“What color was his hair, his eyes?”
“’E wore a fancy hat. That’s all I know.”
“You better be telling me the truth,” Hawk said in a warning tone.
“I shouldn’t ’ave taken it from ’er,” Farley mumbled and winced again. “I didn’t want to do it, but I couldn’t stop myself.”
“No, you shouldn’t have,” Hawk said, and found himself feeling sorry for the lad again. “Have you spit up blood?”
Farley shook his head.
That was a good sign that his ribs were only bruised and not broken. Hawk reached into his coat and grabbed the loose coins in his pocket. It wasn’t much, but he said, “Take this and buy some salve for your face and strips of cloth. Bind your chest tight. It’ll help your ribs heal and make breathing a little easier.”
Farley didn’t move.
“Go on, take it. I’m not doing this out of the goodness of my heart. I’m doing it for Loretta. I don’t want to have to tell her I didn’t help you. It’s my thoughts you got what you deserved.”
It took a few moments longer, but Farley finally reached up and gathered the coins from Hawk’s outstretched hand and quickly stepped back.
“If you see the man again, follow him.” Hawk stopped and pointed his finger at Farley. “I don’t want you to approach him. Just watch him, see where he goes, and then come get me. And just so we are clear, it’s you who owes me. Twice now. You understand?”
Farley nodded once.
“Now go get yourself some help.”
Hawk turned away.
Going back to Loretta empty-handed was the last thing he wanted to do. He wanted to find her jewelry so bad his hands made fists. He also wanted to get his hands on theman who’d beat up a skinny, ungrateful lad. And when he did, he’d see to it he never touched another one.
Hawk would have the runners keep a watch over Farley. He believed the lad’s story, but there wasn’t anything wrong with making sure all he said was true. Too, there was always the chance Farley might lead them to the jewelry.
Hawk wasn’t attached to the kid, but Loretta was. And what Loretta wanted was important to him. He’d already decided he needed to find someone who could take Farley into their home and teach him a trade. Maybe the boy had a propensity for something. Though Hawk had no idea what.
Right now the only thing he knew how to do was be a thief, but he had common sense and could learn something else, be it tanner, blacksmith, or shopkeeper. And for Loretta, Hawk would do his best to see that happened.
Chapter 27
A gentleman should always go to a lady’s rescue if he feels she is at a loss for what to say.
APROPERGENTLEMAN’SGUIDETOWOOINGTHEPERFECTLADY
SIRVINCENTTYBALTVALENTINE
Loretta was nervous but not fearful as she entered the duke’s home with her brother and uncle. She immediately recognized Price, the butler who’d refused her admittance into the house when she was at the duke’s door last night. However, if he remembered her face, he made no show of it whatsoever. She couldn’t help but wonder if he really had no idea she was the same person, or if he felt it in his best interest to pretend he had never seen her. Either way, she was grateful.
They were ushered into the drawing room where Loretta’s gaze caught Hawk’s the moment she walked in. He smiled at her, and all her apprehension melted away.
“There you are,” Lady Adele said, rushing up to them. “I thought you’d never get here.”
Loretta slightly shook her head in wonderment. LadyAdele was such an impatient young lady. They weren’t even a minute late.
While greetings were offered by everyone, Loretta found it impossible to keep her gaze from straying to Hawk. Much to her pleasure, he continued to stare at her, too.
“My lord,” Adele said to the earl. “I was hoping we’d get to meet while I was in London. Mr. Quick has told me you are a man of your word, that you have a strong will, and that you won’t be swayed once you reach a decision about something.”
Loretta stiffened, horrified that Lady Adele had divulged what Paxton had said about his uncle. Paxton and Hawk were equally surprised by her words.
“So he did,” the earl said rather slowly while he looked determinedly at the other four people in the room.
