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He was talented with a sword, a pistol, and his fists, but fighting those brutes would be akin to wrestling a castle turret.
Enid touched his arm. “I’m supposed to be here. Allow me to create a diversion while you get a look at your sister through the glass. Confirm she is well.” A sharp fingernail dug into his side. “Then for the love of everything, get yourself gone—with haste.”
“Lady,” he said, “I cannot allow you to—”
Her wings extended and she rose from the gardens to alight on the veranda. As soon as she touched the stone, she lifted a hand to her forehead and let out a dramatic cry. “Oh no!” She staggered to the side with the theatrical aplomb of a drunken Shakespearean player. “I believe I have twisted my ankle!”
Both orcs rushed to her side.
Theo blinked.
That ridiculous bit of overacting should not have worked, but he wasn’t going to argue with fortune.
In a quick movement, he’d vaulted silently onto the veranda—who said avoiding the bullies at Eton wouldn’t instill lifelong skills?—and crossed to the immense row of windows. Peering through the pane, he ignored the lavish trapping and searched the swirling crowd for his sister.
Years of apprenticing for a rough-edged solicitor in London’s Cheapside had taught him to read people as fast as documents. A quick scan confirmed Penny wasn’t among the dancers. Nor was she standing beside the refreshments or seating in the chairs nearest the window.
A flash of red hair—the same shade as his—caught his eye.
He let out a sigh of relief as he located Penny standing alongside a group of ladies at the edge of the dancefloor. The wallflowers, thank goodness. His sister was terrified of marriage, and she claimed that those ladies dubbed wallflowers offered the only sanctuary at any event. She should be fine in that circle—though the group of monsters around them appeared quite intent…
Theo stiffened as a red snakelike creature took Penny’s hand and tried to force her onto the dance floor.
Like hell you will.
Mountain-sized orcs be damned, Theo wasn’t going to stand by while anyone manhandled his sister—no matter how large and terrifying. Eyes glued to the scene unfolding, he started for the doors.
Then froze when another monster forced his way through the crowd.
Dressed in the height of fashion, this creature had dark blue skin, a wicked set of horns, and what looked to be blue fire covering his entire body. He pushed between Penny and the red devil, bowed over her hand, and then turned to escort her onto the dancefloor.
With the movement, her rescuers face came into view—
Was that… Roth?
Theo’s jaw dropped.
Had his former best friend—the one who’d caught themonstrum plagaand then promptly cut off all contact with Theo—justsavedPenny? Yes, it rather appeared he had. Moreover, Penny’s expression had been relaxed and she seemed more than happy to slide into a waltz with the bastard.
“Bloody hell,” he swore. “You fiery bastard.”
“What’s that?” A deep voice exclaimed from behind him. “You!”
Theo spun around to find both footmen closing in on him. Their expressions were set in fearsome alignments, and their massive hands were curled into fists that resembled warhammers.
Well, fuck. He had failed at being silent or fast.
“Gentlemen.” Holding his hands up, he backed toward the edge of the veranda and scrambled for a plausible story. One that would explain his presence and hopefully cause the least amount of trouble for his sister. “My apologies for startling you. I appear to have misplaced my horse, and was drawn by the lights and sounds of your engagement. If I can kindly—”
One of the orcs lowered his head and his nostrils flared. “I remember you.”
Damn. Seemed they had an excellent sense of smell and memory.
“Ah…” He took another step back. “Do you now?”
Lady Enid flapped her wings from behind the orcs and mouthed “want help” at him.Double damn. The bloody harpy looked far too amused, and he could hardly allow a lady to endanger himself on his behalf.
He focused on the first orc—the one who’d remembered him—and continued walking slowly backward. “I’m afraid, my kind sir, that I’m in a bit of a pickle. I’m apprenticing to an attorney with no concept of polite timing. I don’t want to interrupt, but perhaps you can relay a message—”
