Herscreams did not stop. She backed toward her doorway. The others surged forward and then began screaming and screaming.
Matt heard booted footsteps charging up the rickety staircase and he made a quick decision. Too many would jump to the wrong conclusion. He’d come looking for Ross and here Ross was dead. This was not a place where people listened to rational explanations.
“Come,” he ordered, grabbing Willa’s arm and running to the window. He tried to raise the sash. It wouldn’t budge. He gave it another hard lift and it went up just as the door on the other end of the hall opened. The cardplayers came pouring in to mix with the screaming whores.
Matt lifted Willa through the window and said, “Run.”
She ran, with him at her heels.
The space between the two buildings was a tight fit for him, but the sight of a man sticking his head out of the Blue Boar put wings to his feet.
They reached the street. Someone was coming out of the gaming den’s front door. Matt took Willa’s hand and they ran in the opposite direction. She was breathing heavily, but she was a game one. She did not give up.
Matt dragged her into one of the pubs, racing with her to the back of the establishment. He found a back door and dashed out into the alley.
This section of London was a maze of side streets and alleyways. He kept them moving until they reached a busy thoroughfare. Bermondsey. He sighed his relief. The traffic was heavier.
“Are you all right?” he asked Willa. She’d lost her saucy velvet cap. He had no idea where his hat had fallen off, either.
“There was so much blood,” she said. “And his throat—”
He nodded and tucked her hand in the crook of his arm. “Let’s just walk. We are all right. No one should associate us with that.”
“So much blood.”
“Willa, don’t think on it.”
“How can I not? There was another body in the room, wasn’t there? How could Hardesty kill both of them?”
“He didn’t want a witness.”
“That poor girl.”
Matt nodded, his attention taken by the sight of a hack making its way down the street. He waved, catching the driver’s attention. He gave the driver his address and climbed into the cab after Willa.
She all but collapsed in his arms. They held each other close. His heart still pounded from the escape. She had her head against his chest and gripped a portion of his shirt.
It was a great relief to see the hack turning onto London Bridge.
“Matt, what is going on?”
“I’m not certain,” he answered.
“But you have a suspicion? You asked after Hardesty.”
“I’d hoped he was with Ross.”
“Apparently, he was.” She lifted her head. “But the woman didn’t say anything about him leaving. He could have been there and we wouldn’t have known because we don’t know who he is.” She paused, her gaze arrowing on him. “Unless you believe you know this Hardesty. Do you?”
He looked down at her, his courageous, wild, little wren. “The less you know, the better.”
“Obviously not,” she reminded him. “Is Hardesty someone close to you? That you have met? That I could know?”
“Willa, if what I believe is true, then this could upend my family. Until I’m certain, silence is your protection.”
She pushed away from him, sitting up.
“Willa—”
