Twilight with the Infamous Earl

by Alexandra Hawkins

  “Not willing,” he countered. “Willingness has nothing to do with it, when one’s choices are made out of desperation. And you have no right to condemn them.”

  Aghast, she would have staggered backward if she could have stepped away from him. “Is that what you think I am doing? Judging them?” A wave of heat suffused her face. “That girl is not a whore. Her stepfather was selling her virginity to anyone who would meet his price.”

  The gentleman hesitated. “And you know this for a fact?”

  “The man approached my brother. When I saw the girl’s face—” She swallowed, and shook her head. Why was she trying to justify her actions? He had no right to judge her.

  The fear and desperation she had glimpsed in young Katie’s eyes had been Emily’s undoing. It would have been simpler if she had looked away and continued up the street with her brother. At least she would not be arguing with him.

  Something akin to pity softened his harsh expression. “You can’t save everyone,” he said quietly.

  “I wasn’t trying to save everyone,” she said, her eyes stinging with the threat of tears as her sister’s face flashed in her mind. “I was trying to save her. What was I supposed to do? Pretend that I didn’t see her?”

  “Most people would have,” he replied, his gaze never leaving her face. “It would have been the simple thing to do.”

  “Perhaps for you,” she said, feeling her temper rise at the thought that her companion would have walked away from the girl or, worse, might have purchased her for an amusement. “I could not turn away when she asked for my help.”

  “Christ!” he muttered irreverently. “You are one of those kinds of ladies.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  He waved a dismissive hand in the air. “You’re one of those drawing room reformers who dream of ridding the world of its social ills. Allow me to spare you years of lost time and grief. You will not succeed. Evil thrives alongside good. It has from the beginning.”

  His words cut her to the quick. “You know nothing about me or my intentions.” Emily glanced up to check on the man and his stepdaughter, only to note with dismay that they were no longer standing across from them. “Good grief! Release me, he is getting away!”

  She kicked him in the shin and gained her freedom. Cursing, the gentleman was at her heels when she spotted the man and girl at the edge of the crowd—but he reached them before her, since her pace was hindered by her skirt and petticoat. The gentleman seized the other man by the coat, leaving Emily to appreciate his agility and strength as she attempted to catch her breath.

  While the man blustered on about his innocence, she walked over to the cowering girl and put her arm around her waist. “He will not cause you any more trouble. Are you ready to leave?”

  “He will kill me if I defy him,” the girl whispered, not taking her eyes off her stepfather.

  “You already have,” Emily said, silently applauding as the gentleman lifted the man off his feet. An impressive feat of strength, indeed, since the man was clearly heavier. The gentleman allowed his opponent to dangle helplessly for a minute before he released him. The girl’s stepfather landed on his backside on the street.

  Furious that the nobleman had gotten the better of him, he lashed out with his foot. The stranger nimbly avoided the clumsy attack. Espying the girl standing beside Emily, he pointed his finger at them.

  “You there, all of this is your fault, you haughty bitch,” he raged at Emily as he climbed to his feet. “If you had kept your nose out of my business, me and my girl would have made a tidy profit by now. I should—”

  The gentleman slapped the side of his walking stick against the man’s chest, preventing him from taking another step toward her. “Are you threatening the lady? Quite unwise with all of these witnesses about.”

  His eyes mere slits, he gave the nobleman a dismissive glance. “And what is it to you, or anyone here? Are you planning to take on the responsibility of my Katie? Feed her? Put clothes on her back?” When the gentleman remained silent, the man snorted. “Or maybe you hope the little wench will be so grateful, she will let you plow her for free.”

  “You are a horrid man!” Emily shouted, earning an angry glance from both men.

  Bursting from the crowd, her brother rushed forward. “Emily!”

  She was enveloped in her younger brother’s arms, and quickly released. “Did you find a constable?”

  “One is coming, Em, I swear,” he said, sounding breathless and excited. “He told me to run ahead and look after you.” He cast a nervous glance at the girl. “And her.”

