Page 28 of To Catch A Rogue

Clearly the idiot didn't know her as well as he thought, because when she put both hands on her hips, he missed the warning sign.

"Someone who's not going to stand out like a sore thumb. Debutantes are elegant, graceful, vapid-eyed creatures who flutter their lashes and simper. You've never simpered in your life. These men are going to be staring at your—"

Byrnes clapped his hand over Charlie's mouth from behind. "To be honest, sugarplum, while I would greatly enjoy watching what's about to happen under normal circumstances, I've seen this story before. I know how it ends. And we've got a certain manipulative duke to focus on. Do you think the pair of you can do that?"

"Are you doubting me again, Byrnes?" she asked.

"I learned that lesson on day one. Never, my Lady Lark."

Despite the way they'd gotten off on the wrong foot, she was almost starting to like him. He conceded defeat when it was due and didn't appear to carry any grudges, though she didn't doubt he'd return the favor the second he got a chance.

"Think you can pull it off?" Byrnes asked her.

"I know I can."

"That's good enough for me." Byrnes snickered. "Please tell me the dress is red?"

Lark's eyes narrowed. She felt like Byrnes was having some sort of jest she didn't quite understand.

"It can be," Gemma said. "There are several options."

"Definitely the red." Byrnes looked completely innocent, which meant he was either up to something or enjoying his own private joke.

Lark glared daggers at Charlie.

Time to wipe the smirk off his face.

* * *

Surprisingly,it was Gemma who came to assist her.

Lark had just been buttoned into the gown Gemma had provided for her by one of the maids, when the door opened and the other woman appeared in a swish of peacock-green skirts. She turned abruptly, despite the fact her back was now covered, not an inch of skin revealed. She'd had to be careful in front of the maid, making sure her chemise covered everything.

"Sit," Gemma said, gesturing for the maid to leave them alone.

Lark settled on the seat in front of the mirror as Gemma picked up the silver-backed hairbrush. Lark wasn't quite certain what to expect. Though she'd never have said a woman intimidated her, Gemma was precisely the sort she usually avoided.

It was simpler with Ingrid. The tall verwulfen woman strode about in trousers and brooked no nonsense from the men around her. Ingrid's every expression flashed across her face, and she didn't bother to hold her tongue. Lark felt instantly at ease with her.

Ava was lovely and kind, but they had little in common, and she tended to ramble on about the oddest things like the experiments she was doing to create a Black Vein antidote, and the precise turning point where the craving virus became the Fade.

But Gemma....

Gemma had been watching Lark with a speculating look ever since she'd boarded theValkyrie.

It made her nervous.

"Did you want to speak to me?" she asked as Gemma brushed her hair.

"I was hoping to get a moment alone with you, yes. Tonight is a very important mission—"

"I'm not going to ruin it," she said abruptly. "I've been stealing from blue blood lords for years. Charlie has no idea what I can do."

"I believe you. And young men can be blinded by what's right in front of them."

"He is going to eat his words," Lark promised.

The faintest of smiles touched Gemma's painted lips. "I'm sure he will. He's half in love with you, did you know?"