“And you, Madam,” Rickenbacker managed, “What is this place, so far from civilisation in such unforgiving lands?”
“Civilisation isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, Professor. Now step into the sitting room and warm yourselves at the fire. Brennan, open the good wine to accompany dinner. We don’t want to raise Mandell’s ire. Perhaps I shall bore you with a potted history of the lodge over some meat stew. If you’ll excuse me...”
She nodded at Brennan and returned to the kitchen, Alexander the wolfhound alongside.
“The sitting room is this way,” motioned Brennan, delivering a toothless smile as he considered how much Pinkerton’s jacket would have to be altered before it would be comfortable on his own shoulders.
Rickenbacker noticed Brennan’s eyes flickering across the boxer’s torso, could f
