" You do know that Cranford is getting more and more difficult, don’t you?” Robert shook his head as he crossed over to where Cassidy was seated by the fire.
“Told you to shove off?”
“No. Just that you were not here.”
Cassidy laughed. “The man must like you. Sees most of my friends as ne’er-do-wells and slams the door in their faces.”
“After telling them to shove off?”
“Exactly.” Pointing to the seat opposite, Cassidy yawned. “So why, pray tell, did I have to rise so early?”
“It’s almost eleven.”
“Yes, but in order to be ready, I had to be up by the ungodly hour of nine.”
“Unforgivable.”
“I think so.”
“Well, I have a favor to ask of you.”
“You got me up early to ask a favor. I know I owe you—but, really, I would have been in a much more receptive mood had you waited until … say seven this evening.”
“Perhaps, but this favor involves intrigue, betrayal, feminine wiles, and a healthy dose of acting the man-about-town.”
“I am a man-about-town; acting would not be required there.”
“Good to know.… And so, the favor.”
“You have my interest. Tell me more.”
Robert smiled and shifted forward on his seat.
Cassidy did the same.
“Let me give you a little background first.”
Cassidy smiled. “As you wish. "

― Cindy Anstey , Duels & Deception