Imprudence (The Custard Protocol #2)(46)

After catching their breath, they got themselves fresh tea.

“To be quite serious, Rue,” said Prim, in an attempt to divert her friend from any more squeezing confessions, “you’re toying with that man’s emotions.”

“I’m certainly toying with his bottom.”

“Stop it.” One of the reasons Primrose was Rue’s best friend in the whole wide world was because she spoke her mind when called upon to do so.

“We’ve agreed that it’s only for larks, Prim. I swear it. He’ll stay loyal for the duration but that’s all. It will end with both of us mighty bucked up. That’s the plan.”

“It’s a stupid plan.”

“That’s rich, coming from you.” Rue became defensive.

“Pardon me?”

Rue said, “You avoid Tasherit because you like her. And I don’t mean in a friendship manner. I mean in a French manner.”

Primrose gasped. “You’ve spent too much time with Lord Akeldama.”

“Exactly.”

Primrose pursed her lips. “I will confess to finding Miss Sekhmet unsettling. But that is because she persists in wooing me. I don’t know how to react. She doesn’t respect my engagement at all.”

“Has she kissed you?”

Primrose sucked in her breath. “No.”

Is that part of the problem? Rue wondered. Do you want her to kiss you? She didn’t ask. Prim’s character was nothing like Rue’s. Primrose hadn’t the same reckless curiosity and enthusiasm for the unknown.

“Rue, you cannot expect me to be as forthright with my secrets as you are with yours.”

Rue put a hand to her friend’s shoulder. “I respect that. But I am here if you wish to talk, no details required. And I won’t judge preferences.”

“No, not you. You never judge. It’s both na?ve and sweet. And likely to get you into trouble. If this dalliance gets out, others will judge you. Unmarried lady aristocrats aren’t supposed to dally. Not with common engineers, even famous inventor-type common engineers. He’s one step up from an artist.”

“That’s part of the fun.”

“Does your mother know?”

“Yes, curse it. Oh, Primrose, it was beastly. She gave me a lecture – on tiny sponge hats and vinegary measures a lady takes to prevent being inconvenienced.”

Prim’s face went pale and her mouth softened in sympathy. “Oh, Rue, how awful for you.”

“It was quite the most unpleasant thing ever.”





After everyone else had gone to bed, Rue received Quesnel at the door to the captain’s quarters wearing the pretty silk robe that she’d conveniently forgotten to return to Tasherit.

Quesnel was delighted. “You noticed how much I liked it?”

She nodded, nervous. “I thought that it would make things easier.” And give me a little control over the situation.

Rue wasn’t even aware she had linked her hands together until Quesnel placed his palm gently on top of them.

“Chérie, I wish to be very clear with you. This is not a rejection. I absolutely adore that robe. You are shaped in every way exactly as a woman ought to be shaped and someday soon I will strip it off you and convince you of this fact. But not now.”

Rue felt the hot blush of shame. What was she doing, chucking herself at him like some wanton street hussy?

“No,” he said, “stop it. What did I just say? This is nothing to do with you. It is my control I’m concerned about as you are inexperienced. This must be good for you. I have to make it good for you.” He shook his head.

He is nervous, too? How adorable. Rue gave him a little nudge with her shoulder.

“I don’t want to skip too far ahead. You cannot be expected to speak French in full sentences, having only learned a few words.”

Rue took a shallow breath. “That does make sense. Nothing of an intrusive nature right away?” She gave his trousers a suggestive glance.

Quesnel chuckled, but not in a nasty way. “Shall we leave that for a week so you don’t fret overmuch?”

Rue was both disappointed and profoundly relieved. “Oh, that would be nice. Not that I am rejecting you!” She wanted to take equal care of his feelings. “And I don’t wish to restrict spontaneity, but I should like…”

“A reprieve from the unknown? Don’t wind yourself up about it. And to that end, I have something for you.”

“A book? How thoughtful.” How mundane. It was something Percy would do, and so out of character. She glared at the volume in confusion. It was a plain cloth thing, dark green in colour, not very big. It was certainly something she could read quickly. It looked to include a number of etchings – they darkened the edges of near half the leaves.

“That book is your first lesson. I would like you to read it, chérie. Mark the bits you like and the ones that confuse you, and we are going to talk about it. Really talk. Teasing talk, of course, that seems easiest for us, but I want you to read and ask questions. Please?”

She went to flip it open.

“Not in the hallway, mon petite chou. I bid you good night.”

“Don’t I even get a kiss?”

“Not in that robe you don’t, far too dangerous.”