“Wait, you shouldn’t walk alone.”
“Mr.Reeves, I don’t need an escort.”
He gripped her elbow.“I disagree.This is not a safe area.There is plenty of trouble lurking in dark corners, waiting for a tasty morsel like you to come walking by.”
“I have been taking care of myself for a very long time.”She waggled her umbrella and actually rolled her eyes at him.
Matthew grabbed the umbrella.Tossing it aside with a clatter, he pushed her up against the brick wall behind her.His hand slipped around her throat, and he tightened his grip on her upper arm.Crowding her, he leaned his bulk against her.“Can you”—his thumb brushed along her jaw—“take care of yourself, luv?”
Her green eyes were wide and full of alarm as she stared up at him.
“What if I was a thief?What if I wanted to take more than just your coin?Could you stop me?”
Her lips parted, her warm breath teasing against his chin.He couldn’t stop staring at her lush mouth.Her tongue darted out and licked along the plump pink of her bottom lip, and his whole body responded with a flash of desire that punched him hard in his gut.His gaze roamed her sharp cheekbones and the delicate point of her chin.He enjoyed the catch of her breath.The look in her eyes changed, no longer reflecting alarm; they heated with something new.Something he recognized from the night they kissed in his club.She swallowed and the motion rippled against his palm.
“What would you want?”she whispered.
“Another taste.”The truth slipped from him.Damn her and those bewitching green eyes.He had no defenses against the challenge in them.He lifted her chin, then dipped down to kiss her.Just as he remembered, her lips were as soft and sharp as a fine whiskey.She brought her hands up and gripped the lapels of his jacket, teasing along the seam of his lips with her tongue.He opened with a groan and let the heat of her kiss spread through him.He slid his hand from her throat to grip the nape of her neck, changing the angle of the kiss and licking into her mouth, taking everything she offered.
Behind them, the tavern door banged open.Loud voices laughed and shouted.Miss Harper tore her mouth from his.She pushed him away, her chest heaving.He stepped back, equally out of breath, like he had been holding it for too long underwater.The shock of emerging from her kiss left him gasping for purchase.
She wiped a hand across her mouth.“I have to g-go home.”Her voice shook, and he took perverse pleasure in the small indication that she was as affected as he was.Then she bent and grabbed up her umbrella before striding off down the street.He let her get halfway to the avenue before following her.His days shadowing marks before picking their pockets were long gone, but the skill of being invisible was second nature.
She strode up the street, her head held high, her umbrella clicking loudly against the cobblestones.At the avenue, she walked up to the line of hacks waiting to pick up customers and gave the driver her address in short, clipped tones.The driver opened the door.She clambered inside, ignoring the man’s outstretched hand.As the carriage disappeared into the darkness, he couldn’t help but admire her self-possession.
He walked back down the street and retrieved the silk hat.Ben would love to have such a fine item.Matthew crossed back to his shadowed corner by the Montaque.He still had a real villain to confront.Leaning back against the wall of the hell, he looked down at the hat in his hand, spinning it around by the brim.Perhaps Rutledge wasn’t the culprit.He would certainly never be caught dead in something like this, and no thief worth his salt would leave behind such an expensive piece.
It had to belong to tonight’s attacker.Increasingly, it looked like Mary Beth’s death was part of a terrible pattern.Matthew glanced up at the front of the Montaque, its gaudy gold-painted sign creaking in a gust of wind.Pattern.How many of the murders had happened near a gaming hell?He tried to remember what her article had said.The Queen’s Head on Bow Street, the Birdcage—which stood right next door to Castell’s place, the Termage, and Red’s Tavern, which was famous for its cock-and-dog fighting in the basement.All places to gamble away one’s money.All on the east side.He looked down at the hat.Was the killer slumming it on the other side of town to do his dirty deeds?Or was he an avid gambler?Was he familiar with the hells?Picking his victims based on proximity to his haunts?
Matthew straightened, his desire to fight with Rutledge draining from him.He started for home, teasing out possible answers to the questions that he pondered.He wished he could tell her what he was thinking.Find out what she thought.As he lengthened his stride, he scrubbed a hand down his face.Good Lord, that woman was getting under his skin.
Chapter Eight
Another attack ona woman on the east side occurred the night before last.This time, the culprit was scared away by a good Samaritan before he could finish his dastardly deed.The woman is alive and will recover.According to the victim, she left after her shift ended at the Green Door Tavern, where she serves ale.She exited the back entrance and cut up through the alley to get to Chellam Street.The victim said she was attacked from behind and choked by a strong assailant.She screamed before the wire around her throat cut off her breath.After struggling with the assailant, they stumbled backward into a stack of wooden crates.Her head knocked against one, and she lost consciousness.She wishes to express her gratitude to the man who interrupted her attack.
Elizabeth lay her pen down and stared out the window at the quiet street in front of her house.She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the events of the other night.But not so much because of the attack that happened but because of him.Reeves.She nibbled on her thumbnail.He was so damn handsome with his dark hair and smoldering eyes.But also so frustrating and so domineering.
She huffed.She had no one to answer to, no husband or father.She didn’t let anyone tell her what to do, and she certainly didn’t let anyone intimidate her.But when he had used his quick hands and brute force to push her against that wall, she had been thrown off-kilter.She should have been aghast, or at least angry.She should have told him to back away; she had no doubt he would have, despite his show of strength.But his hand around her throat had incited every nerve ending in her body to come alive.Instead of protesting, she’d kissed him back like she had been starving for his touch.
It had been so long since she had felt such heat and passion.She had ignored all of her womanly needs after Robert was born.Deep in grief, she hadn’t been able to contemplate opening herself up to any type of romantic liaison.And after her father passed unexpectedly three years ago, there hadn’t been time for anything but to simply get through the myriad of responsibilities each day.She had to admit that, though she was rarely alone, she had allowed herself to grow lonely.
The strange thing about her attraction was that Matthew Reeves was the opposite of her Robert.Robert had been lighthearted, smooth, and charming as sin.He had worn his privilege confidently but hadn’t had any of the snobbery that so many aristocrats reveled in.In contrast, Mr.Reeves was all rough edges and bad language.He was charming in a dangerous way, like a wild dog that you are not sure if you should pet; would he let you scratch him behind the ears or snap your hand off?She chuckled.Good Lord, woman, pull yourself together.
She straightened the sheaf of papers on her desk.It didn’t matter; she wouldn’t see him again.She rose from her chair after hearing a knock on the door.
Mrs.Todd came into the room.“Lord and Lady Hartwick have arrived.”She stepped aside, and Elizabeth’s guests swept into the room.
“It’s good to see you, Elizabeth!”Lucy grasped her hands, giving them a squeeze.
Lucy’s husband came more sedately into the room.He offered her a small smile as a greeting.Not for the first time, Elizabeth wondered what he had been like before the attack in which an explosion left him scarred on one side of his face and body.Had he been as charming and flirtatious as his older brother?Time and tragedy changed everyone, she supposed.
Elizabeth squeezed back Lucy’s hands.“It’s good to see you both as well.Robert will be ecstatic.”She glanced at Hart over his wife’s shoulder.“It has been all Greeks versus the Ottomans in battle since we saw you last.”
Hart’s smile widened to a grin.He glanced around the reception room.“Is he upstairs?”
“Yes.Mrs.Todd, will you tell Robert he has visitors?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
