Page 83 of Devil in Her Details

“There are some things in the back as well.”

“Shouldn’t we pack up everything from your shop?”

Lilly blinked, turning to Dagger. “Everything?”

He shrugged. “You take on mostly private commissions from trusted sources, correct? You could have set your workspace up at home.”

That’s right. She hadn’t needed to open a shop to begin with, but it was something Lilly had always wished to experience. What it would feel like to do what she loved for a living. Of course, she had no need for money, but she still wanted to try anyway. She swept her eyes over her messy little shop with a sense of sweet indulgence.

And stopped.

Why was . . .? She sent Dagger a look of pure suspicion. “Did you clean my shop?”

“I didn’t clean your shop, no.”

“But you had it cleaned, didn’t you?”

He shrugged, completely unrepentant. “Dust had gathered.”

“You’re implying that I’m not clean again.”

“No,” the word accompanied a slow shake of his head. “I merely understand that certain things just get done around you.”

She scoffed, deciding to forgive the man this once. Twice. Or however many times it had been already. “Do you really think I should pack up everything?”

“I do.” He must have sensed her reluctance, for he added, “Your pest might believe he’s won, which will let him lower his guard.”

Lilly pulled a face. “You think of everything, don’t you?”

“I try.”

She glanced over her shop again. This was hers in a way that very little else was. She had chosen it, furnished it, opened it, and run it entirely on her own terms. Closing it felt uncomfortably like retreat. And yet she couldn’t discard Dagger’s suggestion. Staying open might only prove problematic in the future and the surrounding shops might be hurt as well. Whereas closing up might save some troubles.

She could always open another shop.

Life was great that way.

Nothing was ever set in stone.

And as Dagger said, Calvington might even believe he’d won and come gloat, which would be the perfect way for him to deal with the marquess. She, on the other hand, had thoughts of her own.

Today, come what may, she’d send a rumor of her own! In fact, that coxcomb had done her a favor by showing her his hand. Now, she could retaliate. Her brother would retaliate as well, she was sure, so it would be double retaliation!

Calvington, you took on the wrong woman!

“What are you plotting?”

Lilly started, then blinked at Dagger. “What makes you believe I’m plotting anything?”

“You have a downright sinister look on your face, love.”

She shrugged. “There is no rule that I have to tell you everything, is there?”

He scowled, and she loved it.

“I’m making it a rule now,” he said roughly.

If Lilly didn’t understand the man’s character by now, she never would. “I’m merely going to send a letter to London’s finest gossip sheets. They should know that a certain Marquess C has emptied his family coffers and is on the run from creditors. His only recourse: to hound and arrest wealthy ladies into wedding him. A tale as old as time, a man relying on a woman to save him from ruin.”