At luncheon, Quesnel flirted with Rue, and she flirted happily back. Lady Maccon and Percy ignored them. Primrose made disapproving noises. Rue dragged her off for a private consultation in the stateroom. They left Lady Maccon in charge. Rue did wonder, horrified, if the gentlemen might be on the receiving end of another one of Mother’s precautionary arts lectures.

Surely even Lady Maccon wouldn’t go that far? Well, if she wants to, she will. I can’t stop her. Might as well get it over with.

In the stateroom, Rue flopped into a chair dramatically so that Primrose would ask her what was wrong. Primrose, obligingly, asked.

“Quesnel and I have decided to proceed with our involvement.”

Prim’s eyes widened. “You have? Are you engaged?”

“Not that kind of involvement.”

“Prudence Akeldama, you’re a loose skirt!”

Rue didn’t take offence. If the skirt fit, might as well loose it. “Maybe a little. Except that I’m not doing this for money. When all is said and done, as captain I pay Quesnel… rather well.”

Primrose fanned herself vigorously. “There is no call for the vulgar mention of pecuniary advancement.”

“Quite right.”

“I don’t understand. If you aren’t engaged and don’t wish to be, what are you doing this for?”

Rue smiled. “I always wanted to learn French.”

“Rue!”

“It’s quite enjoyable, Prim. Haven’t you ever been curious? Don’t you want to know what all the fuss is about?”

“Not particularly.”

“Haven’t any of various beaux kissed you?”

“Several! I’m not that old-fashioned.”

“And?”

Primrose was perturbed. Suddenly she was the one being questioned. “It was nice enough.”

“Nice? Nice she says.”

“What’s wrong with nice?”

Rue leaned forward, eyes gleaming. “It was wonderful, Prim. Much better than nice. I adore kissing him. I should like to do it as often as possible.”

Primrose was crestfallen. “Is that how one is meant to react?”

“I don’t know, but it certainly feels right.”

“Then I must be doing it wrong.”

“Or Quesnel is particularly good at it.”

“He certainly has experience.”

Rue grinned. “I’ve decided that’s not a bad thing. I should like to be worldly, and he has agreed to educate me. I’ve already learned a great deal about kissing. Did you know there is a tongue-in version?”

Primrose reared back. “How revolting.”

“I thought so, too, at first, but it turned out to be quite lovely.”

Prim was floored beyond speech.

Rue prattled on, hands flapping. “And I have discovered I enjoy a well-formed posterior. It’s very nice to have something to grab on to, you know, when coping with tongues.”

Primrose whispered, “Rue, that’s a perfectly shocking thing to say!” Her voice was low and trembling.

“But it’s true! And isn’t that delicious fun? To be fully twenty-one years old and learning new things about one’s preferences that one never even knew before?”

“No,” squeaked Primrose, “that’s awful. I prefer knowing my own mind and keeping it as it is! Thank you very much. I do not want to be surprised by bottoms!”

Rue couldn’t stop. For some reason, the sheer depth of Prim’s outrage only encouraged her. “Well, let me tell you, it’s a delightful sensation. I recommend bottoms at every opportunity.”

With which both girls dissolved into slightly hysterical giggles.

After catching their breath, they got themselves fresh tea.

“To be quite serious, Rue,” said Prim, in an attempt to divert her friend from any more squeezing confessions, “you’re toying with that man’s emotions.”

“I’m certainly toying with his bottom.”

“Stop it.” One of the reasons Primrose was Rue’s best friend in the whole wide world was because she spoke her mind when called upon to do so.

“We’ve agreed that it’s only for larks, Prim. I swear it. He’ll stay loyal for the duration but that’s all. It will end with both of us mighty bucked up. That’s the plan.”

“It’s a stupid plan.”

“That’s rich, coming from you.” Rue became defensive.

“Pardon me?”

Rue said, “You avoid Tasherit because you like her. And I don’t mean in a friendship manner. I mean in a French manner.”

Primrose gasped. “You’ve spent too much time with Lord Akeldama.”

“Exactly.”

Primrose pursed her lips. “I will confess to finding Miss Sekhmet unsettling. But that is because she persists in wooing me. I don’t know how to react. She doesn’t respect my engagement at all.”

“Has she kissed you?”

Primrose sucked in her breath. “No.”

Is that part of the problem? Rue wondered. Do you want her to kiss you? She didn’t ask. Prim’s character was nothing like Rue’s. Primrose hadn’t the same reckless curiosity and enthusiasm for the unknown.

“Rue, you cannot expect me to be as forthright with my secrets as you are with yours.”

Rue put a hand to her friend’s shoulder. “I respect that. But I am here if you wish to talk, no details required. And I won’t judge preferences.”