Page 50 of Lord of Fortune
“But not Scotland, eh?”
“Scotland too,” Penn said with a chuckle.
“On your way home, then?” Jessup asked. He was well acquainted with Penn’s travel patterns and knew that Penn spent a great deal of time on the road.
“For a bit.”
Jessup sipped his ale. “And your companion… She really just an ‘associate’?”
Penn ought to have expected that question. He and Jessup were friendly enough. He bit back the surprising answer that leapt to his mouth:for now. “Yes. I’m on the hunt for something.”
“As usual,” Jessup put in.
“As usual,” Penn agreed with a nod. “Mrs. Forrest has an interest in the same artifact, and we’ve been working together to find it.”
“Never seen you with a woman before. What does Egg think about that?”
“Egg is naturally disgruntled. You know that.” Penn flashed a grin before taking another drink of ale. “In truth, I think he might like her. She did tend a wound for him. As it happens, she knows a bit about healing.”
This gained Jessup’s attention—his brows pitched up, and he leaned slightly forward. “Does she? I wonder if she has any remedies to offer for my joints. Last winter, they ached terribly.”
“You can certainly ask her,” Penn said.
“I may do that.”
Etta came back into the kitchen and went directly to the stove to stir whatever was cooking there. “What do you plan to ask Mrs. Forrest, Papa?” she asked softly.
“About my joints. Penn says she’s a healer.”
“She knows some remedies,” Penn said. “I’m not sure she’d call herself a healer.” He wasn’t sure and made a note to ask her more about that. He decided he should wash up before dinner. Excusing himself, he took his ale up to his regular room, where he washed his face and decided to don a new cravat.
A knock on the door caused Penn’s fingers to fumble, and the silk slipped out of his grasp. “Bloody hell,” he muttered. “Come in!”
Egg walked in, closing the door behind him. “Did you change your cravat?”
Penn frowned into the glass as he tried to focus on his task. One of the reasons he liked this inn so much was because he didn’t have to share his room with Egg. Jessup had a nice, warm place in the stable, which suited Egg just fine.
Egg came over and swatted Penn’s hands away. “Let me do it.”
Penn scowled. “Ow. Careful of my wound.” The back of his hand had healed nicely due to Amelia’s salve, but it was still a bit sensitive.
“Now who’s the infant?” Egg smirked while he quickly and efficiently tied Penn’s cravat into a neat and stylish knot.
Penn turned his head back and forth as he surveyed his reflection. “How the hell do you do that?”
“You know I’m good at knots.”
“Yes, with ropes. The fact that you can also tie an impeccable cravat is astonishing. Careful, I may promote you to valet.”
“Try to give me that title, and I’ll reinjure your ’and,” Egg said with a glower.
Penn laughed as he turned from the glass.
Egg handed him his coat. “You don’t want a valet any more than I want to be one.”
“That’s true.” Nevertheless, he allowed Egg to help him don the garment. “Why are you here?”
“Just to tell you dinner’s ready.”
