“Aye, Huckle, we will.” Jamie raised his tankard. “When was the last report of him in this location you speak of?”
“I’m unsure, but it can’t have been long ago, because I was there just last week.”
Jamie nodded, and then questioned Huckle until he was sure he had everything he knew. Lady Alice had removed her hand minutes ago, and Jamie had to say he missed the contact, which surprised him.
Yes, he’d kissed the woman, but they’d both explained that away with him feeling an excess of excitement after his fight. Now, he wasn’t so sure, and would go so far as saying that he believed Lady Alice was going to become a problem for him.
“It’s good to see you again, my lord.”
“You also, Huckle.” Jamie handed him some money.
“I can pay—”
“And now I have,” he cut Lady Alice off. “Good evening, Huckle, and I’m pleased to have met you again.”
He watched him leave, slipping through the patrons toward the door.
“You first, Ezra,” Jamie said. “We shall follow.”
Lady Alice didn’t like it when anyone but her gave the orders. But, as he was now involved in this, she would have to get used to that. He placed a hand on her spine and moved her into place between him and Ezra. She shot him a look, but stayed silent.
“What are you about?” The words came from a woman approaching Lady Alice from the right.
“Step back, please. We’re leaving,” Jamie said evenly. When the woman didn’t move, his voice hardened. “Now.”
“There’s enough women here already. We don’t need another!” she snarled, sending the sharp tang of gin fumes their way. Her lips were painted an unnatural pink, and a large black beauty spot marred her cheek. Once, she might have been called pretty, but her face now bore the weary marks of a hard life.
“I am no threat to you,” Lady Alice said quickly. “Move, please.”
The woman sneered and shoved her. Alice stumbled, colliding with Jamie’s chest. Her body was rigid with fear when he steadied her.
“Please don’t touch me!” Lady Alice’s anguished cry came out high-pitched and panicky as the woman drew back a fist.
At his employer’s scream, Ezra turned. The woman lurched into a man, who stumbled into another. Outrage bellowed through the room, and fists began to fly.
“Get her out!” Jamie roared. Too late. The Black Dog had descended into chaos.
A fist whistled past Jamie’s ear, and he turned to face the deliverer. A man was grinning at him drunkenly. Jamie punched him, and his eyes rolled back in his head and he toppled, like a felled tree, scattering those behind him.
Another shriek split the air, and Jamie’s gaze immediately sought Lady Alice.
The woman who had pushed her earlier was back, her hands locked around Lady Alice’s arms. Before Jamie could reach them, Lady Alice twisted sharply, breaking free, and this time it was she who sent the woman stumbling back with another forceful shove.
Ezra was alternately trying to care for his mistress and fight.
“Make for the door, Ezra!” Jamie bellowed. He then spun Lady Alice and dropped his shoulder. When he straightened, she was dangling over it.
“What are you doing?” she cried.
“Run!” Jamie roared.
Ezra did, pushing people out of the way with his large hands and lashing out with his feet. Jamie had one hand free, so he did the best he could. Reaching the door, they ran through and out into the smog and cold air.
“Put me down!”
He didn’t until they were a few feet from the Black Dog. Only then did he lower her gently to the ground.
“I’ll get the carriage,” Ezra said.
