Free Mission: Improper: London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy by Bec McMaster Page A

source of information. You look like hell."
    "Thank you." Debney pushed away from his desk, rubbing at the bridge of his nose. "I'm not entirely certain whether I've been manipulated, or whether I've had an attack of conscience."
    "Oh?"
    "I'm coming to the house party."
    That was interesting, but also not exactly what he'd planned. Debney would be cannon fodder at best, and if Byrnes was to work at optimum, then he couldn't be watching over his shoulder all the time, trying to keep an eye on his wayward brother. "If you don't wish to go, then you don't have to. I don't need you, Debney."
    "No, but I do," came a sultry voice from the door, and then, with a swish of skirts, Ingrid appeared.
    Like hell. "I don't—" And then his mind stopped working as he saw her for the first time.
    The tall, lean huntress had vanished, replaced by a woman in a flattering black jacket, open over a dove-gray corset and bustle that swept up on one side to reveal the midnight-blue sweep of skirts beneath. There were bows. Ribbons. Frills. A hat cocked on top of a mass of gorgeous, polished honey-brown curls. She was even carrying a white-and-blue-striped parasol, though the design looked almost like something Ava had created.
    Their eyes met. She was wearing that intense expression—almost as if he were prey at that moment—the one that made his hackles rise. Ingrid's slow smile was dangerous.
    The French had a word for it: la femme fatale .
    Byrnes' eyes narrowed, and he belatedly realized his mouth was hanging open. "No," he said, turning and placing his hands flatly on the desktop, as he captured Debney's gaze. "I don't know how she managed to convince you to do this, but it's not going ahead. We stick with my plan."
    "Which includes you waltzing through the doors at Lord Ulbricht's estate and pretending to hobnob with the Echelon?" Ingrid snorted, crossing her arms under her breasts. "Even the blindest member of the Echelon would spot you for a wolf in their midst the second you appeared. You wouldn't pull it off."
    "And you would?" A vein ticked in his temple. She was doing this on purpose, using her stance to turn her bust to best example. If she wasn't careful she was going to spill out of that dress.
    And he was having trouble looking her in the eye.
    "Debney looks the part," she said. "The invitation is in his name, and quite frankly, unless he wants Malloryn on his heels, then he needs to comply with this case."
    "You threatened him?"
    "I reminded him of the consequences. There's a reward, in case you haven't being paying attention."
    And Debney needed money.
    "You'll get him killed," Byrnes growled.
    "That's why I'm going." Walking smoothly, she trailed her fingers along the desk, stalking behind Debney. "I can keep an eye on him to protect him, while you're sneaking around the estate. It's perfect."
    If a blue blood could sweat, Debney looked like he'd be doing it. "Wasn't my idea."
    Byrnes didn't take his gaze off her. "Oh, I guessed that. I should never have told you."
    " Au contraire , you should have told me from the start, and we could have come up with a feasible plan together. I might have allowed you to work my case." Ingrid leaned over the desk. "As it is, I might still allow you to join us. Someone needs to play valet."
    Might? Might ? Byrnes rested his knuckles on the mahogany and loomed closer until her breath brushed his cheek. "I thought you were chasing up that theory about the Doeppler orbs."
    "Jack's still looking into it for me. Results should be due in around twenty-four hours, and oh, look, I seem to have the time to fit in a side excursion."
    "No."
    "Give me one good reason," Ingrid countered, her voice thickening and the bronze rings around her pupils flaring.
    Usually a good time for any sane man to run. Verwulfen were rash, passionate creatures, and he'd since learned that Ingrid was dangerous when her verwulfen nature was roused. "Because I said so."
    She leaned toward him and there was a heat in her eyes that