“Are you feeling well? Do you usually sleep so hard?” she asked.
Ben shook his head. “No, I don’t think so. But I’ll continue to pay you the extra just in case it happens again.”
He knew he wore a ridiculous grin on his face, but he couldn’t seem to stop. Then he noticed her eyes were darting from his eyes to his hair and back. She chewed her bottom lip as if holding back a laugh. He ran a hand through his hair and closed his eyes.
Not again. Why did he have such bad luck?
“I must insist we meet during the day at least once. So you’ll know what I look like without disheveled hair.” Then the absurd smile returned. He needed to end this conversation before he made more of a fool of himself. “I swear I own a comb. Here, I’ll show you.”
He ducked from the window and grabbed the horn comb next to his basin and waved it at her.
So much for quitting before he made a fool of himself. Miss Felton only smiled placatingly, probably wondering about the numbskull man who had just hired her. If she was an intelligent girl, she’d run as fast as she could. Who knows what imbecile things he would do or say tomorrow.
Terry barked, his tail wagging furiously as his mistress tried to quiet him. At least the dog liked him.
“I don’t expect anyone to look their best when I’m waking them,” she said, mischief in those purplish-blue eyes. “I’m sure you’re a swell once your day has begun.”
“But not handsome?” Why did he just put her on the spot like that? Yes, he was well-dressed for his clients, but swell didn’t include his face.
She laughed, and the sound put the grin back on his face. “I’m sure you’re that too. Good day, Mr. Cooper.”
Then she whistled to her dog and practically ran down the street.
He should go back to bed and stay there for the day. Wait for her to come again tomorrow and try again. Or leave the poor woman alone before he frightened her off, and he was left to the devices of his landlady.
CHAPTER 4
A week later
Walbrook Street
Kitty opened the door at the sound of scratching. Terry stood on the other side, his little tail moving at the speed of a fast carriage wheel. Her father was still farther down the street.
“Did you keep him company?” she asked the dog.
Woof!
He had begun following Pa to the door at night and was soon a companion for him as well. Kitty decided her father couldn’t change his mind about keeping the pup if he was earning his keep.
As her father entered, he bent to pet the dog. “He’s a good ‘un,” said Pa. “He walks ahead of me and barks if there’s someone down an alley. Gives me warning if there’s anything I should pay attention to.”
Kitty beamed. “I’m glad you’re happy with him too. I feel better when someone is with you.” The area her father patrolled wasn’t a rookery, but their neighborhood was no Mayfair either. There were bad people everywhere, as her mother used to say.
“Wouldn’t you rather have him with you at night when you’re alone?”
She shook her head. “Nah, Widower Mercer upstairs would hear me yell. He’d come down quick enough if I needed help.” Kitty would never say how much she’d love to have Terry with her in the evening. Besides, she’d slept better this week, knowing the dog accompanied her father.
“Is the young solicitor still making cow eyes at you?”
“It’s strange how the first week he didn’t give me any notice but a wave.” Setting the steeped tea on the table, she sat down and began buttering a slice of bread. “Then one day, he poked his head out the window, and he’s full of prittle prattle. We speak for a few minutes every day, but he’s not such a flat anymore. He’s terrible at jokes, but I laugh so as not to hurt his feelings.”
“Still trying to impress you, then,” said her father with a knowing smile.
“His hair is combed now when he comes to the window,” she said with a chuckle.
“I like Mr. Cooper. He’s respectful and makes a good living, I think. Comes from a good family.”
“You know some Coopers?” she asked.
