Upon returning to Mr. Gallagher's office after a brief lunch break to the Cavendish Kettle — as much for the gossip as the nourishment — Rose prepared to continue to muddle through her list of telephone calls. She was poised to pick up the handset when the clamor of raised voices coming from inside her new employer's office gave her pause. Her desk was situated only six feet from Mr. Gallagher's door, and she inclined her head in the direction of the muted ruckus. As she listened, the voices crescendoed to a volume that allowed her to make out the heated words.

“...and you need to take some interest in the day-to-day goings-on! You'll be required to know all of this before you take over for me.”

“And be bored to fuckin' death? Nah. Ya may as well put one between my eyes. I'd rather go quick.”

“Hush your foul mouth, boy! This is my legacy! Therefore, your legacy! Show some goddamn respect!”

“Relax an' have a smoke, father, before ya give yo'self a nose bleed.”

Ah. Mr. Gallagher and James II were engaged in a rousing session of father-son bonding. Lovely. Apparently they got on about as well as Rose's mother got on with every human being in existence.

“Get back here, Jimmy, or so help me—”

“You'll what? Put me on the rack? Douse me with hot oil? Make me go outside and pick a switch?” came the haughty reply. “I've got better things to do than listen to you rage, father.”

The office door burst open and Rose suddenly found herself locking eyes with the arrogant young man from Mr. Gallagher's photograph.

So, this was the heir. No more impressive in the flesh than he'd been in two dimensions. His mop of dishwater blonde hair was a bird's nest of disarray, but Rose got the distinct impression that he'd styled it that way on purpose. His tie was loose around his collar and hung askew, and his shirt sleeves were rolled up to the elbow. The gray of his eyes was cold, like steel in winter, but as he stared at her, a gleam of intrigue appeared among the frigid hue.

“Good afternoon,” she greeted him, minding to keep her voice demure.

Mr. Gallagher's son took a step closer to her desk, his gaze one of pleased appraisal. The sneer melted into a smirk on his rodent-esque features. “It's good now,” he declared. “Haven't seen you here before. You must be new.”

“I am new, yes,” Rose confirmed. “I just started this morning. And I don't wish to anger Mr. Gallagher any more than he already is, so I should get back to it.”

She shot James II an apologetic smile, hoping her meek and modest performance would be just the catnip needed to inspire him to engage her in further conversation. In her experience, arrogant men loved passive women.

“My father has a permanent rash up his arse. Never mind him. I'm Jimmy,” the volatile young man introduced himself, extending his hand out toward her.

Rose mirrored the gesture, blushing on cue as their hands touched in an amicable shake. His was clammy. “Rose. Rose Appelbaum. Pleasure to meet you, Jimmy.”

“You should let me take ya for a drink. After yo' shift,” Jimmy said. It was more of a command than an invitation, and the words were accompanied by an oily smile.

Though it pained her, Rose smiled in return. “Ohhh, should I now?”

“Aye. Since you're new an' all.”

“I see. And does the boss' heir treat all new employees to a drink on their first day?” she queried. “Forgive my saying so, but I doubt I'd be given such a privilege if I were a middle-aged man with a pot-belly.”

“Hmm, guess we'll never know about that,” Jimmy said. “But I insist. Don't worry, it'll be a gas. Ask any pretty lass this side o' the canal, and she'll tell ya: I'm always a good time.”

Rose inwardly gagged. The thought of spending any time with this odious young man was repugnant, but William wanted information on Mr. Gallagher's family. How could she refuse when a member of that family was offering her an opportunity to gather such intel with no arduous effort on her part? The fortuity was too perfect to miss.

Mind made up, Rose said to Jimmy, “That sounds marvelous. I'd love to join you for a drink. I look forward to it.”

【♖】

Kitty had barely made it through the door to Liam's office when he posed a question.

“Tuppence is leaving in the morning? It's settled?”

“All settled. She and mummy dearest are on the nine o'clock train to London,” Kitty confirmed. “First class car, reserved space and personal valet for their likely two dozen suitcases.”

“Mm. Excellent news, that,” Liam murmured, rubbing his chin. With a sudden tilt of his head, he glanced up and met her eye. “Now, enough about Tuppence. If memory serves, ya planned to visit me house after the benefit. That right?”

“I had planned on it, that's right,” Kitty affirmed. His words were leading, and she hoped this conversation was going in the direction it seemed to be going. “But then, well...things happened.”

She hadn't told him about the server she'd shagged. Nor would she. Liam had been distracted that night, but that was hardly her fault. His distraction had been equal parts Gallagher and Rose. And although she'd forgiven him for his dismissive attitude as of late, she had no plans to supply him with information he didn't need. She'd learned long ago that she wasn't allowed to be jealous of his other lovers and conquests, but he was entitled to be jealous of hers.

“Aye. Things,” he agreed. He nodded his head absently as he lounged in the chair behind his desk. “Things sure as hell happened. Fuckin' Gallagher. Sendin' those tarts…” He trailed off, his eyes hard as he stared at the wall.

“Y'know, I haven't heard the whole story,” Kitty prompted. “As of yet.”

