His equivocation was genuine, although Scrope would doubtless see it as a ploy - that McKinsey assumed disbelief to keep his price down. What was he doing? He didn’t trust Scrope as far as he could throw him, and yet here he was, dealing with the man. “Indeed?” McKinsey lowered his gaze to where his fingers caressed the sides of an ale glass. “After due consideration, I believe we can do business, sir.”

Scrope, dark-haired and dark-eyed, his face long, his features haughty, held his gaze.

The only question remaining is whether you can deliver Eliza Cynster to me, unharmed and in good health, or not.” “You have had your two weeks to reconnoiter and consider. I require you to kidnap Miss Eliza Cynster from London and deliver her to me here, in Edinburgh.” McKinsey - he was still calling himself that it was a perfectly good alias, after all - lounged in a booth at the rear of the dimly lit tavern, his gaze leveled on the man seated opposite. Good.” She paused, then asked, “Do you have any suggestions?” She blinked as if taken aback, but then nodded. “It won’t help our cause if either of us falls and breaks a limb, so we’ll think of another way.” “All right.” He nodded, keeping both gesture and tone calm and even. She was tallish, admittedly slender, yet there was enough of her to make him question whether he would be strong enough to hold and save her. If she slipped … he might not be able to catch and hold her and stop her from pitching over the roof’s edge. If I slip …”Ī chill coursed down Jeremy’s spine. My legs are still shaky, and I can’t hold onto anything. They gave me laudanum for the past three days and it still hasn’t worn off. “That’s the best I can do - the hardest I can grip anything at the moment. Met his gaze as he lifted his eyes questioningly to hers. Looking at her hand, he saw it shake as she tightened her grip, just a fraction, but no more. “Believe me, I’d like nothing more than to go with you, but I …” She reached out and grasped his forearm. “I can’t.” Drawing back, still gripping the sill, Eliza raised her eyes to his.

In pursuit of eliza cynster