The Watchmaker's Daughter (Glass and Steele #1)(21)

"Do I look like I'm wearing an apron?"

"Duke," Mr. Glass snapped. "Enough. Willie…do whatever you want. As usual."

Duke left, chuckling, and Willie served the tea. The small smile on her lips suddenly faded and she straightened, even though she hadn't finished filling the second cup. Tea spilled onto the saucer from the spout.

"What does he mean, prepare a room?" she asked.

"Miss Steele is without lodgings at present," Mr. Glass said. "I offered her a room here until our business is concluded and we leave London."

She glared at him then turned that glare onto me. "Did you force him into this?"

"No!" I protested, eyeing the teapot. Her white knuckled grip on the handle looked ominous. It wouldn't surprise me if she used it as a weapon.

"You're a dang fool, Matt." She thrust the teapot in his direction, causing the tea to slosh around inside. "A chit bats her eyelashes and flashes her puppies and you're falling over yourself to help her."

Mr. Glass's nostrils flared. "Don't," he growled.

"Well, it's true." Willie sniffed, but some of the wind had been knocked out of her sails. "Even more true when she's all helpless, like Missy here."

"Excuse me," I said, rising. I wasn't tall, but I was taller than Willie. Unfortunately, my superior height didn't concern her. She watched me with an air of amusement, as if she thought my attempt at intimidation was laughable. "First of all, I am not helpless. While I may be without steady employment or accommodation, I can assure you that it's only temporary. Secondly, I didn't flash anything at Mr. Glass. And batting eyelashes is ridiculous. No self-respecting woman would do it."

Willie smirked. "Seems we agree on something."

"I'll finish pouring the tea," Mr. Glass said. "You may go."

Willie folded her arms and sat heavily on the sofa. She sprawled on it with her legs apart, as if she were trying to take up as much space as possible. Considering I'd been sitting on it, I suspected her aim was to force me to move. I squashed myself into the corner, my skirts brushing her knee as I did so.

"I'm staying here," she announced. "You might need saving from her."

"Willie," he growled. "Get out or I'll cut your allowance in half."

She sat forward, hands on her knees, then pushed herself up. "No need to be so mean. I'm only looking out for you, like you done for me so many times."

He sighed and dragged his hand through his hair. It was the most harried I'd seen him all day, and considering what a day it had been, that was quite surprising. "I know, Willie. But right now, I need to speak with Miss Steele. We've got work to do, and I'd rather not waste another minute."

Willie bit her lip then suddenly threw her arms around her cousin. The sudden burst of emotion surprised him as much as me. His brows rose and he took several seconds before he gingerly patted her shoulder as if she were a dangerous animal he wasn't sure how to pet.

"I'll be helping Duke if you need me," she said, pulling away from him.

"Try not to pick a fight with him."

"I will if he will."

Mr. Glass sighed as she walked out of the drawing room.

"She's quite a little whirlwind," I said.

"More like a tornado." But he smiled as he picked up the teapot and continued pouring. "I am sorry for her behavior, Miss Steele. Willie is…difficult."

"She's certainly a unique character."

"Her upbringing wasn't ideal for a young woman. I didn't meet her until we were both fifteen, and by then, it was too late. She was already set in her ways."

"She's been dressing like a man since before she was fifteen?" While Willie's age was difficult to gauge, I gathered Mr. Glass to be in his late twenties when he was in good health. Earlier, before he'd gone upstairs, he'd looked much older.

"She has, and acting like a man, too."

"Why?"

He handed me the teacup but didn't meet my gaze. "She found it's easier to be a temperamental, foul-mouthed man than a temperamental, foul-mouthed woman."

I sipped my tea and set aside thoughts of Willie. They were replaced with thoughts of my new employer and his remarkable recovery. He couldn't have slept in the brief time we were apart, so his restored health must be due to the glowing watch.

"I'm glad to see you looking much better," I said. "I didn't expect you to be up and about for some time. You looked very ill earlier." If he didn't tell me about the watch now then he must certainly want to keep it a secret.

"I keep a tonic in my room," he said, his gaze holding mine. "A little swig and I'm cured." He smiled easily. If I hadn't seen the scene with the watch, I would have been completely taken in by his charming manner. "I know it's not my affair," he continued, sitting down in an armchair opposite me, "but since I'm a sort of accomplice, I'd like to know what that business with Abercrombie was about. You claimed not to know why he accused you of theft, but surely there must be a reason."

"I don't know. Truly, I don't. The whole episode was very strange and troubling. Father never liked him, I do know that. He called Abercrombie a pompous prig, full of self-importance. Abercrombie's quite rich, you see, and wields a great deal of influence in the Watchmakers’ Guild as its master."