Page 3 of The Scoundrel and the Lady

“We are to simply walk normally as if we were doing nothing more than shopping with the rest of the people?” Millie asked.

“Precisely,” Iris said. “An opportunity does not present itself on every outing, thank goodness. Though, the number of times I intercept a would-be criminal on any sort of errand might surprise you. Somedays it seems we are inundated with them.”

“What if we cannot resolve the problem without making a scene? Then, are we to do nothing?”

“Of course not! No, in any situation like that, we discreetly try to learn the identity of the people involved. Sometimes a great deal of work goes into managing a particular situation. Lady Somersby plans many of those endeavors herself.”

“What kinds of endeavors?”

“Many things. For example, several of our ladies have assisted in rehabilitating some street girls and training them to be scullery maids. Along those lines, we have stepped in when there has been a household particularly cruel to their servants. Workhouse conditions, factory conditions—we work for the betterment of our society as a whole.”

“And try to right any wrongs we come upon?” Millie asked.

“Precisely.”

“And if we are unable to do things in a quiet manner?” Millie asked.

“Lady Somersby has contacts who can take care of most situations that might bring into question one of our member’s reputations,” Iris said.

Millie smiled widely, showing off her rather large teeth. “I hope you will not believe me too eager or silly if I admit that I am so very excited about joining your ranks.”

Iris saw a suspicious man out of the corner of her eye, and she positioned herself to be closer to him. He circled behind Millie, but the girl seemed not to notice as she continued chatting about the thrill. Iris reached up to her hat and swiftly removed a hatpin. In one movement, she had stabbed it into the man’s thigh.

“If you scream, everyone here will know what you’ve done,” she whispered as she walked behind him. “Hand me the jewels, and no one will be the wiser.”

His eyes bulged in pain, and he gripped his thigh. Blood began to spot his trousers around her bejeweled pin. He handed her the two items.

“I suggest you take your leave. Perhaps gainful employment would be a better idea,” she said.

The man eyed her warily, then turned and slipped into the crowd.

He’d likely return, but he was finished for the day, which meant that Iris had done her job.

She moved back to Millie, who was still talking, but now staring at a lovely hat in the milliner’s shop window.

“That’s very pretty,” Iris said. “Here.” She held out the bracelet that the man had swiped from Millie’s wrist.

Millie accepted the bracelet. She shook her head, then her mouth fell open.

“I’ll be one moment.” Iris walked away. “Lady Glenwood,” she called out.

The matron stopped and turned.

“I do apologize for heckling to you on the street, my lady,” Iris said as she reached the older woman. “I believe you dropped this.” She held out a necklace clustered with rubies and diamonds.

Lady Glenwood’s gloved hand went to her throat, then she smiled. “Thank you, my dear. I had not even noticed it was gone.”

“Yes, well, I am glad I found it for you. You might want to get the clasp checked,” Iris said.

“Indeed, I might. Thank you again.”

“’Tis my pleasure.” Iris gave a slight curtsey, then she maneuvered through the crowd back to Millie.

“I never even saw anything happen,” Millie said.

“Yes, it is difficult at first to notice.”

“Who was it?”

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