Page 27 of Beauty and the Thief

She tried it again, and he shook his head again. “Purse your lips a bit, like you’re about to kiss a man.”

She glanced at Tattle, but he was nodding. She tried again, pursing her lips this time.

“Where’s your tongue?” Kelly demanded.

“Excuse me?”

“It should touch the top of your mouth, just behind your teeth. It can’t flop flat in your mouth like when you’re speaking as an Englishwoman.”

“My tongue does not flop,” she said before thinking.

He grinned at her. “Sure and I don’t know what you do with your tongue, but when you say Ireland, put it behind your teeth. And make the I more of an oy.”

She tried again, expecting more embarrassing comments about her tongue, but he nodded. “Better. Again.”

She cut her gaze to Tattle, but he seemed content to allow Mr. Kelly to take over. She tried again. And again.

The door opened, and she glanced back, praying it was Baron coming to save her, but it was Mr. Powder. “Mr. Tattle, we have a small fire on the roof, and it’s spreading near your quarters. We will try to put it out before it does any damage, but I thought you should be aware.”

“Oh, good Lord! Why were you near this building?

“Miscalculation of trajectory, Mr. Tattle.”

Tattle rose. “Mr. Kelly, do continue. I will return in a few moments, Miss Murray.”

When the two of them were gone, Mr. Kelly looked at her. “I blame it on Miss Galloway. She’s half mad.”

Bridget raised a brow. Callahan Kelly was calling someone else half mad? “She’s in evasive maneuvers today.”

“All the more reason to be glad I’m here. Shall we try another word?”

“Perhaps we should reconvene when Mr. Tattle returns.”

“Why? Afraid I bite?”

That wasn’t it. In fact, his smiles were far more lethal than his barbs.

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