Convenient Bride for the Soldier & the Major Meets His Match & Secret Lessons With the Rake (9781488021718)

by Merrill, Christine; Burrows, Annie; Justiss, Julia

  ‘I checked it out, and the driver too,’ he said as she stepped out the front door, Artis close by her side.

  ‘Thank you, Jensen. Take good care of my girls.’

  ‘Guard ’em like me own daughters,’ Jensen assured her as he helped them both into the vehicle. After scanning the street, he called to the driver, ‘You can spring ’em now!’

  As the hackney set off at a brisk pace, Artis tapped her arm. ‘What will this Lady Lyndlington do with me, miss?’

  ‘She will decide whose household might have a place suitable for you, where you will be safe. Don’t worry; I’ll make sure she takes good care of you.’

  The girl nodded. ‘I knows I can trust you.’

  * * *

  The mid-afternoon streets were crowded, the carriages of the fashionable adding to the throngs of vendors’ carts, barrows and market wagons and slowing their transit. Ellie was still distracted, mulling over what might be the best placement to recommend to Lady Maggie for Artis, when the vehicle halted in front of the Lyndlington’s town house.

  As she descended the step, her charge having scrambled down before her, a man leapt out from behind several stopped vehicles—and grabbed Artis.

  Screaming, the girl twisted in his grasp, but a boy came up to assist the man, trying to grab the arm she was flailing at her attacker. Wishing she had a parasol or anything that would serve as a weapon, Ellie shouted, ‘Let her go at once!’

  Several passers-by slowed to gaze at the altercation, but none halted to intervene. ‘You, there!’ Ellie shouted at two boys dressed in shop assistant’s smocks. ‘Knock at Number Four and ask for help! A guinea for the one who gets there first!’

  The boys raced away, and Ellie launched herself towards Artis, who was steadily losing ground as she was pulled backwards across the street. Targeting the boy, she slammed her fist into the arm holding Artis. Yelping with pain and surprise, the boy let go.

  ‘You stay outta this,’ the man snarled, backhanding her with his free arm.

  Reeling from the blow, Ellie careened backward, catching her balance at the last moment. Steadying herself, she prepared to take on the boy again, despite the pain in her head and her stinging cheek.

  Before she could launch herself, shouts from behind her announced the welcome arrival of Lady Maggie’s staff. ‘Free those ladies at once!’ the butler bellowed as he ran up, trailed by two stout footmen.

  Once the assailants realised they’d be taking on, not just one woman and a girl, but several full-grown males, both man and boy released Artis and took to their heels. The footmen gave chase, but weaving in and out among vehicles, horsemen and pedestrians on the congested street, the attackers soon disappeared.

  ‘Artis, are you all right?’ Ellie asked, pulling the girl to her.

  ‘I be fine, miss, but, oh, your cheek’s bleeding! Rigger caught you a good ’un. He musta joined Keppy in watchin’ the house, and what with the carriage movin’ so slow they was able to follow us. I should never have let you come with me!’

  ‘Miss Parmenter, you are injured!’ the butler said, looking aghast at her face. ‘Let me help you in! Young miss, can you walk unassisted?’

  ‘Aye, sir,’ Artis said. ‘You take care of Miss Parmenter.’

  Wrapping an arm around her protectively, the butler led Ellie to the town house. ‘Ruffians, attacking honest citizens right here in Upper Brook Street? Lord Lyndlington will be furious! The magistrate shall hear of this.’

  Dismissing the butler’s suggestion that he help her to a guest bedchamber to lie down, Ellie said, ‘A cold cloth for the cut on my cheek will be sufficient, thank you. I would like to speak with your mistress at once.’

  ‘I’ll fetch her straight away,’ he promised, assisting her up the entry stairs and depositing her carefully on the sofa in the reception room. ‘I’ll have the housekeeper prepare a posset.’

  ‘No posset, please, but I should be glad of some tea.’

  ‘Certainly, miss.’

  With the ringing in her ears making her dizzy, Ellie was glad to sit still and wait for the room to stop spinning. Kneeling on the floor beside the sofa, Artis watched her anxiously. ‘You sure you be all right, miss? Might be wise to lie your bones down fer a spell, like that gentl’mun tole you.’