“Haven't ya?” Liam asked. His gaze migrated across the room until it rested on her face. “That settles it, then. You should come by. Tonight. I'll regale ya with all the disreputable details. Maybe over gin? With Tuppence leavin' first thing in the morning, we got every reason to celebrate.”

“Tonight, hmm?” Kitty asked, her tone turning coy. “Your errand girl won't be there?”

“Does it matter?” Liam asked with a dismissive gesture. “It ain't Rose I wanna see tonight, Kitty. It's you.” He fixed her with a heavy stare, his blue eyes gleaming with intensity. “You understand me? I want you.”

Kitty felt a delicious throb of pleasure between her thighs, and she bit her lower lip to keep herself from commenting on it. “I got no plans for tonight,” she told him in the stead of her illicit thoughts. “Sure. Why not? I'm in the mood for some conversation and gin. Be there at seven.”

Liam gave her a knowing smile. “Seven. Good. Wear somethin' nice, eh?”

【♖】

Hours later, and after many more awkward telephone calls, Rose's first day of employment at Gallagher Automotive Factory came to an end.

Mr. Gallagher gave her a brusque thanks for her day's work and told her he'd see her tomorrow morning. Slipping her secret list into her pocket, Rose wished him a good night and followed the horde of other employees out of the building. The pungent odor that wafted from the canal was especially overpowering thanks to the early evening breeze, but Rose did her best to refrain from covering her nose with her handkerchief. Such an action would likely raise suspicion regarding her upbringing and current ‘working-class’ status, as none of the other workers seemed to take notice or be bothered by the stench.

Jimmy Gallagher was parked across the street in a modern sleek black vehicle that had undoubtedly been purchased by his father. “Miss Appelbaum!” he called through the open window, addressing Rose by her alias. “Over here!”

Rose pasted a smile of excitement on her face and ran up to the vehicle. She did not enjoy the sound of August's surname coming out of this grimy boy's mouth, and she found she was grateful that her engagement ring was locked safely away at Warwick Hall.

“This car is gorgeous!” she declared, wondering briefly if Jimmy would have the magnanimity to offer Mr. Gallagher a ride while his vehicle was sequestered away in the repair shop. Likely not. “Is it yours?”

“Sure 'nuff is,” Jimmy said, his chest puffed up like a preening peacock. “Glad you like it. Hop in!”

Rose obliged, climbing into the passenger's seat beside him. “Where are we off to, then? A pub?”

“Aye. The Lion's Den,” Jimmy answered as he pulled the car into traffic. “Right along the canal here. It's pretty lively. Ya been? My father owns it.”

Rose shook her head. She and Daphne had passed by the pub many a time, but it did not serve unaccompanied female guests, so they'd never actually patronized the place.

“I haven't, but it sounds delightful,” Rose said, tossing a grin in Jimmy's direction. “It's all terribly exciting! And, please, call me Rose.”

【♖】

“Whiskey, neat, Vinny,” Jimmy said to the bartender, smacking his hand against the bar top like he owned the place. Rose supposed he did, after a fashion. “And make it a double, would ya?”

“O'course, Mr. Gallagher,” Vinny complied. “Whatever's ya pleasure, sir. And for the lady?”

“Whatever she wants, she gets,” Jimmy said, smiling at Rose like his generosity could end world hunger. He ran his forefinger up and down Rose's arm in a way she didn't particularly like, but pretended she did. “Sophisticated lass like you...ya fancy red wine, or summat?”

“No, I'll have what you're having,” Rose said, her tone exuding a playful challenge. “Whiskey, neat, double.”

“Ho, ho! Got a live one!” Jimmy declared, obviously pleased. “Ya heard the lady, Vinny! Whiskey.”

Rose smiled to herself. If Jimmy was trying to make this easy for her, he was certainly succeeding.

Jimmy slid onto a stool in front of the bar, his feet swinging beneath him as though he were a child who'd indulged in too many sweets. Rose perched on the stool next to him, her body slightly angled toward his.

As Vinny poured their drinks, Rose took in the scene. Even early in the evening, the pub was densely populated and riotous due to the mixture of music, clinking glasses, and animated voices. Like Mr. Gallagher's office at the factory, the decor oozed stereotypical masculinity of the over-compensative variety with its dark varnished wood and harsh angles. Rose half expected to see a taxidermy bear posed in the corner on its hind legs, frozen in eternal attack.

Every man that passed them paused to greet Jimmy. Hand shakes, chortles, and profanities were exchanged in continuum. Jimmy seemed to relish in the attention and adoration.

“You're quite popular,” Rose commented as Vinny set their drinks before them. “A real man's man. Ladies man, too, I'm sure. Every young woman this side of Manchester must be vying for your hand.”

“Ya ain't wrong, Rose,” Jimmy confirmed with a self-satisfied smirk. “I know how to show a gal a good time. But tonight, that gal is you. Fuck the rest of 'em.”

I'm sure you have, Rose thought, suppressing a shudder. Aloud she said, “How fortunate for me.” She raised her glass. “To making new friends. Cheers.”

Jimmy grinned and clinked his glass against hers. “Friends for now,” he corrected her. With a gluttonous look in his cold eyes, he downed the contents of his glass. “But I'm lookin' forward to changin' that.”

【♜】【♞】【♟】

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