Page 17 of To Catch A Rogue

“A golden widow,” Lark mused. “Its bite is lethal.”

He flashed her a smile and recalled the little spider. It rolled back to his feet in orb shape, and he plucked it up and tucked it in his pocket. “Golden Widow, it is. Want to watch us take off?"

She seemed distracted again. "No. I'd best stay here for the moment. You go."

Unusual. He'd been looking forward to this moment all morning, knowing Lark would love being aboard an airship for the first time.

Charlie sank onto the lower bunk, his hands folded between his knees. "Thank you. For coming. I know we've had our differences of late, but—"

"It's fine," she blurted. "Don't you want to go topside? They're casting off the mooring ropes."

His eyes narrowed. "What are you up to?"

"Nothing."

"You are." He suddenly straightened to his full height. "Do you think I can't tell when you're plotting something?"

He followed her gaze to the trunk. Lark swiftly glanced away.

The airship gave a jolt as the engines shuddered. Charlie swayed with the action, bracing himself against the bunk. They were clearly off, and he'd missed it all, but none of that mattered.

"Lark." He strode toward the trunk. "What have you got in here?"

She leaped in front of him, hands to his chest. "It wasn't my idea! It was the only way he'd allow me to come."

A chill raced down his spine. There was only one man who'd be brave enough to tell Lark she could or couldn't come. And the trunk had been peculiarly heavy.

"Lark." His voice lowered with soft menace. "Open the trunk."

Pressing a hand over her eyes, she stepped aside with a sigh. "I'll allow you that honor."

Charlie flipped the latches and shoved the lid open, filled with a sense of trepidation.

"'Bout bloody time," Blade said, unfolding from where he'd been curled up amongst Lark's clothes.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Charlie's jaw dropped. This was a disaster. "Did Honoria send you?"

Blade set both hands on either side of the chest and pushed himself out of it. He brushed off his red velvet waistcoat. "Thought you was never goin' to open it."

"Blade."

His brother-in-law had dyed his hair dark, so there was no sign of any of his usual silvery blond strands. It made him look a little more dangerous than usual. "No. 'Onor didn't send me, though we discussed it. But I ain't 'ere for you."

He turned those cunning green eyes on Lark.

"I'm 'ere to keep 'er 'ead on 'er neck."

Charlie groaned. How the hell was he going to tell Gemma they had a stowaway?

Chapter 4

"Ah, Sir Henry," Gemma called, as Blade and Lark entered the stateroom they were using to hold the briefing in. "How good of you to join us."

Charlie winced.

If he closed his eyes, he'd probably still be able to hear the strident tones of her voice demanding to know just how someone had snuck aboard an allegedly secret mission.

"Blade'll do," Blade replied. Despite the fact he'd served three years on the Council that ruled the city and was widely renowned as the "Hero of the Realm" for his role in the prince consort's downfall, he hated being called Sir Henry.