  Despite her discomfort, Ellie had to chuckle. ‘That “gentleman” is Lady Lyndlington’s butler, Artis. He is in general charge of the household and the male servants, as the housekeeper has charge of the females.’

  ‘Cor, he be dressed as fine as a lord,’ the girl observed. Gazing around her with awe at the elegant salon, she said, ‘Ye think I might get to work in a fine house like this one?’

  Before she could answer, Lady Maggie came rushing in. ‘Good Heavens, Ellie!’ she cried, her eyes widening at the sight of what Ellie could feel must be a purpling bruise at her jaw and a swelling cheek. ‘When Dawkins said you’d been attacked on the street, I could scarcely believe it! Come, you must lie down and let me bring you a compress for that!’

  Ellie started to shake her head—and stopped immediately, as the pain and dizziness intensified. ‘Dawkins has already sent to the housekeeper for a compress, and the tea I’d especially like.’

  ‘You must at least remain the afternoon and rest! And you, too, miss. You are one of Miss Parmenter’s students? What a frightening experience for you both!’

  ‘Lady Lyndlington, may I present Miss Artis Gorden?’ Ellie said. As the girl curtsied, she continued, ‘Yes, Artis is one of my students. If fact, it was on her behalf that we came today. Because that attack was not random.’

  ‘Not random?’ Lady Maggie repeated, frowning.

  ‘No,’ Ellie said grimly. ‘Thank heaven we decided to bring Artis here today. That outlaw might soon have been able to threaten the entire school. But please, sit, and let me explain.’

  Over tea—and extra sandwiches the housekeeper sent along with the cold compress, fully appreciated by the always starving Artis—Ellie described the girl’s background, ending with the threat that had led Ellie to bring her to Maggie.

  ‘Of course I will help you!’ Maggie declared, an angry glint in her eye. ‘The audacity of that villain, thinking he could attack you before my very door!’

  ‘With all the hubbub on the street, I expect they thought they could grab Artis without anyone stopping them. Though having the hackney halt on a Mayfair street must have given them pause. I doubt they had any notion when they started following us from a modest house on Dean Street that reinforcements from a viscount’s establishment would be on hand at our destination.’

  ‘Can you help me, my lady?’ Artis asked.

  ‘I certainly can,’ Maggie replied stoutly. ‘We shall find you a family to live with where you will be entirely safe. What would you like to do?’

  Gesturing to the room around her, Artis said, ‘I’d like to take care of a place like this. Miss Parmenter been telling me if I learn good, I might be a housekeeper some day.’

  ‘You certainly might,’ Ellie said. ‘You are bright, good at numbers and dealing with people, and quite wonderful at obtaining bargains!’

  ‘You shall stay here until we can convey you to a safe position elsewhere,’ Maggie said, going to ring the bell pull. ‘I’ll have my housekeeper get you settled.’

  Artis bobbed another curtsy. ‘Thank you awfully, your ladyship. And you, Miss. Don’t want to think what mighta happened, if’n I hadn’t met you that day in Green Park.’

  Ellie didn’t want to think either, with her head aching more than she cared to admit. ‘I’m glad we met, too, Artis. I know you’ll have a bright future.’

  After the butler bore the girl off, Maggie bent a penetrating look on her. ‘Don’t try to persuade me you have recovered, Ellie. The afternoon’s nearly gone. Why don’t you stay the night?’

  ‘No, I
must get back and check on the school—especially after this attack on Artis!’

  ‘Naturally, you’ll want to make sure the other girls are secure. I certainly hope you got Artis away before this Gentleman Bob creature discovered Dean Street houses other young females! Still, the extra protection you’ve arranged should be enough to discourage him from trying to abduct them.’

  ‘I hope so. And I do thank you for taking Artis in. Now, I really must—’

  ‘Please, don’t go yet!’ Maggie said, staying her with a hand to her arm. ‘Drink the rest of your tea, and keep the cold compress on a while longer, if I can’t persuade you to lie down. We can send a footman to check on the school. Stay through dinner, at least. By the looks of that cheek, you took a nasty blow.’