  A woman shrieked in fright as the man tried to punch the gentleman. Emily turned in time to see the gentleman avoid the other man’s fist while driving his own into his opponent’s soft belly.

  “Bastard,” the injured man wheezed, before he lunged at his attacker and a full brawl broke out that included some of the spectators.

  “Come on,” Emily said sharply. She grabbed her brother and the girl. “It is time to leave.”

  Katie followed them willingly, but concern clouded her countenance. “Where will I go? What shall become of me?”

  Emily’s pace slowed as she considered her choices. When she had stepped in to assist the girl, she had not thought beyond separating her from her abuser. Even the arrogant gentleman had warned her that there were few options for the girl if she left her stepfather. She could not bring her home. Or could she? While her father might understand, she doubted her mother would be pleased by her initiative.

  “Do not worry,” she said, bestowing a reassuring smile on the young woman. “We will figure something out.”

  Emily gasped as a firm hand clasped her on the shoulder. She whirled about to confront the person who had the audacity to put his hands on her, and was dismayed to see the dark-haired gentleman again.

  “You again?”

  The roguish grin he gave her was unsettling. “Aye, me again. Running off? You disappoint me, Emily. I thought you were raised properly.”

  “You have no right to speak to my sister with such familiarity.” Her brother stepped protectively in front of her. “You may address her as Miss Cavell or not at all.”

  The gentleman brought his hand to his chest. “You wound me. And here I thought we were becoming good friends,” he lightly mocked. “Nor have you inquired after my injuries, which I earned on your behalf.”

  Guilt nibbled at her indignation. “Are you hurt?”

  “Preparing to rescue me as well, sweet?” he queried, sounding amused. “Well, don’t fret. A few bruises will not force me into bed. Unless you are willing to play nursemaid.”

  “I certainly will not!” she huffed. No one had ever dared to speak to her in such a manner.

  “Stop speaking to my sister,” her brother ordered harshly, even though he was aware that he could not best the man in a fight.

  “Or you will do what?” the gentleman replied with silky menace. Her brother held his ground, but everyone heard the audible click in his throat as he nervously swallowed. “I thought as much. Nothing but an adorable puppy. Knock on my door when you have grown some teeth.”

  “Did the constable arrest my stepfather?” the girl asked, drawing the gentleman’s attention away from Emily’s brother.

  The man sighed. “Yes. And he will have a few companions, so you don’t have to worry about him getting lonely.”

  Emily belatedly realized that she owed this gentleman a small measure of gratitude for interfering when he had. The man would have slipped away with this stepdaughter if the stranger had not caught him. “I have been remiss in thanking you, sir. You are a hero.”

  The compliment did not please him. “Not in the slightest, dear lady. And the name is Chillingsworth. Lord Chillingsworth.”

  Emily smiled weakly at him. Not only a gentleman, but a titled one as well. He was exactly the type of man her mother would warmly welcome into her drawing room, which was precisely why she hoped the two would never meet. “Well, you h
ave our gratitude regardless, Lord Chillingsworth.” She nodded to Katie. “Shall we go? The carriage isn’t far.”

  “No,” Lord Chillingsworth said, halting their attempts to depart.

  She raised her brows in silent query.

  “Forgive my bluntness, Miss Cavell. What are your plans for this girl?” he asked. The mocking amusement he had not bothered to disguise had vanished from his voice.

  “We are still making plans,” she said defensively.

  “As I tried to explain earlier, while your intentions are noble, your inexperience with such matters might place this girl in a worse predicament,” he said, those intriguing turquoise-blue eyes of his pinning her in place.

  “I intend to help her, Lord Chillingsworth,” she said coldly.

  He nodded at her brother. “The puppy and the lamb,” he chuckled humorlessly.

  “You insult us, my lord!” she said, knowing the confrontation with the stepfather could have been handled better.

  “Just pointing out the obvious, Miss Cavell.” He stared at the girl, but what he was thinking was anyone’s guess. “I will take her,” he said abruptly.

