More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
“She’s awful, Sid. I’ve never seen somebody so caught up in their own majesty. She was five years old and already stomping about giving me orders, and running off to my father to tell tales on me. When we got older she started writing all these nasty little things in her diary about me, and hiding it under a tree like some sort of deranged squirrel when she thought I wasn’t looking.”
If they had considered the possibility that he might be leading her off to impugn her virtue, they didn’t seem too bothered—perhaps they thought her virtue was in need of a little light impugning.
“I’m taller than you,” Arthur said, his voice squeaking a little in indignation. “You’re the same height as me,” Gwen hissed. “Now shut up.” “You are freakishly tall for a woman,” muttered Arthur, just as both competitors reached them.
He gave it a scratch under the chin; the cat purred loudly and then bit down on his index finger. Arthur swore and retracted his hand, but the cat hadn’t drawn blood. It looked extremely pleased with itself.
“Gwendoline. Why didn’t you say something?” “I—I was going to, but … I couldn’t think, and they wouldn’t have listened to me anyway.” Gabriel took a few steadying breaths. “If all I had to do was shout,” he said quietly, “then all you had to do was shout.” Gwen felt shame blooming darkly in her gut
She just said shes one of the most important people in England, im pretty sure theyd listen..
He was almost at the stairs when he felt something small and insistent bump against his legs with purpose. “Hello, Lucifer,” Arthur said, bending down to stroke him and receiving overenthusiastic headbutts in return.
They returned to their rooms and Arthur slept all afternoon with Lucifer curled up on the pillow next to him, purring madly and digging his claws into Arthur’s scalp whenever the mood took him.
Her hair, normally braided up out of her face, was already undone for bed; it softened her somewhat, although she ruined the effect immediately by scowling at him.
They do love to gloss over all the sticky parts, though, don’t they? What’s a little incest, between family.”
“Off to bed, then?” he said, for lack of anything else. “Actually, I—I’ll probably go to the library.” “In the middle of the night?” “In the middle of the night.” “Oh,” said Arthur. “That’s … admirable, I suppose.” “Is it?” “Well, somebody’s got to do it.” The fact that this made no sense at all was not lost on him.
Her eyes were fixed on Gwen’s, her expression serious as she waited for Gwen to mirror her movements. God, Gwen thought wistfully. I hope she stabs me.
“Why don’t you come over here,” Gwen said sweetly, “so I can pit you like an olive?” Arthur straightened up.
“Cheers,” Arthur said despondently. “To a long and happy life together.” “Don’t say that,” Gwen said, wincing and taking a sip of her own tea. “I’m already depressed enough as it is.”
Arthur could see that she was suddenly very tense, although whether she was clamming up with nerves or girding her loins, he couldn’t quite tell. “Well. That’s the most erotic speech I’ve ever heard.”
“I’ll work on it.” Gwen climbed to her feet, placing her cup on top of the dresser. “I should go to bed.” “Right, right. Plied with me tea and had your way with me and now you’re done and I’m dismissed.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Gwen said breezily. “Nobody’s going to bother killing me. I’m of no consequence; I’m barely in the family portraits, they put me really small in the corner.” “That’s the spirit,” Arthur said.
And this might sound foolish, but it felt like you were somehow on my side, even when you hated me. It … it made me braver. That’s what I really want to thank you for.”
“I don’t even like him,” Gwen said eventually, and Bridget laughed quietly. “He grows on you.” “Like mold,” said Gwen. “Like one of those plants that strangles trees.”
Gabriel didn’t seem at all interested in the fact that Arthur’s father had disappeared. In fact, he wasn’t paying Gwen the slightest bit of attention. “Gabe,” Gwen said urgently. “Why are you—what are you looking at?”
“Think he has,” Sidney wheezed; he’d been punched quite hard in the solar plexus after they tied his hands, and Arthur was glad to hear him perking up.
“Agnes,” Sidney moaned. “I didn’t even—I never even slept with her, Art. I fell in love with her, like a pillock, so now I’m going to die when I haven’t seen so much as a tit since the spring—” “Good Lord, Sidney, shut up,” Arthur grunted,
“Hi, Sid—Agnes. I’m here, by the way. Don’t get up.” Sidney was sitting on the bench opposite muttering something in Agnes’s ear, while she turned steadily pinker; he gave Arthur the finger without missing a beat.
