Next time, stand to my blind side, Sterling thought to himself eyeing Burke's strangled chortle.
He then watched Aurore, she was being far too obliging… mayhaps he thought these rogues appealed to her more than he? And when he heard Christophe’s laughter trip down the stairs, he believed he knew all too well why she had not insisted on joining him or ask that he just remain in the shop and smoke as the others did.
“My apologies as well,” he remarked. “Mr. March if you please.” He bent over one of the lamps and drew in on his pipe until a thick gray cloud moved ghostlike about his head. He straightened, the wisps caressing him, making his pale face specter like in appearance. Content that the tobacco had taken a good start, he bowed and left the shop, his first lieutenant finally falling in step alongside his old friend.