  In truth, she’d be relieved to rest until her head stopped throbbing. ‘Very well, I’ll stay. But just for dinner—and only if you promise to continue whatever you were doing before my unexpected visit. I would appreciate having someone check on the girls.’

  ‘I’ll have Dawkins dispatch a stout footman at once,’ Maggie promised, going over to tug at the bell pull. ‘Would you like more tea? A pillow for your back? A powder for that headache?’

  ‘I wouldn’t refuse a headache powder,’ Ellie admitted. ‘But you mustn’t stay here and fuss over me.’

  The door opened a moment later—revealing not the butler, but a frowning Giles. ‘What’s this I hear about an attack on Ellie Parmenter on our very doorstep?’

  ‘Giles!’ Maggie cried, her face lighting up as she rose and went into her husband’s arms. ‘I wasn’t expecting you so early.’

  ‘Dawkins sent a footman to the Quill and Gavel to tell me what happened. Christopher’s paying our shot, and will be here momentarily.’ Turning towards her, he said, ‘Ellie, are you all right?’

  As she began assuring Lord Lyndlington that she was just fine, the door opened again and Christopher rushed in, anxiety on his face.

  ‘Hell and the devil!’ he swore, stopping short, his expression blackening as he took in her bruised and battered face. And then he was at her side, halting beside the sofa. ‘My dear Ellie, who did this to you? I’ll throttle the blackguard!’

  Her fortitude and composure shaken more than she’d like to admit by the attack, Ellie didn’t even try to resist as he seated himself beside her and drew her into his arms. It was more than worth the throbbing pain to have an excuse to lay her head on his chest, feel the glorious warmth of his arms around her, his protective strength comforting her.

  What a joy it would be to have his care and comfort for ever! Knowing that blessing would never be hers, despite the presence of a curious Giles and suspicious Maggie, she snuggled deeper into his embrace.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Nearly speechless with shock, distress and outrage, Christopher cradled Ellie close. He’d been alarmed when a footman from Maggie’s house interrupted their meeting to inform Giles a guest had been attacked, then horrified to discover it was Ellie. One look at his face was all it had taken to convince Giles he wouldn’t be left behind while his friend went to check on the incident.

  He thought he’d been prepared for whatever he would find at Upper Brook Street. But seeing Ellie with her gown dishevelled, her face cut and bruised, he’d felt as if he’d taken punch to the chest. There’d been no conscious decision—he’d simply gone to her, gathered her in his arms as if by right, laying his cheek against her head as she burrowed into his embrace. Drinking in the warmth of her, letting the steady beat of her heart reassure him she would be all right.

  Anger came next, that someone would have the audacity to attack her—and here in Mayfair! Whoever it was, Christopher would track the perpetrators down and see to their punishment personally.

  Only Giles’s blatantly speculative look forced him to finally, reluctantly release her. He steadied her as she sat back up, asking again, ‘What happened? Who did this to you?’

  ‘It’s a long story,’ she said grimly. ‘I’ve already explained the whole to Maggie.’

  ‘But we don’t know,’ Giles said. ‘Please explain again.’

  In a few terse sentences, she described to Giles taking in the girl who’d tried to rob Christopher outside the Gloucester Coffee House, their trip to the Tottenham Court Road market, the girl spotting a former thieving associate tracking her near Dean Street, and the girl’s fear, which Ellie shared, that the crime boss might target not just Artis, but her other students, too, should he find out about them. Thinking a transit in a public vehicle across the city in daylight would not be dangerous, she had brought Artis here for Maggie to find her a refuge.

  ‘We ought to do something about Gentleman Bob,’ Christopher said when she’d finished. ‘Running thieves and bordellos in Seven Dials is one thing, but abducting citizens on the streets of Mayfair cannot be tolerated!’

  Ellie shook her head. ‘Satisfying as it would be to take him down, such men are very clever. Although Artis knows quite well that he was behind the attack, there is no way we could prove that in a court of law.’

  ‘Would you be able to identify the man who struck you?’ Giles asked.

  ‘Possibly. Artis knew him by name, as well as the boy who’d been sent to spy on her. I’m sure she could identify them both. But what good would it do to transport them? The Gentleman will just replace them. There’s an endless supply of ragged boys and desperate men in Seven Dials.’

