A very thin arm.
A very thin andcoatlessarm.
TAKING IN A STRAY
Jeremy tightened his grip on the little urchin for the second time in two days.
“I didn’t do anyfin’’!” Ollie shouted. “Why you always grabbin’ me?” He jerked his arm in a futile attempt to break free.
Jeremy was grateful that the boy had interrupted them before matters had gone too far; for the same reason, he was also tempted to throttle him.
Lydia, however, didn’t share his conflicting feelings and was already on her knees, running her hands down Ollie’s spindly little arms and legs. “What happened to you? Where is your coat?”
Bruises littered those pale arms, and crusted blood mingled with the dirt and grime on the boy’s trousers. Looking up into Lydia’s eyes, the unruly urchin ceased his fighting and Jeremy relaxed his grip. Rationally, Jeremy knew of the trials these children faced on the docks, but to see the consequences meted out on one so young…
It was a unacceptable.
“You said if I came I’d git help. But no one was here, and since I don’ have no coins for the boss again, I came here an’hid.” Ollie narrowed his eyes at Jeremy. “I wasn’ hidin’ from you and her.”
“Of course, you weren’t hiding from me,” Lydia all but cooed at the little trespasser. “I’m so sorry. This is all my fault then. I should have been more clear…” She exhaled a guilty sigh. “We need to hire workers first. Who did this to you?”
She was doing her best to remain calm, Jeremy knew, but her voice trembled with emotion. She raised her fingers to Ollie’s face and brushed back unruly strands of soot-black hair to reveal another bruise near his eye.
“Buck did. Said it was a lesson I had comin’.”
“Buck?” Lydia looked confused, but Jeremy had no doubt that Buck would be one of the older boys in the street gang Ollie ran with.
“I wen’ back wi’ no’ enuf coins for Farley.”
Lydia’s face fell with the realization. “Oh, Ollie.”
“Buck’s no problem. But Farley has a pistol.”
Jeremy clenched his fists. He couldn’t help but wonder if the pistol was one that had been stolen from Ludwig’s.
“In that case, you’ll simply have to come home with me.” Lydia rested on her heels and nodded decisively.
Oh, hell.
“You can’t just take a boy home with you!” Good Lord! Blackheart needed to return to London soon before his sister filled not only an orphanage, but Heart Place with homeless urchins.
“But this is all my fault! I told him we’d be here.” She gazed up at him.
“Tha’ she did, m’lord,” Ollie echoed solemnly.
The child would rob her blind.
After spending a few days in the lap of luxury, innocent little Ollie would likely show right back up at the docks with as much of Blackheart’s silver as he could carry. He’d break Lydia’stender heart in the process. “It isn’t safe. You know nothing about this boy.”
Lydia herself would be vulnerable if Ollie took it upon himself to return to Heart Place with a few of his friends.
“But he is in danger.” She stared up at him fiercely, her cobalt eyes unwavering.
“And taking him into your home could place you in danger as well.” He pinned his gaze on Ollie. “I imagine Farley isn’t very forgiving when he loses an… employee. Am I right, young man?” Jeremy demanded sternly. No way in hell was he allowing Lydia to bring a street urchin home with her.
Ollie squirmed. “I don’ suppose he would be.”
Jeremy scrubbed a hand down his face. As soon as word got out about the orphanage, this Farley fellow, or some other gang boss, would no doubt start up trouble.
