Page 8 of The Fearless Miss Dinah

He stood near her now, a finger coming out and pointing at her chest. “Do you have any idea what you just ruined? The months it has taken me to infiltrate the group this far?”

Dinah shoved his hand away. “We just stopped criminals tonight, sir, and saved a little girl’s life. Not to mention we escaped with our own lives.” There had been a time only moments ago when she hadn’t been certain she would.

He pulled his hand away and rubbed it over his face. “Months wasted,” he muttered, more to himself than to her.

Well, nothing he said was going to make her feel bad about all they’d managed to do that night. She’d followed her instincts and, as usual, they’d not failed her. Though she was going to have words with Mr. Harding about the men he paid to drive carts. But for now, she was already hours late getting home.

“Pardon me, sir,” Dinah said, even as the man before her continued to mutter. “But I need to return home immediately. Where are the horses?”

“How should I know?” he barked.

Well. She would be informing Mr. Harding that she was never working with Crow again, not if he was going to act so rudely.

Mr. Harding appeared at that very moment. “I’ve got a horse for each of you right here.” He held the reins to two mounts, stretching them out toward Dinah and Crow. “I’ll take Adele from here.” He passed the horses off and then knelt before the little girl. “Your father misses you. If you come with me, I’ll see that you are returned to him as soon as possible.”

The little girl looked up at Dinah; she seemed to be asking for permission. Or, perhaps, reassurance.

Dinah placed a hand on little Adele’s back. “It’s all right. I know this man, and he’s a good one. He’ll take care of you.”

Adele silently looked over Mr. Harding for a minute and then walked toward him. Mr. Harding reached out and took her small hand in his as he stood.

“Don’t worry about this mess,” he said to Crow while motioning toward Blue-Eyes, still lying on the road not far off. “My men will see to them. You go ahead and see Miss Dinah Mulgrave home and then get a good night’s sleep yourself. We’ll figure out our next step tomorrow.”

Dinah and Crow shared a look. It was immediately obvious that he cared to see her home as much as she cared to have him escort her.

“Pardon me, sir.” Dinah spoke first. “But I am quite capable of seeing myself home.”

Mr. Harding shot her a glance that clearly showed he thought her comment absurd. “It’s nearly three-quarters of an hour between here and your father’s townhouse.”

“I assure you I am quite capable.” Before her father had been knighted, she’d ridden three-quarters of an hour away from home and back again, alone, multiple times.

“And,” Crow spoke at last, “I am sure I will be of more helphere, seeing to the smugglers.”

“Are you suggesting that we neglect our duties to the fairer sex, Crow?”

At those words, the man stood up straighter. “No, sir. Of course not.”

Dinah eyed the way Crow held himself, tall and straight, resolute. She doubted he ever reneged on his responsibility, no matter the inconvenience.

“Good man,” Mr. Harding said. “Now help Miss Dinah Mulgrave mount, and I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Yes, sir,” came the reply—one that was as deep as it was immediate.

Mr. Harding bowed slightly in Dinah’s direction and still holding Adele’s hand, turned and walked away.

Dinah hated to see the little girl go. If she were mistress of her own house instead of needing to worry about slipping in and out of Father’s, she would have volunteered for Adele to stay with her for the night. As it was, she couldn’t imagine keeping a little girl in her room all night long without at least a maid finding out. Then all would be ruined.

“Miss?”

Dinah turned to find Crow waiting beside the smaller of the two horses, clearly ready to help her up.

Dinah walked toward him. No sooner had she neared him than he wrapped his hands around her waist and easily lifted her onto the horse. He all but threw the reins in her direction and stomped over to the other horse. It was all rather sudden, and Dinah was left sitting atop her mount, her midsection aflame with tingles where he’d touched her.

“Come along, then,” he said, his tone no less harsh than before.

Dinah drew in a breath, willing her stomach and heart to settle as she urged her horse forward and followed him down the dark road.

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