Chapter 76

“The words are all well and good.” Mathias had shed the act, Darby’s statement stripping him of ammunition. He covered her hand with his own, and Edmund caught the soft stroke of his thumb along the side of her palm. “And not unappreciated. But they don’t solve the position I’ve placed the two of you in.”

“No,” Darby agreed. “We’ll have to do that ourselves. And before either one of you say there is no solution, just stop. We’ve had all of an hour to digest this. At least give it some time with all three of us cracking our brains before you give up on the situation as hopeless.”

Mathias glanced at Edmund with a twinkle in his eye. “She’s a right bossy chit, isn’t she?”

“Emphasis on the right.” He nodded at Darby. “Thank you.”

She smiled. “I think it’s going to be my pleasure to knock sense into you two when you’re being idiots.”

“That might be more often than not.”

“Speak for yourself,” Mathias teased.