shortly

No matter how early I came down, I would find him on the veranda, smoking cigarettes, or otherwise his man would be there with a message to say that his master would shortly join me if I would kindly wait.

Ideas are generally expressed more shortly in verse than in prose

'Well, I still think it was a rather off-hand way for you—for anyone—to behave,' he said shortly.

Suddenly Melody felt trapped—and annoyed. And she didn't like being spoken to like a child, either.