Did he suggest taking you for a walk in the moonlight?"
"How did you know?"
Virginia sighed. "That's what he does. I think it's a kind of challenge for him-to see if he can get young women to let him steal a kiss. If he succeeds..." She trailed off with a frown.
"If he succeeds, then what?" Celia prodded.
"Frankly, I'm not sure. That's as far as the girls ever get in complaining to me about him. First, they tell me he kissed them and it was like communing on some 'ethereal plane.'" She snorted. "Then they protest that they were sure he loved them. And then they start crying. It all goes downhill from there."
"You don't think he actually-"
"No!" She chewed on her lip. "That is, I don't think so. It's hard to know with Pierce. He's so unpredictable." Her gaze met Celia's. "But I'd hate to think of him getting you off alone and attempting-"
"You needn't worry about that," Celia said. "That's what I have Betty for."
"Betty?"
Celia reached into her reticule and pulled out her ladies' pocket pistol.
Virginia leapt back. "Oh, my word! Does your family know you carry that around?"
"I doubt it. I don't think they'd approve."
"I should say not!" Virginia surveyed it curiously. "Is it loaded?"
"Only with powder. There's no ball."
"Thank heaven for that. Still, aren't you worried it will go off by itself?"
"No. It has two protections to keep it from firing accidentally. I made sure of that when I purchased it." She hefted the pistol. "I've been told that ladies of the evening use this sort of gun to frighten customers who try to hurt them."
"Told by whom?"
"My gunsmith, of course."
"How on earth did you find a gunsmith?"
Celia shrugged. "Gabe introduced me to his."
Virginia rolled her eyes. "You and my husband are mad, I swear."
"I suppose we are." With a faint smile, she stroked the pearl handle. "I learned how to shoot from him.

Auteur: Sabrina Jeffries