“It isn’t Saturday, you know, Miss MacLean.”

I know this, of course, because I have about thirty different ways of looking at a calendar, but I know better than to say that to Lady B. “I thought it might be fun to show some of my inspiration for my books today, Lady B. I know it’s an unexpected thing for a Thursday, but who needs a Saturday Salon for a slideshow?”

“A what now?”

“A slide show. It’s a…” I hesitate. “Nevermind. Have a look at this.”

“Oh, my.”

“I know.”

“He’s quite handsome.”

“He is. And he’s the inspiration for Temple.”

“You mean the Killer Duke?”

“Precisely.”

“The fighter.”

“The very same.”

“My goodness, Miss MacLean, you do always bring the scandal to the ballroom.”

“I do what I can, my lady.”

“I’m afraid I can’t have the Killer Duke in the house. Lord B would have a difficult time with it.”

“I assure you, Lady B, Temple wouldn’t dream of coming here.”

Lady B’s gaze narrows. “And why is that? He can’t possibly think he’s too good for us.”

“Oh, no, he doesn’t,” I rush to assure her. “He just knows…well…his place.”

“And that is?”

“The boxing ring of The Fallen Angel.”

Her voice goes quiet and fills with scandal. “The casino.”

“The very same.”

“You’re familiar with it?”

“I am…it’s very…memorable.”

“Why is that?”

“Well, the art for one.”

Lady B looks skeptical. She hadn’t been looking for that answer, clearly. “The art.” She’d been looking for something more scandalous.

“Absolutely. Take this painting, on the wall of Cross’s office.”

“Good heavens! The Earl could use something slightly less…macabre now that his wife is increasing, don’t you think?”

I smile. “Well, the Countess of Harlow doesn’t exactly mind it.”

“No,” Lady B says, “She’s an odd enough girl that she would like it.”

I’m pointing to another picture. “This one is in a room off the Duke’s chamber.”

Her brow rises. “And why would you know anything about the Duke’s chamber?”

I blush. “Suffice to say, I’ve spent some time in there.”

“With a killer?”

“He’s a very nice killer.”

She does not look like she believes me. “Nice.”

“Well, to me.”

“I hear he likes ladies of a…certain ilk.”

I’m fairly certain I’ve been insulted, because Temple is a halfway decent guy and doesn’t mistreat the prostitutes as the club, but I decide not to get into it with Lady B. “The point is, Lady B…I’m writing, and I need stuff like this to help move me forward. In fact, I keep them all in one dedicated location.”

“Oh, yes. I’ve heard you all speaking of that. Thanks to your Inner Netting. And your Parasols.”

I am used to Lady B discussing the Internet, but the rest…I blink. “Our parasols?”

She waves a hand. “Or your petticoats. Or pincushions. Something like that.”

My brow furrows. And you didn’t think that sounded off?

She cuts me a look. “It’s not as though you authoresses haven’t sounded off before, Miss MacLean.”

It’s a fair point. “I think you mean Pinterest.”

“Oh, and that doesn’t sound off?”

**

Do you guys use Pinterest? I’m obsessed with it. If so, what do you use it for? If not, what social media stuff do you use? (Besides hanging out here, of course!)

Under heroes, historical inspiration, inspiration, sarah