Rose led her to the hackney’s open door.
Emerson started forward, meaning to call out, to drag them away if need be.
A movement to his left, just beyond the girl. A hunched shape, emerging from the alley’s deeper mouth. Not stumbling. Not lost.
Intentional.
The man wore a hat pulled low, a ratted scarf wound high. His gait was purposeful. Predatory.
Emerson’s muscles coiled. He moved fast, silent as a thief, cutting across the alley’s width with the efficiency of a man who’d fought in worse places than this. Because…he had.
“Ye bitch. Ye ain’t made a single shillin’ o’ the money I spent on ye. I’ll have yer hide fer it, I will.” The man reached into his coat.
Emerson struck, caught the stranger’s arm mid-draw—a knife gleaming faintly—and slammed his shoulder into the man’s gut, knocking them both into a wall with a sickening crunch.
The girl screamed. Rose turned with a gasp, rising to her feet too quickly, stumbling backward.
The man fought dirty, elbow to ribs, knee toward groin, but Emerson anticipated the move, twisted, and slammed the man’s hand holding the knife against the wall until it fell.
“Go!” he barked at Rose. “Take her. Now!”
Thankfully, she didn’t hesitate, dragging the girl by the hand to the hackney and pushing her inside then scrambling up behind her.
Emerson pinned the man with a forearm to the throat. “I’d reconsider,” he hissed, “unless you wish to learn if I’m still capable of worse.”
The man choked, then went limp.
Emerson dropped him. Shoved a knee into his spine. Ripped the scarf down.
He was no one. Not a hired thug, just a desperate bawdy house worker who’d been sent to save his employer’s blasted investment. It wasalwaysabout the blunt.
Emerson rose, breathing hard, and turned toward the hackney just as the door slammed shut behind Rose.
The carriage rolled from the alley.
He watched it go, fury and fear warring inside him.
She’d come here. Alone. Found a girl in desperate need.
Reckless Rose.LadyReckless Rose, he amended. Her new title, and reaffirming his vow to kill her when he caught up to her.
Right after he kissed her senseless and assured himself she was all in one piece.
~~~
The hackney jerked into motion. Rose grabbed the strap to keep from sliding to the floor. Her companion was not so fortunate. She put out her hand for the girl. “Are you unharmed, Viola?”
“Does it matter?”
“Not a wit,” Rose returned gently.
She took Rose’s hand, and Rose launched her up to sit next to her. “H-how did you find me?” Viola’s voice stuttered. Whether it was the chill or fear, Rose could not discern.
The carriage gained its balance, and the ride smoothed out.
Rose took the cloak the girl still hugged to her chest and wrapped it around her. “I overheard a couple of young women speaking in the retiring room at Peachornsby’s ball. How on earth did you land in Whitefriars? It’s quite dangerous.”
Viola’s bottom lip trembled before firming. “Do you really think so, Lady Stanford?” she bit out.
