“But they will come after you,” the woman said, shaking free of his grip.
“As you have already noted, I can look after myself.” Pulling out some money, he moved to the driver and held it up to him. “Take them wherever they wish to go.”
“As you wish.” He shrugged.
“I do wish. And I wish for you to show them some respect,” Forrest snapped.
The driver looked to where the two men were getting to their feet. Unsteady and wobbling slightly, they were soon running away.
“As you wish.”
The boy had picked up his crutches and was now leaning heavily on them.
“I have paid the driver enough to take you where you wish to go. In you get now.” Forrest loaded the bags into the hackney.
The couple had yet to move.
“It’s dark and late. The air is cooling, madam. Your brother likely needs that cut on his head seen to. Get in the hackney, otherwise you may yet face more of what you just experienced.”
It wasn’t a voice he used often, but when he did, most people did as he bid. Forrest expedited matters by leading the boy to the hackney. He was shivering and unsteady. Gripping his waist, he lifted him inside and helped settle him on a seat.
“You next.” He faced the woman, who had just finished instructing the driver where she wanted to be taken. She was hiding in the hood of her cloak, and he had the ridiculous urge to pull it back to get a better look of her.
“I have sounded ungrateful, sir, and am sorry for that. It has been a long and trying night.”
“It’s all right. In you get.” He lifted her gently inside. She stood hunched in the doorway, her face in the shadows.
“I can never thank you enough for your kindness to my brother. I doubt we would have made our destination had we not met. Your actions have saved us this night.”
“Two years ago I had a very trying day, in fact month,” Forrest said. “Someone came to my aid when I most needed it. It changed my life. I’m not saying a ride in a hackney will do that for you, but perhaps it will bring a little light into your long and trying day, madam.”
One of her gloved hands rose, and he heard the sniff.
“Thank you for your kindness.” She leaned forward, and he had a fleeting image of pale skin and wide eyes. He forgot everything when her lips touched his cheek.
He felt like she’d branded him. Then she moved away and took her seat.
“Good evening to you both.” Forrest nodded to them and then shut the door and stood back, watching them roll away.
He stood there until the hackney disappeared from sight, his hand cupping his cheek.
CHAPTERTWO
Six months later
Mr. Forrest Howarthlooked at the woman seated across from him. Her mouth was in a straight, unsmiling, tight line. The dress and bonnet were black, with a lace edge that presumably was from the cap beneath. A round face was flushed, no doubt from the cold that had suddenly descended on London yesterday.
“And do you believe a young girl should have a knowledge of historical events and computations?”
His cousin Gabriel, Lord Raine asked the question. They sat side by side in Gabe’s office. Beside him was his wife, Dimity, due to have her baby soon. Her hands were resting on top of her protruding stomach. He’d asked them to help him today, as the task of finding his daughter a tutor was becoming herculean. She had a nanny, who she loved, but now he wanted someone to teach her to read and write. Someone to help her fall in love with different languages and history.
His cousins did not question his need to have both a nanny and a tutor for his daughter, even though he knew some would.
“There is no need for such things. A young lady needs to learn only how to be a young lady.”
“And that is what, Mrs. Crabtree?” Gabe asked in a ruthlessly polite voice that appeared all that was interested. He was not. In fact, he was getting angry. The signs were there for those who knew him.
Mrs. Crabtree moved in her seat, and the black bombazine of her stiff skirts rustled. Forrest thought she looked like a large hen roosting.