  This was an unexpected development. “What? Uh, no, I cannot allow you—”

  He brushed her protests aside and spoke directly to Katie. “I am acquainted with people who are familiar with your circumstances. With their assistance, you will have food, a place to sleep, and prospects.”

  The wary hope in her eyes diminished as she considered his generous offer. “You are taking me to a brothel.”

  Before Emily could express her indignation over the suggestion, Lord Chillingsworth was shaking his head.

  “No. If that was my intention, I would have left you in your father’s care. It would have been simpler, do you not agree?” At her nod, he explained. “You are not the first girl my friends have helped. However, I recommend that you make your decision swiftly. We have drawn too much attention and I would prefer not to linger.”

  “I’m ready,” Katie said. With only an ill-fitting dress that likely belonged to her dead mother, she was willing to put her trust in a man she had just met.

  Emily glanced at the girl, mentally debating if she should be upset or relieved that Lord Chillingsworth was prepared to take responsibility for Katie. She was also a tad embarrassed that she had been so ill-prepared to help.

  Noting her discomfort, he said, “I promise, my friends are respectable people. She will be in good hands, Miss Cavell. More capable ones than you or I are equipped with.”

  Emily nodded, fighting down her resentment. She embraced the girl. “You recall the address that I told you? Yes? Excellent. I will be residing in London for a few months. Send me a note when you are settled.”

  The girl pulled away. “I will. Thank you, Miss Cavell.”

  She nodded and stepped back. It was silly, but she felt like weeping. “My brother and I—we should be going.”

  “A moment, Miss Cavell,” Lord Chillingsworth called out to her. “Is there a reason why your name is familiar to me?”

  “Perhaps you have heard of my father?”

  “It is possible. Well, no matter. It will come to me eventually,” he said, shaking his head. “By the by, you’ve neglected to give me your address. I will need it if you wish for me to update you on the girl’s well-being.”

  Emily bit her lower lip to hide her smile. “Reveal my residence to a stranger? That would be unwise, do you not agree, Lord Chillingsworth? Beside, Katie already knows how to find me.”

  * * *

  Frost’s mouth quirked as the redheaded Emily strolled out of his life as quickly as she had entered it. “I don’t think Miss Cavell likes me.” Granted, she was a sensible young lady. After all, he was not to be trusted.

  His companion giggled. “Maybe you should ask your friends for advice on how to court a lady.”

  He sighed dramatically. “A useless exercise, my dear Katie. I have no intention of courting anyone—especially a difficult lady like Miss Cavell.”

  Chapter Five

  “Rumor has it, you are flirting with ladies who are half your age, Frost,” Vane teased as he leaned back in his chair so he could prop up his feet on the table.

  Frost grimaced, not particularly amazed that his good deed had reached his friend’s ears. “You must have called on the Sainthills recently.”

  Four days had passed since he’d presented young Katie to Lady Sainthill. Although it was rarely discussed, the beautiful marchioness had lived as notoriously as the Lords of Vice under a different name—Madame Venna. Before her marriage, she had been the proprietress of the Golden Pearl, one of the most extravagant brothels in London. By using a half-mask to conceal her face and altering her voice, she had amassed a small fortune while keeping her identity a secret. The Lords of Vice had often patronized her establishment.

  Those days were behind Catherine, and the less said, the happier Saint was: He was very protective of his lady. Nevertheless, she had old friends whom she trusted and influential new ones. Katie was not the first girl Catherine had found a new home for, nor would she be the last.

  “So you have no plans to keep her?”

  Frost crossed his arms and stared down at Vane. “What sort of miscreant do you take me for? The poor girl was in trouble and I offered my assistance. Nothing more.”

  Dare and Reign entered the room. Overhearing part of his explanation, Reign clapped a hand on Frost’s shoulder as he passed by him.

  “You did a good thing, gent. If not for you, that girl would have come to a bad end,” Reign said, moving to the other side of the table.

