Chapter Thirty-Five
“What? Now?” Pip said.
Lord Octavius nodded. “What would you like to know?”
Pip looked down at her lap. She twisted the fold of fabric she was holding into a tight little corkscrew. What did she want to know about him? And was now really the best time for such a discussion?
Yes, her heart told her. Now is the time.
Pip undid the corkscrew of fabric and smoothed her robe over her knees. She looked at Lord Octavius, this woman-man seated beside her. He was watching her. She saw hope in his eyes and nervousness in the way his hands were clasped together. He hoped she would talk with him, but feared that she wouldn’t.
“Do you gamble?” she asked.
His posture didn’t change, but the way he held himself did. She almost visibly saw him relax. “Card parties sometimes, but
