“Miss Bromwell never treats me like an idiot. She always smiles and nods and offers witty remarks. Perhaps I should just leave you and take my chances. You won’t say a thing. If I hang, so will you.”
“You … you know you don’t mean that.” There was a nervous edge to her tone. “Miss Bromwell may smile and laugh, but she is a respectable lady, full of purity and virtue. You know she cannot give you what you want. She will run away from you like a frightened little kitten, hide away in the corner mewling and licking her paws.”
The woman didn’t know Miss Bromwell very well at all.
“Then perhaps you should remember that you need me,” he said. “Without me, none of this would be possible. Perhaps you should start being a little kinder, more appreciative.”
“If you want kindness,” she said with a slow purr, “you shall have it.”
The room fell silent. Alexander glanced at Elliot, who threw his hands up and offered a shrug.
They heard a scraping sound: wood against the tiled floor, then a dull thud accompanied by Mr. Sutherby’s deep groan. Curiosity burning, Alexander couldn’t help but sneak a glance through the window.
Sutherby was leaning back against the crude table, his breeches bunched around his ankles while his sister took him in hand.
“Oh, God, Julia,” he panted as she dropped to her knees. “This is why I love you.”
Julia?
Alexander shot back against the wall, his eyes wide, his mouth hanging open.
“What is it?” Elliot whispered.
“Take a look for yourself.”
Elliot peaked through the window and remained there for longer than was necessary. “I could find a use for a mouth like that,” he said, moving back to the wall.
“We’ll have to wait here until they’ve finished.”
“Take me, Henry, take me now.”
Henry?
“Sorry, but I’m going to have to have another look,” Elliot said with a grin.
“What’s happening?”
“He’s taking her over the table. They’ll need
to slow down otherwise the only bit of bread they’ve got will be catapulted into the air.”
“Shush, before they hear you.”
“They won’t hear us over the grunts and groans. If only I had a sister like that.”
Alexander sighed. “I think it’s fair to assume she’s not his sister.”
“Agreed. I bet she’s fair game, though.”
Alexander glared at him. “They intend to hurt Miss Bromwell. So much for your loyalty to the brotherhood.”
“I was thinking of you. I could punish her severely until she begs me to stop.”
“Are there no limits to your depravity?”
“No,” Elliot sighed. “We all have our way of coping with the cards dealt us. But you know I speak in jest. You know I would never betray a brother.”
“Good,” Alexander said, “as we can’t take the chance of being caught here, not with just hours until dawn. I will inform Miss Bromwell tomorrow night and then we will return and confront them.”