He shrugged. “Why should I when you have already discovered the truth? I hope that you won’t hold my concern against me.”
“While I do appreciate it,” she murmured. “It is quite unnecessary. I have been left on my own for some time in situations much worse than what recently happened at this theatre. Besides, if that is the sort of reliance I can depend upon, I have found the individual quite lacking in the area of subterfuge.”
It wasn’t often that Cordell discovered a lady so bold or opinionated. Other than Mary, of course. But her circumstances had molded her into the daring woman he knew. He narrowed his eyes slightly, wondering what sort of history Miss Sims must have had to turn her into the same. His protective instincts wanted to surface, but he knew it would be the wrong way to earn her respect—or her trust. If the time came when she found herself in danger, he wanted her to be willing to come to him.
“In turn, I appreciate your candor, Miss Sims. I will redirect the attentions of your shadow elsewhere.” He touched the side of his brow. “On that note, I shall bid you good evening.”
Aislynn wasn’t sure if she was relieved or disappointed when Mr. Steele departed. She admitted to herself that she enjoyed conversing with him. He was intelligent and extremely sharp, but his propensity to rescue the damsel was not something she could stand behind. In society, that was likely commonplace, but not with the common populace. It was not promised that anyone would receive any handouts or charity. Instead, there were workhouses and hard labor that everyone must endure at some point or another. If fate granted someone a certain talent, like becoming a notable actress, then it was a gift that should not be squandered. She certainly did not intend to do so.
However, with the rise of fame, so came the rise of powerful admirers, like the men who had accosted her before Mr. Steele’s timely arrival. She would never say so, but she was particularly grateful for his intervention. Had he not arrived when he had, she was not certain she could dissuade their advances. She could easily manage one, but they had both been vying for her notice, and if they decided to waylay her as a duo, the odds were certainly not in her favor. The difficult truth was that men were naturally stronger than women, and they could have overpowered her if they chose to do so. She had just always hoped that her firm tone and her ability with a knife would cause second thoughts.
She swallowed hard over the lump in her throat and finished removing her makeup. Once she’d changed into her usual attire that firmly reminded her of her place in this world, she donned her cloak and headed out the stage door for home.
Her breath clouded in front of her in the cold night air. For some, the night might have ended, but for others it was just beginning. Carriages still flowed through the streets, the wheels slicing through the dirty snow that had fallen the day before and become contaminated by the muddy roads. It was no longer so pure and innocent but filled with the refuse of the day’s waste. It was a disheartening thought but still very apt for London.
She was heading down an alley, a shortcut to her apartments, when a carriage halted at the end, blocking her path. She stopped as the door opened and a familiar face came into view. “Miss Sims. I was hoping to catch you again. I wondered if maybe you might have had time to come to your senses regarding my proposal.”
Aislynn clenched her jaw. She should have known that an earl wouldn’t believe that he had actually been rejected. No doubt his pride was severely wounded. She shifted her gaze and noticed that his companion was seated across from him which gave her one of two options—stand and hold her ground or turn and run in the other direction. In one instance, she could easily be overpowered, and in the other she would appear a coward. Neither were appealing scenarios. In the end, her pride won out over the desire to flee.
She lifted her chin mutinously. “I regret that I have not. Good evening, sir.” She attempted to skirt around the conveyance but her arm was caught in a brutal grip as she was slammed against the side of the carriage.
“That would be a terrible folly. I can grant you things of which you only dream, or I can be your worst nightmare. You really do not want to make the wrong choice. I will consider this an error in judgment, but it better not happen again.”
Aislynn despised bullies. Taking a deep breath, she gathered her courage and spat directly in the center of his face. “Fuck you.”
He raised his arm and the blow she was expecting never arrived. Instead, she was met with a howl of pain as his hand was pinned to the side of the carriage, a knife protruding from the skin as blood began to pour from the wound.
Aislynn looked over his shoulder to see a shadow separate itself from the rest and draw forward.
Cordell Steele.
Her breath nearly caught when she saw the malicious glint in his dark eyes. “You should be wise and accept that the lady’s answer is no.”
The earl was still whining. “You bastard!” he cried, spittle flying from his mouth. “I will see you barred from polite society after this!”
“You can try,” Mr. Steele said evenly as he reached out and retrieved his knife, allowing the earl the use of his wounded hand. The earl cradled it against his jacket where the blood continued to stain his finely tailored clothes. “But I should warn you that my uncle is the Duke of Otlingham and he does not care for men of your ilk, the same as I.”
The earl barked out a laugh. “The mad duke? I am surprised they have not yet carted him off to Bedlam.”
Cordell set his face directly in the earl’s line of sight. “That will be a cold day in hell, but the day they recover your body in the Thames, coated in ice, may not be so far into the future.”
That caused the man to blanch, and he swiftly entered his carriage where he banged on the roof. The carriage sped off into the night.
Aislynn waited for Mr. Steele to turn to her. When he did, she raised her hands and offered a slow applause. “Very nicely done, Mr. Steele. But what did I say about being rescued?”
“My apologies,” he returned dryly, as he wiped the knife on his trousers and tucked it away in the middle of his jacket. “I was under the impression you might be outnumbered. Forgive the intrusion.”
She tilted her head to the side. “I am not sure I believe you are sorry for interceding. I think there is a part of you that cannot help but save a lady like some sort of dashing knight. What I cannot decide is why you feel the desire to do so.”
He gave a light snort. “You seem to be the expert on the subject of what I do, so why don’t you tell me?”
Aislynn lifted a brow but found she didn’t have a ready reply. He had effectively backed her into a corner. Instead, she decided that it might be better for them to discuss things in private and where it was much warmer. “I was heading out for a drink. I don’t suppose you would care to join me?”
He laid a hand over his heart. “I am honored by the request.”
He held out his arm but she scoffed at the mocking offering. “I do not stand on ceremony like the people you are used to dealing with, Mr. Steele. And please, do not bother leading the way. I know where I would prefer to go.”
She set off and although she was not touching the inquiry agent, she could feel his heat at her side, his towering stance effectively blocking out the chill of the wind. If he wanted to save her from anything, she’d prefer it would be that. The cold always seeped into her bones, especially the one that had never healed properly. During the winter months it ached like a fever she could never escape.
