Midnight Jewel (The Glittering Court #2)(31)

“I wish. I’m sure they’d be impressed by your knife.”

A few other Glittering Court girls had emerged for strolls, and I took a few steps back. “Time for me to go. You know, they all think you’re a brawler after they saw what I did to your face.” It had long since healed, but I felt he deserved a reminder every once in a while. Even scratched, his face had maintained the rough-edged good looks I’d found so enticing when we’d set sail. But the more I dealt with his trying personality, the harder it was to imagine him as the hero of some passionate whirlwind affair.

“Wait. Mirabel. Before you go . . .” Grant didn’t turn around, and I heard an uncharacteristic strain in his voice. “You’re right. Sort of. I can talk to women without offending them. Sometimes I can make them like me. Am I the best at flirting? No, but I don’t have to flirt. You do.”

“That sounds a little hypocritical.”

“Because it’s a lot hypocritical.”

“You’re honest, I’ll give you that.”

He turned and met my eyes. “I have to lie for a living to complete my jobs—and to stay alive. But if we’re working together, and you’re around me—the real me—then I will always tell you the truth. I don’t like to waste words. If there’s nothing to say, I usually won’t say it. If there’s something to say, then I’ll tell you what I’m thinking. Often with no filter. But it will be the truth.”

“Okay,” I said, a bit taken aback by his intensity.

“And I’m telling you, for this case, there’ll be times you’ll have to do a little more than rely on your looks. I’m not asking you to go to bed with anyone. But make sure you know how to use those looks. These traitors we’re dealing with may be crafty, but even a brilliant man will get stupid with a pretty girl. And almost all of them will underestimate you. If you let them have a few drinks, boost their egos, smile in the right way . . . well, you increase the odds that they’ll start thinking more about how they want to sleep with you than about the information they shouldn’t let slip. That’s what flirting’s for.” When I didn’t respond, he asked, “Do you get what I’m saying?”

“Of course.”

“Of course?”

I couldn’t take pleasure in his surprise. I was lost in the past, lost in memories of conversations I rarely let surface. Conversations very similar to this one.

First: It’s a little skin, Mira. Just enough to throw him off so we can learn their plans.

Later: He’ll put his arm around you, maybe kiss you, but don’t think about it. Turn off your feelings. Remember this is for the greater good.

And then: Men can say careless things when they’re in bed. I know it’s asking a lot, but think of it as using a tool. A weapon, even. It might be uncomfortable, but you won’t be in any danger. People are giving up their lives for this cause. Can’t you give up your body—just for a short time?

Finally: You’re a coward, Mira. You have to learn to make tough choices. My mind dragged itself back to the present. To finding my brother. I met Grant squarely in the eye. “I’m not stupid. We talk about locks and codes, but I know that’s not what you hired me for.”

“I’ve never, for one second, thought you were stupid.”

“If you need me to flirt, I can flirt. I know how to get favors from men. I’ve done it before.”

I couldn’t read the pause that followed. Did he doubt me? “Then refresh your skills, Mirabel. Get some man on this ship to go out of his way to do something for you. Something that’s an inconvenience. More than discounted paper.”

“Easy,” I told him. “But I want something from you in return.”

“More than fifty gold? You want my share of the reward too?”

It certainly was tempting, but I knew his limits by now. “If I pull off getting a big favor, then I want you to tell me where you’re from. What that thing in your voice is that I can’t figure out.”

I couldn’t see his face, but I knew he was smiling. “It had better be a really, really good favor.”




Grant never mentioned flirting again. He didn’t push me for a deadline. When we had our clandestine meetings throughout that week, we’d talk about other things. He’d elaborate on Denham’s political climate. I worked on memorizing the list of suspect names and each one’s history. He kept saying I didn’t need to know any other tricks of the espionage trade, but he taught them anyway.

I stood by my claim that I could charm men, but when I used to do it for my father’s causes, it was usually with men who would take the lead. I just had to show up and play along. A party of Adorian suitors might be that way too, but here, on a ship where all the men knew to be cautious with us, it could be more difficult.

“How do you flirt?”

Adelaide looked up from the dress she was buttoning. Our cabin mates were away, and I decided to get an outside opinion. “Do you mean me in particular?” she asked. “Or just a general method to flirting?”

“Either.” I leaned back against the wall, feeling the gentle rocking of the ship. “And I guess it’s not just flirting. You can get anyone to talk to you. Everyone likes you.”

“Oh, Mira. Plenty of people like you.”