Talia kept her voice haughty as she eyed the officers. She had refused to speak to them or allow them to speak to Martin and Peter until they’d returned to the King’s Street town house and gotten the boys and James into dry clothes. The boys were now eating soup and bread in the kitchen. “I’m quite certain my father, the Earl of Rushton”—Talia paused to allow that illustrious title to sink into the officers’ minds—“will be dismayed to learn that his daughter has been accused of something so heinous.”The officers glanced at each other and shifted with discomfort.“I am equally certain,” Talia continued, “that my brother, Mr. Nicholas Hall, who is at St. Katharine’s Docks right now settling matters with the foreman, will be happy to compensate you both for treating me with such concern.”“As will I,” James added.“Er…just a bit of a mess, you know, milady,” one of the officers muttered.“Yes, I know.” She blinked at them both.
