Once Penelope dragged Dorian far away from the scene, they finally came to a stop in the shadows of a quiet alley. Dorian's breaths were heavy, his fists clenched tight at his sides.
"Mistress…There's no need for us to run like this. I can still fight. I can take that necklace back right now."
He began, his voice low and strained.
His jaw tightened as his frustration seeped through.
"I… I don't want to see you humiliated like this."
Penelope didn't answer immediately. Instead, she tapped the tip of her umbrella lightly against the cobblestone, her expression unreadable beneath the brim of her hat.
Finally, she spoke.
"Humiliation? Dorian… knowing when to step back is just as important as knowing when to strike."
Her voice was soft, almost calm, but there was a quiet weight to her words.
Dorian frowned, unsure where she was going with this.
"In our line of business, recklessness only gets you killed."
