That was – probably true, when it came to wages. But translation had never been Nick’s first plan: it was the side-track he’d taken when his life had been shaken off course. Because he was supposed to be married, and supposed to have half of Flourish & Blott’s, and supposed to have his best friend.
And now he had none of everything, hence the general temptation to gamble – change up his chances and his coffers enough to buy some of it back. (All of Flourish & Blott’s, that was. It was too late for anything but the shop.) “I do freelance work as well,” he said, with a sniff (as if that sounded remotely prestigious; it was not his best brag). He finished dealing; turned up trumps (spades) and played a card that followed suit in the trick. “And what would a lady know about dens of iniquity, hm?” Nick shot back, mostly to cover the fact that he was flushed at her perception, or his obvious transparency there. Didn’t he seem like a man who had it together?
And now he had none of everything, hence the general temptation to gamble – change up his chances and his coffers enough to buy some of it back. (All of Flourish & Blott’s, that was. It was too late for anything but the shop.) “I do freelance work as well,” he said, with a sniff (as if that sounded remotely prestigious; it was not his best brag). He finished dealing; turned up trumps (spades) and played a card that followed suit in the trick. “And what would a lady know about dens of iniquity, hm?” Nick shot back, mostly to cover the fact that he was flushed at her perception, or his obvious transparency there. Didn’t he seem like a man who had it together?
