29 Chapter 29

"Become your mistress?"

Had someone sucked her mouth dry?She remembered that very first day she'd found herself an object of ridicule at Starkadder's? 'Oh whot 'ave we 'ere? Little Miss Toffee-Snout. Wif her brother. Lord Snotter-Nose.' Two terrified children. She thought about the things that had happened since, everything, to come to this. My God.

Had she really thought he wouldn't be so low? A man whose aspirations were half an inch off the ground?

A man who asked for a kiss when she'd demanded to know what he wanted,wasn't going to let her off the hook for nothing.

"And if I don't?" Why not ask? After all she wasn't anyone's servant, his mistress either, so she wasn't exactly going to oblige.

"I'm not mean, Miss Armstrong. You have ten minutes."

Ten minutes? She gave a little start. To pack up her life here? And Gil in the herb garden for God's sake? That might present difficulties.

"Ruby and Pearl?"

"Will not be joining us, I am afraid."

"But-"