Page 12 of A Duchess to Fight For
“How long ago?”
“Three years.”
“Hobart, tell me the story.”
“I was in a bar at the docks, drinking away the last money paid to me because the job was over when the bar wench started showing interest in me.
“I saw what I thought might be her boyfriend giving me a harsh look, so I left.
“So he tried to rob me, and I swung at him. I connected in the jaw. Then I connected in the ribs, and then I connected in the nose. Well, you know where this is going.
“I walked past an alley, heard noise, turned and saw a fight.
“Someone behind me yelled, ‘Hey you.’ I looked back, saw him looking at me, and I ran. As fast and as far as I could. When I stopped, I was in another neighbourhood in another part of town. That’s the part of town you found me in.
I was afraid if I surfaced, I’d go to jail for murder.
“Frederick shook his head and laughed. “I remember that murder. Quite sensational.
“It was Jem Studder. Three years ago, he was found dead in an alley. He was wanted dead or alive for a string of murders that took place outside a pub at the docks. There was a reward. You could have collected two pounds.”
“No kidding?”
“No kidding. This calls for another drink.”
“They apprehended someone for Jem Studder’s murder a couple of months after he was found dead. The case is closed.”
Frederick handed Hobart his drink. “You’re not leaving me again. I’ve finally found you today after ten years of looking. After having finally found you today after ten years of looking, after hugging you, clinging to you, crying uncontrollably like a little girl out in the street in daylight, do you think I’ll ever let you go?”
“Well, when you put it like that, no.”
“I want you to stop hiding. You can live with us. If you don’t want to live with us, you need to live close enough that I can visit you every day or, at worse, every other day. I need you in my life.
“You’ve got to admit having clean clothes, a bath, and food in your belly feels good.”
Hobart smiled. “It does at that. Frederick, I’m as happy to see you as you are to see me. I’m just not blubbering in the street.”
