27
" Unfortunately, Primrose, while delighted to be asked, was equally unhelpful.
"Oh, Percy, simply see if she'd like to be wooed and then woo her. Must you make everything so complicated?"
"I hardly think wandering up and saying, Pardon me, Dr Ruthven, but would you like to be courted by, well, me? is particularly romantic. Or is it? I really don't know.
Prim rolled her eyes. "Say it in Latin."
Percy actually considered that. But it seemed just as daunting. If not more so. Latin made it real.
The thing was, his entire life, Percy had been good at anything he put his mind to. But only those things. He was perfectly well aware that in matters convivial he was an abysmal failure. Arsenic was important, so he didn't want to fail her. It was a bitter pill to swallow, doctor pun intended, but he figured he ought to read up on such things as love poetry and romance before he attempted anything like a direct approach. "
― Gail Carriger , Reticence (The Custard Protocol #4)
28
" Percy, why do you always have to spoil beauty with explanation?" Primrose didn't look away from Edo.
"One would think it might enhance your appreciation."
"No, one wouldn't, you puffed-up chump. The mystery is all gone now!"
"I appreciate knowing," said Arsenic, giving Prim a side-eye.
"Well, you would, you're an intellectual too." Percy said it without realizing he'd extended praise, and blushed to hear admiration in his own voice.
"Of a type, you two. It's exhausting. Go talk about technicalities on the other deck, would you? Let us bask in wonder. "
― Gail Carriger , Reticence (The Custard Protocol #4)
31
" Long story, But now, I think, tea?"
"Tea? Tea started it all, sir. Don't talk to me about tea." Virgil sounded particularly gloomy.
"Well, perhaps fetch us both some to be going on with anyway? There's a dear chap."
"We're in the middle of an escape, sir."
"You're absolutely correct. Crumpets are also required under such trying times. Tea and buttered crumpets, please, Virgil. And for Arsenic as well. We all need restoration."
"Yes, sir. Right away, sir." Virgil tottered off, muttering something dark about Percy wanting dipped biscuits. As if Percy would ever do anything that shocking with biscuit integrity. He wasn't a monster. "
― Gail Carriger , Reticence (The Custard Protocol #4)
32
" He was, indeed, a sublimely bad dancer - bungling and unsure with no conversation. Arsenic did her best to make him comfortable and engage in the requisite pleasantries, searching for any topic that might relax the poor lad. Nothing helped and they parted awkwardly. Arsenic remained under the impression that he either was terrified of her, which was patently absurd, or had taken her in great disdain.
She'd seen him talking with the matrons at the tea table, perhaps they had told him horrible things about her mother. That would do it. She hoped she might have an opportunity to prove herself to her new shipmate as a worthy member of staff, then perhaps he'd not dislike her so. He seemed secretly quite kind, ceding to his sister's demands, placing glasses of water near Rue whenever she took a breather, and interceding on Virgil's behalf when the laddie caught Lord Ambrose's eye. "
― Gail Carriger , Reticence (The Custard Protocol #4)
33
" Really, was everyone aboard this ship slightly mad? Much of Arsenic's initial conversation with the decklings was beginning to make sense. All the crew seemed, in a word, eccentric.
Mr. Tarabotti smiled. "Too late, little cousin. I stay here. You done almost? You maybe do not wish late, no? Your father, he will throw a fop."
Miss Tunstell said, "Throw a fit, I think you mean, Rodrigo."
"Si?"
"Yes. He is a fop, but he throws a fit."
The captain interrupted, "Yes yes. Soon. But this is more important."
"Si?" Mr Tarabotti shrugged and left. He said something in Italian to someone waiting in the hallway as he closed the door.
Arsenic turned to look curiously at the cheerful captain. "He tried to kill you?"
"Obviously he wasn't successful."
Arsenic nodded. Obviously. "My mother would say that shows a lack of follow-through."
The captain grinned. "Your mother sounds logical."
Miss Tunstell added, although not critically, "And a little bloodthirsty."
It was a fair assessment. "You've no idea," replied Arsenic, because it seemed they really didn't.
The captain wrinkled her nose. "Old cousin Roddy there is not so bad. He's been reformed through excessive reading. Percy was in charge of extensive literary recuperation efforts."
Arsenic smiled at Professor Tunstell, not quite sure what to make of this explanation, but knowing that books could be good medicine.
The man dipped his head and blushed.
The two ladies looked at him as if he'd done the most unusual thing ever. "
― Gail Carriger , Reticence (The Custard Protocol #4)
34
" Without turning to look at him, she smiled. "You should court me, Professor."
"From the look of things, you're hell-bent on courting me. Quite well, I must add. The direct approach is best for someone with my condition."
"Your condition?"
"Uh, socially rummy and easily bewildered by females."
"On the contrary, I ken you understand women verra well. You've simply never bothered to apply your understanding."
Percy narrowed his eyes. She was awfully perceptive. "So you, erm, want courting? What kind? I hardly know how."
"A little effort, please."
He stumbled and then coughed out a laugh. She was playing with him. "You think I'm lazy?"
"I think you've had it quite easy, m'eudail. Aye. "
― Gail Carriger , Reticence (The Custard Protocol #4)
