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

indicated she was one second away from pouncing upon him.
    He crossed his arms over his chest. Oh yes, my dear. Anytime you're ready, I can take you .
    Debney cleared his throat. "Just in case anyone is interested in my opinion, I've decided that I'm only going if Ingrid goes, and I'm the one with the invitation. She can pretend to be my mistress."
    Ingrid brushed a piece of nonexistent fluff off her sleeve.
    "Be reasonable, Caleb." Debney's expression was long-suffering. "It's a better idea than your own. You've only got your back up because someone else came up with it. And I'm not going to risk my hide without at least two people to watch my back."
    "I can circle the ballroom while you're skulking about Ulbricht's study," Ingrid countered. "Three sets of eyes, instead of one."
    Maneuvring him like a chess piece. "I'm not Debney. You'll need to work harder than that to convince me."
    "What makes you think I need to convince you?"
    "The fact that you're trying."
    "How about this, then? First challenge," Ingrid said softly, meeting his gaze. "Prove to me that you're worth the risk. Prove to me that you can compromise when you need to. I'm not interested in... selfishness, Caleb."
    Every muscle in his body locked into stone. She was accepting his dare. But— No! Not like this. "Miller."
    "You won't get another chance." Those dark lashes fluttered down, obscuring her amber gaze.
    He stood arrested. Frustration clashed with sheer want. If he didn't submit, then she'd no doubt never let him so much as touch her. Oh, she'd trapped him so neatly. He was furious. And aroused. "The prize had better be worth it."
    "I'll let you know what I'll consider." Ingrid's smile held satisfaction: his statement was pure capitulation. Pushing away from the desk, she took her seat in the corner, crossing her legs.
    God. Damn. It.
    Debney coughed, reminding them off his presence. "So we're all going, then?"
    Byrnes gave a curt nod. "Let me go get my things and send for the dirigible. My lord." He shot one last glare at Ingrid as he strode from the room.
    Patience. Just a little patience, and she could be his.
----
    T hey borrowed the dirigible from the Nighthawks Guild, though Ingrid wasn't entirely certain whether borrowed was the precise term to use.
    Byrnes ushered them aboard a little too swiftly, and insisted on speaking to the captain privately, dropping his voice just low enough to make it difficult for her to hear.
    "Well, I'm going to freshen up," Debney said with a yawn. "It's at least an hour to the air docks near Ulbricht's manor. And I'll need all of my wits about me tonight. Are you coming?"
    "In a moment," she replied, crossing her arms over her chest. "Just... curious about something."
    Debney's glance shifted between the two of them and he made to say something, then clearly thought better of it and scurried away.
    Byrnes was definitely up to something. Close proximity last year had given her most of his tells, and when Byrnes smiled like that and made an effort to be affable, he was up to no good. Charm did not come naturally to him, as usually he saw little point in it.
    Despite her feelings about Byrnes, it was one of the things she almost admired about him. Charm was all well and good, but at least you knew exactly where you stood with him. Most of the time.
    "Something amusing?" Byrnes arched an eyebrow at her as he finished up with the captain and sauntered over.
    "A private thought. I might tell you later, if I feel like it. I also might not." Ingrid pushed away from the paneling she'd been leaning against. "So... just how difficult are you going to be to work with tonight?"
    Byrnes opened a door in the passageway, revealing a private chamber. Those blue eyes were smoky. "I'm on my best behavior, aren't I?"
    Ingrid stepped closer and slid sideways through the door, not taking her eyes off him for a moment. "That's because you want something."
    His sudden smile took her by surprise, so blinding in its intensity. "You always