He has risen to his feet by then. Regardless of the purpose of his presence being more or less to reassure everyone that Lady Fonteyn has the means to produce a beating and a mind to protect her assets, it would have been rude not stand in order to see out the little assembly of partners and their solicitor and so on. Why, he'd even realigned the points of his attention in order to give them a few flat looks and a nod or two! This, for the record, officially makes him a perfectly innocent party when she rounds on him.
Five years ago, Desi might have bristled to any accusation with a surge of heat from under the collar. But he's sensible now. He has the restraint to first smart back, "I would hope so."
(It would be inappropriate for an Antivan lady to entertain so many men in her private apartments.)
"What? It seemed as if it went well."
(He's already leaned the sheathed rapier there on the rattan chair arm with the distinct air of a swordsman who seems to be under the impression that he won't need it any time in the next, oh, half hour. Give or take. It's hard to tell the time when the sun's on the wrong side of the trading house.)
no subject
Five years ago, Desi might have bristled to any accusation with a surge of heat from under the collar. But he's sensible now. He has the restraint to first smart back, "I would hope so."
(It would be inappropriate for an Antivan lady to entertain so many men in her private apartments.)
"What? It seemed as if it went well."
(He's already leaned the sheathed rapier there on the rattan chair arm with the distinct air of a swordsman who seems to be under the impression that he won't need it any time in the next, oh, half hour. Give or take. It's hard to tell the time when the sun's on the wrong side of the trading house.)