Page 28 of The Lady
“What does he want?”
They talked so quickly, they were almost talking over each other, yet finishing each other’s thoughts. The effect was disturbing.
“He is none of your concern,” Lady Felton snapped, whirling around. “Back to bed.”
“But—”
“But—”
“Now!” The command came out as a roar as the woman vented all the frustration, she was holding inside on the two hapless young women rather than on Henry, the way she wanted to.However, she was almost immediately undercut by another knock on the door. Whirling around, she practically wailed. “Now what?”
Turning, Henry gestured at his man closest to the door, who nodded and opened it. It was a measure of Lady Felton’s distress she did not even protest, having a strange ruffian answer her door. Likely, whoever was there was just as unwelcome as Henry, given the hour.
The vision that appeared in the doorway wasverywelcome to Henry. His pet, being escorted by Butch, who gave him a wide grin as he led her into the house.
“Caught her climbing down from her window in the alley.”
Three feminine gasps behind Henry, one outraged and two of delighted shock, made him shake his head. Striding forward, he curled his arm around her, dragging her to him and dropping his lips to hers for a searing, claiming kiss. The gasps that had preceded his action were nothing to the ones that followed, all three utterly scandalized and horrified. They were not his concern, however.
Ending the kiss, he looked down at his lady, and she stared wonderingly back up at him.
“You came for me.”
“Of course, I did, pet,” he murmured, dropping another kiss to her forehead. “I willalwayscome for you.” Bending, he upended her over his shoulder, tossing Lord Verisy’s notes to the floor.
“Well, I never,” Lady Felton exclaimed, while the two harpies behind her twittered and shrieked.
Henry glanced back at her. “You willnevercome near her again.”
He strode out the door, Butch and the rest of his men following.
13
The Tramp’s Lady
Just as thefirst time Henry had rescued her, Delilah felt as though she must be dreaming.
It was not until he tossed her over his shoulder, she was sure it was really happening and nearly wept for joy, feeling his broad, strong shoulder tucked firmly under her stomach. Some of the desire to weep might have been her exhaustion as well. When she heard the gasps from Lady Felton and the terrible twins, Delilah ended up giggling. She could only imagine the time Lady Felton would have, keeping the twins quiet about the events of the evening, and how much damage they could do to their family’s reputation if they did not. Whether they had the sense to realize this would reflect on them as well, she did not know, and she did not care. She was done with this life.
Whatever they brought upon themselves was not her concern.
Henry carried her out to the street to a waiting carriage. Curling up on the bench, she did not pay attention to whatever orders he gave the men who had come with him, she was just so relieved to be there. When Butch had first grabbed her, worried she was about to fall, she’d tumbled right into his arms in a state of complete panic. Realizing who was holding her, she’d practically begged him to take her to Henry—imagine her surprise when he escorted her to the front of Felton House instead. She’d been utterly bewildered, but too tired to react.
Seeing Henry standing inside of Felton House, facing off with Lady Felton for her… she realized she’d fallen completely, head-over-heels in love with the man. Whether he returned her regard, or heeverwould, did not matter. She loved him and would happily be his lover, his pet. Hopefully, for the rest of her life.
Curled up on the comfortable seat of the carriage, Delilah was already dozing when she felt something shift. For a moment, she started to struggle, but then Henry’s deep voice soothed her. She could not make out his words, but they did not matter. What mattered was he was there, holding her, and she knew everything was going to be all right. Settling into his arms, she tucked her head onto his shoulder, his arms wrapped securely around her, and finally fell fast asleep.
* * *
The Tramp
His poor petwas so weary, Henry woke before her the next morning. Then again, despite the late hour they’d returned to his house, he had not exerted himself quite as much as she had. She had not even stirred when he’d transferred her from the carriage to the bed. Which was just as well.
He had things to do.
* * *
The Tramp’s Lady