  “I beg of you, no more,” Frost pleaded, uncomfortable with the praise. “Next you will be claiming that I possess a heart and insist on naming your sons after me.”

  Dare chuckled and reached over to smack him on the back of the head. “I did name my son after you, you ungrateful arse!” He took the seat next to Frost.

  “It only proves that you have good taste,” Frost said genially. “Bishop is a strong given name.”

  “So why did Sin call this meeting?” Vane asked, yawning into his hand.

  “Trouble, gents,” Hunter announced. He was not alone. Sin and Nox’s steward, Berus, followed in his wake.

  “What sort of trouble?” Frost asked. “Has something happened here at Nox?”

  It was Sin who replied. “Were you not paying attention last week when Berus was telling us about Halward?”

  Frost shrugged. “Colin Halward. So what? The man is trying to build a nasty reputation for himself in London. He’s not the first.”

  Nor would he be the last.

  “Trying? Succeeding is more like it.”

  Before Sin could explain why this Halward fellow had him so bothered, Saint dashed into the saloon. “Forgive my tardiness. It couldn’t be helped. What have I missed?”

  “Not much. Sin was about to tell us why we should care about Colin Halward,” drawled Frost.

  “Halward is a first-rate bastard. A few years ago, he caused trouble at the Golden Pearl by attacking one of the girls. It was one of the reasons why Catherine decided to close the establishment.” At Frost’s blank expression, Saint growled in frustration. “Were you even listening when we discussed the man last week?” he asked, sounding breathless as he sat down on the opposite side of the table.

  Frost rolled his eyes. “I might have slept during the boring parts of Sin’s rambling lecture.”

  Maybe he had been distracted during their last meeting. He had made plans to spend the evening with a pretty blonde who had caught his eye.

  “Then permit me to remind you that Halward poses a problem to Nox. The bastard views the gambling hell as ripe for the picking since we have not been looking after our interests as closely as we have in the past.”

  Translation: His six very married friends had preferred to spend their evenings entertaining their wives rather than ending the day at Nox. For years, night after night, they had gambled, fought, drunk brandy and wine un
til they were half blind, and whored until the wee hours of dawn.

  Those wonderful days had begun to fade when Sin had encountered Juliana in Lady Lettlecott’s garden. Not that he blamed the lady—overly much.

  “And why, I ask, have we not been looking after our interests?” Frost couldn’t resist asking.

  “Here we go again,” muttered Vane, rubbing his face with his hands.

  “Berus has done an upstanding job looking after Nox, Frost,” Hunter said, his brow furrowing in a manner that proved he was serious. “You insult him to imply otherwise.”

  “My apologies, Berus,” Frost said, acknowledging the man who stood quietly at the door. “Your service to the Lords of Vice has been irreproachable. I have no quarrel with you, my good man.”

  “Thank you, milord,” Berus said, his voice slightly gruff with emotion. “It has been a pleasure serving all of you.”

  Sin leaned forward, his eyes glittering with anger. “Aye, Frost, we all know the direction of your feelings. You have hardly been subtle or clever about it.”

  “You wound me, old friend.” This was not the first time he and Sin had clashed over Juliana or Nox. His folded his hand into a fist and rubbed his knuckles with his other hand. “Next time, I will be more direct.”

  “Gentlemen, we did not come here to fight,” Reign said, his gaze conveying a direct message that Frost should back off. “We are at fault for not addressing some of these problems sooner. Berus has dealt with threats from Halward, and there has been damage to the property. We have nothing to take to the police, but I concur with Sin and Hunter. The man bears watching.”

  “And then there is the woman,” Hunter added.

  “What woman?”

  Dare asked before Frost could speak. He settled back into his chair. As much as he would have enjoyed punching Sin, he would have regretted it later.

  “Were you not introduced to her at Lady Sellar’s ball?”

  Dare sent him a puzzled glance. “No. Who is she?”

  “A barrister’s daughter, I hear,” Sin replied. “She has connections to Lord and Lady Tobin. A distant cousin, perhaps.”