Merlin, this madam had quite the unconventional approach. Shrike did not identify this as an experiment, but he possessed no great intellectual prowess, and simply took what was presented as it came. Treating him like a boy, then laughing at him... he was not quite sure what to think of that, but could count himself thoroughly unseduced.

Perhaps that was the point, given that — as she said — Long Rose was not for sale, but she'd still sat quite contently in his lap for the best part of twenty minutes. "Aff ye gang, wee Rosie", he gently escorted her from his lap, and took another sip of firewhisky. Now that he looked at her properly in her standing form, she really was a teeny thing — but with a far more considerable presence than her height allowed. "Ye look tae have a very smart operation set up here. But with yin flaw: whin the shopkeep's maer attractive than her wares, yer bound to end up with a fair few disappointed pirates."