Page 75 of Seduced By a Scoundrel

“I have rarely been compared to a gazelle,” Keir remarked drily.

“You have rarely been with the likes of these ladies.”

“That is no doubt true.” He piled his plate high with ham and eggs and fried potatoes. “You need more footmen, Gallagher.”

“Also true.”

Priya huffed out an annoyed sigh. “We need actual footmen, at some point. Not just soldiers roaming the halls. Not that you are not most grateful to have you here, Peter,” she added.

“Thank you, Lady Langdon.”

“I can get you footmen,” Keir said. “Proper footmen. But big, at the very least.”

“And I can get more soldiers.”

“Excellent.”

Priya sat back. “And who, exactly, are you two to make such a decision?” she asked evenly. Too evenly.

Pierce and Keir froze.

“Who’s the gazelle now?” Sybil snorted.

Matilda popped her chin in her hand to watch the entertainment.

“I have overstepped.” Keir nodded. “I apologize.”

“I haven’t,” Pierce muttered. “And I don’t.”

Peony whistled. “We don’t usually have bloodshed before we have even finished our morning tea.”

“Yes, Mr. Gallagher,” Priya said, steel in her tone. “Let me pour you another cup of tea.”

Priya was well known for the herbs she added to the tea of those she was not pleased with. Herbs to cause drowsiness, cramps. Itchy ears. Violent complaints of the stomach.

Pierce winced. “No, thank you.”

“We will decide if we need more soldiers,” she added, dark eyes flashing.

“Be reasonable, Priya.”

“Reasonable?”

There were gasps from around the table. Emmeline and Matilda exchanged wagers. Sybil wondered if she should slide Priya’s fork out of reach before she used it to stab her Irishman. She decided to leave it.

Pierce scrubbed a hand over his face. “You know what I mean. I’m worried. Things are escalating.”

She sniffed, relenting. “As it happens, I agree with you.”

“If you would just—You do?”

“Yes, but if either of you make pronouncements at our table like that again, you’ll be barred from the house. I can hire soldiers too, Mr. Gallagher. Just see if I don’t.”

He kissed her knuckles. As she did not use them to bloody his nose, the matter seemed settled.

“If you’ve copied all the information you need from the betting book,” Sybil said, “I wonder if we should return it? I don’t think it will be enough to call him off, whoever he is, but it might buy us a little more time to plan.”

Priya nodded. “Agreed.”