed to work out well for anyone. “Is that why we’re making certain he travels to England?”
“I don’t know if he would use her,” Archimedes said. He tilted his head back and stared up at the ceiling, clearly troubled.“I didn’t think so…until he called my honor into question. He’s already gone further than I’d have expected.”
“Would he
hurt
her?”
“No. Not physically. But he might try to manipulate her, use her to persuade me—especially if he has guessed her feelings toward him.”
His sister was too practical and too clever for that. “She wouldn’t let him.”
“True. Still, it’s better to take him to England, then let Zenobia know what he wanted so that she’s prepared if he attempts to work on her.
Now Yasmeen wondered, too.
“An earl? I hope you receive a hearty ransom for him.” Bilson chuckled, all ease and comfort again when he settled against the cushions. “If you are flying to England, may I ask a different favor? I have a contact in London who might be able to assist me. I would have arranged for passage tomorrow, but if you are—”
“We’ll take you,” Archimedes said, then glanced at Yasmeen. “Captain?”
“Of course,” she confirmed. Archimedes apparently wanted to see his friend off in the direction opposite from his sister’s—and though she didn’t quite understand the source of his worry, she’d do anything to help him. “It’s the least we can do.”
* * *
In no time, they’d hired a porter to retrieve Bilson’s belongings from his lodgings and bring them to
Lady Nergüi
. While Archimedes showed Bilson to the stateroom on the third deck, Yasmeen informed the steward of their new passenger and returned to their cabin.
She removed her jacket, boots, and weapons, then settled into the cushions around the table and helped herself to the wine. Archimedes’ expression was still pensive when he let himself in.
Yasmeen waited until he closed the door. “We’re no longer visiting Zenobia?”
He eased down beside her, and Yasmeen automatically curled against his side, her head on his shoulder. His hand rested on her hip. His thumb stroked circles just above the edge of her sash, where only thin cotton separated him from her skin. A purr rumbled through her chest. God, but she couldn’t help it. That absent little touch was pure pleasure to her.
And the touch wasn’t so absent now. Archimedes smiled, pulled her closer. “Bilson usually has a standby plan, in the event that his first doesn’t pull through.”
Was that to warn her or to reassure her? “So he’ll ask another mercenary to help him?”
“No, he’ll try to convince us again. He’ll have some reason for us to help him held in reserve.”
And he would need time to deploy it. “Was that why he asked for passage, then?”
“Probably.”
“Will he try to lay more guilt on you?” Or, if he was clever, attempt to convince Archimedes that infiltrating New Eden would be the height of excitement, more dangerous than zombies. “Or will he try to entice you into it?”
He slanted her an amused look. “Do you think I would be enticed so easily?”
If
Lady Nergüi
wasn’t at risk? “Yes.”
“Yes, perhaps I would be.” His sudden laugh shook through her. “You know me well.”
So did Bilson. Perhaps he hadn’t anticipated that Archimedes’ love for Yasmeen would override his need to pursue a thrill—but surely he must have realized how protective Archimedes was of the people he cared for. After all, Bilson had known Zenobia.
“Would he use your sister in some way?” She hoped Bilson wouldn’t be that stupid, but it would be an effective play. For Archimedes, there could be no more powerful incentive than protecting Zenobia—except, perhaps, protecting Yasmeen…but threatening her never seemed to work out well for anyone. “Is that why we’re making certain he travels to England?”
“I don’t know if he would use her,” Archimedes said. He tilted his head back and stared up at the ceiling, clearly troubled.“I didn’t think so…until he called my honor into question. He’s already gone further than I’d have expected.”
“Would he
hurt
her?”
“No. Not physically. But he might try to manipulate her, use her to persuade me—especially if he has guessed her feelings toward him.”
His sister was too practical and too clever for that. “She wouldn’t let him.”
“True. Still, it’s better to take him to England, then let Zenobia know what he wanted so that she’s prepared if he attempts to work on her.
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