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were supposed to help me,” Nick grumbled.
    “We did. We helped by securing this table,” Penn said. “We knew you would be hungry.”
    Nick rolled his eyes.
    “So you found a way in?” It was just like Bryan to change the subject. Keep the peace.
    “No,” Nick replied.
    “Did you not hear him? He said he was climbing the walls. Obviously he did not find a door.” Penn picked up Bryan’s cup but took only one sip before slamming it back down on the table. “You need more too,” he muttered, waving at the serving wench.
    “I would not if you did not drink mine.” Bryan looked into his glass. “It is still half full.”
    “Which means it is half empty,” Penn replied. “You need more…”
    Nick opened his mouth to stem the argument but the serving wench appeared. “More ale for ye, m’lord?”
    “Yes please,” he replied, forcing a smile on his face. “What is the finest thing in the kitchen tonight?”
    “The stew is fresh,” she said, passing a sultry gaze over him. “But the finest thing we offer is right here, m’lord.” She put her hand on her curvy hip, jutting it out saucily.
    Nick raised his eyebrow. “As appreciated as the offer is, redheads are more to…” Out the corner of his eye, he saw Bryan stiffen in his chair. “…the Lord von Thalunburg’s taste.” He tipped his head toward Bryan.
    “Is that so, m’lord?” She sauntered around the table toward Bryan, but did not touch him, standing between Penn and Bryan.
    “And what about ye fine nobles?” she asked, leaning toward them.
    Penn smiled at her. “Another ale would be splendid,” he said. “And maybe later…” He raised his eyebrow as he gazed down her torso.
    The woman laughed. “A naughty one ye are,” she said, then faced Bryan. “And ye, m’lord?”
    Nick bit his tongue to keep from laughing as she pressed her hip against Bryan’s chair.
    Bryan froze, his eyes dilating as she leaned over, displaying her ample bosom. “Uh. Well. I…” He stared at what she offered him, his cheeks darkening, and his hand twitched toward her. The stein he had been drinking from went flying, right onto the wench’s dress.
    “M’lord!” She grabbed the stein and shoved herself away from Bryan.
    “Oh, uh. I am…” Bryan jerked out a handkerchief and attempted to blot away the worst of it, though his hands shook as he touched her.
    Penn almost fell out of his seat laughing. “He will have another ale.”
    Nick let out a laugh as the barmaid took off. While he and Penn got control of themselves, Bryan looked ready to murder them both.
    “You truly are evil,” Bryan snarled at Nick, attempting to pat the leftover ale off the table with his now useless handkerchief. His hands were still trembling and he almost vibrated with embarrassed rage.
    Penn pulled out his own handkerchief and helped him. “You really need to relax around women, Count.”
    Bryan’s eyes narrowed as he threw the soaked handkerchief on the table. “Horse’s arse,” he muttered.
    “Who?” Penn asked.
    “Both of you,” Bryan replied, the tips of his ears dark. The dim light in the inn hid the more obvious signs of his embarrassment, but Nick knew Bryan well. It was probably cruel of him to encourage the wench, but he knew Bryan loved women as much as Penn. He had just never learned to properly woo them.
    The wench returned with the ales and his bowl of stew, though she gave Bryan a wide berth.
    “Thank you,” Nick said.
    Penn snagged his drink. “Greatly appreciated.” He ran his gaze over her again. “And the offer stands…”
    She blushed and set Bryan’s drink in front of him.
    Bryan took the cup and nodded his thanks. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out far more coin than necessary to pay for the drinks and put it on the table for her. She eyed him for a moment but said nothing as she scooped up the coins and tucked them into her pocket. Bryan let out a breath, his shoulders relaxing, and sunk a few inches in his chair.
    He