somehow, even though the only scent Percy could detect on him was yesterday’s soap, tobacco, and what his mind stupidly and unhelpfully identified as man.
Percy ought to be appalled with himself for being attracted to Webb. Here he was, his life in shambles, his situation increasingly urgent, his closest friend and his only sibling both in a precarious position, and Percy’s prick was running the show. Perhaps it was just used to running the show, or perhaps in times of hardship one finds comfort in the familiar, and in Percy’s case the familiar was most definitely thinking with his prick. There had seldom been any reason not to.
Percy raised an eyebrow and cast a slow, heated glance from the top of Webb’s sadly uncoiffed head to the tips of his scuffed boots, lingering at all the good spots in between, and hoping to convey a sort of bored lasciviousness, as if he engaged in criminal conspiracy every day between his morning ride and breakfast. Webb sucked in a breath and shifted his stance. It was some comfort knowing that Webb was so easily flustered by Percy’s frank, if exaggerated, lust.
“I won’t do what you asked me to do,” Webb said, his voice quiet but firm, as if he thought the words would put a barrier in between their bodies.
“A shame,” Percy said, leaning closer and almost purring into Webb’s ear. Then he pulled back sharply. “And a waste of time for you to have traveled half the breadth of London to deliver a message that your absence would have conveyed just as effectively. I take it you want me to persuade you to do my evil bidding, and I’m meant to sweeten the deal by some means. I’m afraid it’s too early for this tedium. I’ll visit you at your place of business later this week or the next time I’m in the mood to be bored. Good day, Mr. Webb.”
“No,” Webb said, this time blocking Percy’s progress with a hand to his chest. “You might let a man get a word in edgewise.”
“I might, but why should I, when so few people have anything to say that I care to hear?” Webb hadn’t dropped his hand from Percy’s chest, and Percy felt the pressure from Webb’s broad hand as if it were a hot iron burning through his clothes.
“You’ll want to hear this.” Webb’s voice was low enough that Percy had to lean even closer to hear him, which meant pressing into Webb’s palm. “I won’t rob your father, but I’ll show you how to do it.”
Percy suppressed the urge to laugh and abruptly stepped back, letting Webb’s hand fall. “I’m a man of many skills, Mr. Webb, but highway robbery isn’t among them and I doubt it ever will be.”
“As I said, I’ll show you.”
“You say that as if anybody could do what you did. As if highway robbery were a trick like juggling or a skill like playing the flute. I doubt it’s either, or the roads would be teeming with attempted robbers.”
Even in the shadows, Percy could see something uneasy flicker across Webb’s face. “Ah, but there is a trick.”
“Oh?”
“The trick is to not worry overmuch about being hanged.”
“Oh, is that all,” Percy said. “A trifling consideration. I’m afraid I don’t agree to your terms, Mr. Webb. It has not escaped my notice that you’d like to see the duke get his comeuppance—ah, don’t deny it, I can already see that you’re a terrible liar and it pains me to watch you try. As I said, you wish to see my father suffer, which means you’re a man of taste and judgment, for which I commend you. However, you must think me an utter simpleton if you believe I’m going to do your dirty work.”
“I’m sure you’d prefer me to do your dirty work.”
“Because I’d be paying you,” Percy said, exasperated. “People don’t walk into your coffeehouse expecting to be told to make their own coffee.”
“I wouldn’t take your money.”
“Why on earth not?”
“Talbot money is filthy.”
Percy was only slightly taken aback. “Well, of course it is, my good man. I defy you to find a single wealthy man whose money isn’t filthy. There’s even something in the Bible about it. Eyes of the needle and so forth, positive I’ve heard about it. All the more reason for you to take it. Good heavens, why am I trying to persuade you, a man who is positively infamous for taking other people’s money?”
“Honest theft is one thing. Making