  ‘Regrettably, I’m afraid you’re right,’ Giles agreed. ‘While I will certainly alert the magistrate, I doubt those men will venture here again. The Gentleman Bobs of the world know better than to tweak the tail of the tiger by sending their minions into aristocratic neighbourhoods.’

  ‘So we just…give up on any pursuit?’ Christopher said, still intent on retaliating for the attack on Ellie. ‘That goes against every instinct!’

  ‘I don’t think there’s much we can do to punish those responsible for this, but now that we are forewarned, we can make sure no one else is harmed,’ Ellie said. ‘And guarantee the Gentleman can’t get to Artis.’

  ‘She should be safe enough now,’ Giles said. ‘Once his minions report back that she was taken into the home of a viscount, he’ll know it’s not worth the trouble that would rain down on his head, should he try to snatch her here.’

  ‘I just hope Keppy hasn’t yet discovered the other girls at the school,’ Ellie said, her face anxious.

  ‘Why don’t you have Jensen and his friends keep watch around the school for the next several weeks?’ Giles suggested. ‘Should they discover anyone hanging about, they can haul the miscreants in and let them know the school is supported by several prominent members of the aristocracy. Warn them that, should anything happen to any of the students, the perpetrators would be pursued with as much tenacity and zeal as if the attack had taken place in Mayfair. I’m sure your sponsors would be happy to fund any protective measures you find necessary.’

  ‘Yes, I suppose I could do that,’ Ellie said, looking more reassured. ‘Now that all is secure here, you gentlemen can get back to work. I’m sorry this incident interrupted your meeting.’

  ‘Once the fight in the Lords winds up to full force, we’ll have nothing but meetings, strategy sessions, and discussions, so I think we can call a halt for today. You’ll stay for dinner, Christopher?’ Turning to Ellie, he said, ‘Please stay, too, Ellie. Not to be less than gallant, but you are looking rather pale. Why don’t you rest before we dine?’

  ‘I’ve been urging her to do just that,’ Maggie said.

  ‘I really would like to check on the school,’ Ellie said, starting to rise—and then sinking back on to the sofa, her pale face going even paler.

  Checking the strong urge to gather her in his arms again, Christopher said, ‘Are you feeling ill? Let me carry you to a chamber!’

  ‘Ellie, you must lie down! Yo
u are obviously still unwell,’ Maggie said.

  ‘Yes, you must rest,’ Giles urged. ‘If the footman isn’t back with his report soon, Christopher and I will go personally to check on the school.’

  ‘Very well, I’ll stay. But I don’t want to lie down. If it won’t be too much trouble, Lady Maggie, I’d rather remain here on the sofa.’

  ‘Wherever you are most comfortable,’ Maggie said.

  Loath to leave Ellie, but knowing it wouldn’t be wise to remain alone with her in the salon, Christopher was hesitating when, giving him a speaking look, Giles said, ‘Why don’t we finish our discussion in my study, Christopher, and let Ellie rest?’

  It was the prudent choice—even though everything within him resisted it. Reluctantly, he nodded. ‘Very well. If you need anything at all, you’ll let us know, won’t you, Ellie?’

  The sad gaze she focused on his face sent a pang to his heart. ‘I’m sure there is nothing you can do for me, but thank you, Christopher.’

  Stripped of any excuse to linger, he followed Giles from the room. Though his heart had settled back into normal rhythm, he was still shaken by the violence of his reaction when he’d learned of the attack on Ellie. The depth of his distress at the idea of her being hurt, the urgency of his need to reassure himself she was well, the strength of his desire to hold and comfort her.

  He’d thought over the course of their lessons that he was making progress in leaving past desires behind and moving forward to embrace a new life. Ellie wasn’t his to comfort and protect. And she never could be.

  He knew now that he’d been deluding himself about putting her behind him. The shock of finding her injured made him realise he wanted to be with and help her, wanted her, more urgently than ever.

  How he was going to sort out that tangle, he had no idea.

  * * *

  Ellie seemed much recovered by dinner, though Christopher was still consumed with the desire to pummel someone every time she angled her head and he caught a glimpse of the vivid bruise on her swollen cheek.