Page 3 of One Night of Temptation
“I understand plenty. I can see you have a woman of considerable means with a sack over her head. Don’t endanger yourselves with the law.”
“The law?” Joseph asked before breaking into laughter along with Edwin. “We don’t care nothin’ about the law. There’s no law here.”
Hugh couldn’t argue with that. All manner of crime occurred in St. Giles, and it was accepted as normal. “Icare. I’ve no idea what you plan to do with her, but you’re going to have to forget about it.” He started to move past Joseph to get to her.
The man grabbed Hugh’s arm right where the shuttlecock had struck his bicep. “Leave ’er be.”
“If you think I’m going to allow you to kidnap someone, you don’t know me very well.” Hugh glowered at Joseph as he shrugged him away. Then he reached out to pull the sack from the poor woman’s head, gasping as recognition sped through him. This was the daughter of the Marchioness of Bramber, who occasionally visited his church on “charitable” endeavors.
Joseph, who was probably five years younger than Hugh’s thirty but looked older, tried to insert himself between Hugh and the young woman. “How about I cut you into the profit? We’re goin’ to ransom ’er. She’s a fancy chit with money.”
There was no point in asking how they knew this—the young lady’s costume gave her station away. Her expensive bonnet hung around her neck by a wide ribbon, which left her head exposed. Dark hair pulled back from her heart-shaped face with curls adorning her temples. Her eyes were brown but held a golden glow that made them appear amber. Right now, they were wide with fright, and Hugh had to fight an urge to pound Joseph and his cohort into the pavement.
Hugh pulled the young woman against his side. “You’re not ransoming anyone. You’re going to continue on your way and forget you even saw her.” Hugh let go of his anger and dug into his compassion. Joseph had been alone in St. Giles for nearly twenty years, and he showed signs of turning himself around. Hugh had made a point of paying him attention when he’d moved to the parish three years before. “Joseph, there is a better path. If you would stick with one of the jobs I’ve found for you, you’ll find that fulfillment will be at hand.”
Joseph exchanged a look with the other man and snorted. “You say that, but opportunities like this fall into my lap.”
Opportunities? Hugh felt the young woman quivering beside him. She’d pressed into his side, as if she could adhere to him. How had she come to be in St. Giles all alone?
“Where did you find her?” Hugh asked.
“Jes’ walking along Ivy Street,” Edwin answered.
Hugh’s anger surged once more. “I highly doubt she would venture into St. Giles by herself. Try again.”
“She was alone, we swear,” Joseph said. “Weren’t ye, dearie?”
Hugh glanced down at her and saw her slight nod. “I was,” she whispered.
Well, blast it all.
“Wh-where’s Maisie? You better not have hurt her.” The young woman’s voice had faltered at first, then gained strength. Hugh knew a Maisie in St. Giles, but how would Bramber’s daughter know her?
Joseph and Edwin laughed once more. “Maisie’s waitin’ for us. Did ye really think she was yer friend?”
Hugh felt the young woman slump and quickly clasped her tight to keep her from collapsing. “It will be all right,” he murmured. He was desperate to get to the bottom of whatever was going on, but first he needed to get her safely away. The question was to where. He returned his attention to Joseph and Edwin. “This woman is under my protection now. Her father is a peer and a powerful member of Society. If anything happens to her, you’ll be in more trouble than you can imagine.”
Fear stole into Edwin’s gaze. He pulled on Joseph’s sleeve. “We don’t want no trouble. Not from a fancy gent. We already have the money Maisie gave us.”
Curiosity got the better of Hugh. “Maisie Evans?” She attended services on occasion and sometimes sold scarves that her grandmother made. Had she paid them to kidnap Bramber’s daughter?
“Yep, that’s ’er,” Edwin answered as Joseph elbowed him.
“Shut up,” Joseph said with a growl.
What was she doing tangled up with Joseph? That was a question he wasn’t going to bother with at present. It was past time to see the woman beside him to safety. “Joseph, you should return that money to the lady.”
Joseph shook his head. “Already spent it—had to pay off a loan.”
Hugh wasn’t surprised. He flicked a glance toward the young lady and apologized before returning his attention to Joseph. “I trust this will be the end of this matter. If I hear of you or Maisie troubling this young woman further, I’ll make sure everyone knows what you’ve done. Including your mother, Edwin.” She would be none too pleased to hear of her son’s malfeasance.
Edwin tapped Joseph’s shoulder. “We should go.” He looked toward Hugh. “Beggin’ yer pardon, Mr. Tarleton.”
Joseph grunted, then gave Hugh a surly stare before retreating into the shadows of Ivy Street.
Hugh exhaled with relief. He didn’t think Joseph would challenge him, but was glad to have Bramber’s daughter safely away. Or he would when he could return her to Mayfair.
He realized she was still tucked against his side, a feminine warmth he hadn’t felt in some time. Pivoting so they had to separate, he looked down at her with an encouraging smile. “Now then, let’s get you home. Where is that?”
