Throne of Jade (Temeraire, #2)

by Naomi Novik

obsequity.

impervious

he had to be called three times before he recognized his own name.

but that prospect, once so idyllic in his imagination, now seemed drab and colorless.

staring with open prurient interest

if that man from London tries to come and take you away again, I will kill him,” he added, with an alarming degree of bloodthirsty eagerness.