“He decided I was to be his owner when I moved in here.” She glared at him, daring him to refuse. If he did, she would stay with Walter. “He has been my protector.”
“I’m sorry you needed protecting, Dimity. Sorry no one but Walter was here for you.” His eyes were solemn.
His kindness made her throat tighten, but she swallowed down the tears. She’d shed far too many of those.
“I will not leave without Walter.”
“Very well.” He sighed. “Do you have something we can lead him with?”
“He will not go anywhere.”
He sighed again, then undid his necktie.
“What are you doing?” Dimity took a step backward.
He slowly unwound the material, his eyes holding hers.
“I have no wish for Walter to chase something and you to charge off after him, thereby ensuring I must do the same. We will then both be forced to remain in the cold for longer than is necessary.”
Dimity snapped her teeth shut as he tied the cloth to Walter’s collar.
“Let’s go.” He walked to the door, Walter trotting obediently beside him. Opened it, and stepped to one side for her to go ahead of him.
Gathering up the blanket off the floor, she didn’t spare the room a glance—it had no fond memories—simply walked outside. Dimity knocked on the door next to hers, and it opened minutes later.
“You’ll forgive me for waking you, Mrs. Beadle, but I have these for you.” She handed over her meager supplies and the blanket. “I’m leaving, you see, and won’t be back.” Dimity knew this, knew he’d see her in a warm, dry place no matter how much her pride balked at the prospect of letting him do anything for her. But even if that did not happen, then she would find a place of her own. Lately she’d even thought about leaving London. Heading to the country to find work.
“I’ll be sad to see you go.” Mrs. Beadle had tired eyes, five children, and a husband who was never home, as he drank too much and spent what meager money he earned. But when he did return, he took out his anger on his wife. Dimity had heard it through the walls. Once, she’d tried to intervene and received a black eye for her efforts.
“I have some money for you,” Dimity added, turning to face Lord Raine. He raised a brow. “Th-that money you wanted to give me, I would ask you to give some of it to Mrs. Beadle. She was good to me when first I came here. Kind, and gave me food.”
He didn’t speak, just opened his jacket, and seconds later he was handing her money.
“Thank you.” Dimity turned with the money and handed it to the woman in the doorway. “Now there will be enough here for you to go somewhere else, Mrs. Beadle. You leave and don’t tell anyone where you’ve gone.”
“I-I… but there is so much here,” the woman whispered, tears filling her eyes.
“Don’t tell him, Mrs. Beadle. In the morning, you gather your children and leave here after he’s left for the day. You know it’s the right thing to do, as you stated you wanted that just the other day. Wanted to escape if only you had the means.”
“I’ll have a carriage here as the sun rises.” Lord Raine joined her. “You and your children can use it to go wherever you wish.”
“M-my sister, she lives two hours from London.” Hope was starting to fill Mrs. Beadle’s face where before there had been tired resignation. “I want to go to her.”
“I will instruct my driver to knock on your door. He will take you to your sister. Will 7:00 a.m. be too early?”
She shook her head. “I can never thank you enough.” Mrs. Beadle grabbed Lord Raine, hugging him hard. He was then released, and Dimity was held tight against her chest. “God bless you both!”
“You go on inside now out of the rain and be happy, Mrs. Beadle,” Dimity said, nudging the woman back inside. The door closed softly.
“Thank you.”
“I am not the devil, Dimity, even if my name would suggest otherwise. Now let us leave here before we are robbed, beaten, and left for dead.”
Each Deville brother had been given the first name of an angel. According to Abby their mother had insisted on this.
“Can I have my gun back?”
“No.” He placed a hand on her back and urged her forward. They walked silently through the darkness and squalor, with rain that had slowed to a drizzle soaking into their clothes.
