“I trust you have proof of these allegations?”
“I don’t, but Vergette knows the truth. Let them go and badger him if they choose. But Apple don’t belong to them, and she ain’t theirs to dispose of.”
Chapter Twenty-five
The coffee house was far from fashionable, situated as it was within a stone’s throw of Bow Street, but the very nature of its clientele was soothing to Apple’s lacerated sensibilities. Hidden away in a booth, with the murmur of conversations, clinking cups and curling smoke from a pipe or two, she sipped gratefully at the hot chocolate Alex had procured for her.
He had seated himself opposite and was drinking coffee poured from the pot with a look of slight distaste on his face.
“Are you thinking of the fracas back there?”
He grimaced. “No. Thinking this coffee ain’t up to much. Old grains re-boiled, if you ask me.”
Apple took another sip of her drink. “You should have had the chocolate.”
His lips quirked. “Glad you’re enjoying it at least.”
“It’s very welcome after all that, thank you.”
A small sigh escaped Alex. “For a hideous moment, didn’t think the magistrate was going to let me take you away.”
“I know.” Apple all but shuddered. “I was in dread he would insist on my going with Walter and Marjorie until Mr Vergette should have been consulted.”
“He probably would have done, if they hadn’t queered their own pitch. Fellow was thoroughly ruffled by their conduct, and I don’t blame him.”
Apple let out an unsteady breath. “I wish you had not been obliged to say it, Alex.”
His dark gaze held on her face. “Didn’t mean to. Only those two made me so mad I couldn’t help myself.”
He drank again, with another grimace that made Apple laugh despite her tension.
“Is that the coffee, or are you regretting having said it?”
A faint smile creased his mouth. “I don’t regret it, except for embarrassing you. To my mind, it’s the only thing likely to get those two off your back.”
“Do you suppose Mr Vergette will tell them?”
“Doubt he’ll betray you. But I’d guess he’ll say enough to satisfy Justice Armitage. Gave the fellow my word I’d return tomorrow to hear his verdict, but there’s no need for you to appear.”
“But what if he decides in favour of Marjorie and Walter?”
The look of concern on his face struck at Apple’s heart, bringing back the unwelcome reflection that this cosy moment between them was but a passing interlude.
“That’s what troubles you? Don’t fret. I’ve no intention of letting them find you again until you’ve come of age.”
“Perhaps we should find somewhere else for me to hide. I’m persuaded it won’t take them long to find the hotel, if they set their minds to it.”
“This ain’t the country, Apple. Nor are we leaving a trail as we did on the road the last time. They’d be hard put to it to scour every hotel in the capital, even if they guessed you’d be staying at a hotel in the first place. More likely to try to run you to earth in Berkeley Square, and that’ll get them nowhere because the place is shut up.”
Apple could not be satisfied. Marjorie’s dogged determination had been well demonstrated. “I would never have believed she would go to such lengths.”
“Marjorie? Woman’s a human bloodhound!”
“You see? You’ve just said it yourself, Alex. What in the world are we going to do?”
“If it comes to it,” he said forcefully, “I’ll just have to remain with you and stand guard.”
Apple let out an overwrought giggle. “You can’t do that, you know you can’t. We’ve got to be circumspect, Alex. Especially if Marjorie learns the truth about me. I wouldn’t put it past her to spread the tale about.”
