Page 39 of The No Good Irresistible Viscount Tipton
Doran sank onto the small bench, putting his head into his hands. “What have you done, Devona?”
“Nothing yet. With luck we will have you out of here soon.”
Instead of being pleased, he appeared appalled. “You are planning to break me out of here? The three of you?”
As she was tired of defending herself, pride rose to meet his disbelief. “Not just the three of us. Gar is with us. And Amara is holding her own, keeping Brock distracted.”
Doran’s head snapped up. “Amara. Amara is here?”
“Not at the prison. She is pretending to be me at Lady Dodd’s masquerade.”
He pinched the strain building between his eyes. “Dev, love, when we spoke of my release, I thought you had plans that involved that odd surgeon. You mentioned nothing of risking yourself or my sister.”
“Thanks for remembering me and Pearl, Doran. Wish I could say I am pleased to see you, too,” Wynne said drolly, moving away from her post at the door. “I think it is safe to pray, Sister.”
“Wynne, I thought you had more sense than indulging Devona and her schemes.” He took the cup of beer Wynne offered and drank deeply.
She knelt beside him. Dipping her handkerchief into his cup, she dabbed at the small, oozing cut on his forehead. “How could I refuse when someone else knows which heartstrings to pluck?” She gave him a knowing look that had him flushing under the dirt on his face.
“We do not have time to argue about this.” Devona reached for a long loaf of bread and broke it in two. Baked within was a large file. “I almost had heart failure when that guard broke those first two loaves. I guess I am not the first to smuggle tools into this place.” She grinned.
Pearl stirred from her position. “Miss Wynne had quite an effect on him. Daresay your father will have a question or two if that man comes calling.”
“Quit teasing,” Devona said, glancing back at her. “It’s time for you to strip.” She ignored Pearl’s weary sigh.
Wynne grabbed Doran by the shoulders and turned him toward the wall. “Now is not the time to indulge your fantasies, Mr. Claeg.”
He bit into the bread. “Why is she removing her dress?”
“It is what’s under it that we’re after.”
“Christ,” he moaned. “You aren’t planning to dress me up in ladies’ underwear?”
Wynne’s smile had little to do with humor. “As amusing as that sounds, I fear we must forgo such entertainment. Pearl wears trousers and a shirt underneath her dress.” She gave him an experimental sniff. “From the smell of you, I would think a change of attire would be welcome.”
Devona handed him the clean clothing. “You have lost so much weight, Doran. If you cannot conceal them under the rags you wear, we will have to hide them elsewhere.”
“Not that I’m not grateful, Devona. I am. Still, what good is a change of clothes and a file in this place?” he asked, sounding skeptical.
“Men have escaped this place possessing even less than you have at your disposal.” Wynne sneered. “I do not know why you want to save his worthless hide, Devona. The man is a quitter. He is already dead.”
Doran jumped to his feet, blocking Wynne’s dismissal. “What do you know of fear or despair, you sharp-tongued shrew? I’d wager you have to scrape the frost off your heart each morning just to get it to beat!”
Eyes flashing fury, she held her ground. “Go ahead and take that wager, Mr. Claeg; everyone knows what a coward you are. Even your own family has cut their losses!”
“Wynne.”
Her angry focus switched to Devona. “You have always been too kindhearted to see how he has used you. Why do you think I am here? To save his worthless hide? Not in this lifetime. I am here to save you from yourself.”
Doran was an old issue between the two of them. The fact that Wynne had chosen now to bring up the subject had Devona jumping to her friend’s defense. “You speak as if I do not know what I am doing.”
Wynne grabbed her hand before she could stand beside Doran. “Well, let’s take a good look at what we are doing. We have bluffed our way into the ’Gate. We are about to break out a man who has in my opinion taken advantage of your generous heart and most likely we will hang right alongside of him if we are lucky.”
“Don’t pounce on your sister when it is I who—,” Doran tried to interject.
“Oh, quiet if you please, Doran. You have done quite enough in my opinion!”
Devona pulled her arm out of her sister’s grasp and took up Doran’s in a show of support. “If you felt so strongly on the matter you should have not come.”
