from him. “My grandfather used to carry it. My father thought it more appropriate than me stuffing a loaded gun in my handbag.”
“Logical man, your father.”
The corner of her mouth twitched. “Sentiment was never an accusation that could be attributed to him. He’d say that belongs to women. He never thought I could pull a trigger, and he’s probably right, hence the club.”
“Did he teach you to use it?”
Her back straightened. “Of course. My father would never hand a soldier a weapon without preparing him first, much less his own daughter.”
Commander through and through, Sir Alfred couldn’t separate his soldiers from his own flesh and blood. And just like every other man of highborn stock, he’d sent someone else to do the dirty work while he sat back on his cushion. At least he’d pay Barrett for the job done. But Kat? What would she get for her troubles? Worse yet, what would she be called upon to do to complete her task?
The small bludgeoner weighed like a brick in his palm. “Handy. Might have to get my own.” He pushed the hand-sized club across the table.
She didn’t move to take it back. “Your fists seem to do the job well enough.”
“Haven’t let me down yet.” He rubbed the backs of his hands. Sore this morning, but not too bad. If he was to start taking on broken bones in the name of Sir Alfred’s daughters, the man was going to have to dig a little deeper into his pockets. And Barrett would take whatever he was offered. No coin was too much to escape the ghosts haunting him on this side of the ocean. “’Course, my knuckles are a little more calloused than they were a few years ago.”
Kat said nothing.
He should never have tried to kiss her. It had been pure reaction to her distress, a way to bring comfort with no thought behind it. But that had quickly changed when his lips charted their own intention. A foolish lack of control. Such things never ended well. Most of the women he’d kissed had smiled or pouted their lips, hoping for commitment beyond what he was willing to give past the one night of diversion. Now, the one woman he needed to keep far away from was the one woman he was stuck with. Every second with her stood as a reminder of the stirring she’d released in him. Last night he’d realized it: he couldn’t not kiss her.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
Restless, he shifted in his chair. “Listen, about last night—”
But she was speaking as well. “Last night I forgot—” They both paused. “Apologies. You go first.”
Barrett shook his head. “No, you go ahead.”
“In all the tiredness of last night I forgot to thank you properly.” Her shoulders inched back as she finally met his eye. “I don’t know how you found us, but I’m ever so grateful you did. If you hadn’t come along when you did . . . Thank you, Barrett.”
He’d been on his way home when he heard the gut-churning scream. Pure, black fury had barreled into his blood when he discovered it was her. If not for her interference, he would have killed those soldiers ten times over.
“Anytime.” He cleared his throat. “Listen, about that k—”
The warm gratitude in her eyes froze to ice. The unsure girl of moments before vanished as her cool exterior slipped back in place. “I’d rather not discuss it further.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, he leaned back in his chair. He didn’t like making women angry—too unpredictable—but he’d rather have that than fumble around with their timidity. “Afraid I can’t allow that. I have a few questions that need answers.”
Suspicion warred in her eyes. Today, with the help of the dress, they showed more blue than green. “I’ll give you five.”
Only five. Better make them good ones. “Why were you on the streets that late?”
“I told you. Ellie wasn’t feeling well enough to leave until it was too late to call a taxi.”
“I saw you get up and leave just after nine. Plenty of time to get back to the flat before ten.”
“I’ll count that as a question.” Her eyes dropped to the scratched tabletop. “We didn’t exactly leave the premises.”
The pink crawling across her face confirmed his guess. They’d spent the remainder of the evening in the ladies’ room trying to sober Ellie up while he’d been too busy upstairs reading new orders from his commander to notice if they’d gotten in a taxi or not.
Berating her