Page 43 of Eliza and the Duke
He glanced over at her and laughed. She smiled. “I can’t quite believe you’re real,” he muttered under his breath. She heard him, if the color in her cheeks was any indication. God, she was lovely.
“I never would have suspected that Daisy existed,” she said. “Why does she live here and not with you at the club?”
“Because of Brody.” The name had him looking around as if that alone could summon the man. It wasn’t dark like the last time they had come to Whitechapel, but the streets were so close together that the air seemed darker and still. He tightened his hold on her hand.
“Is he her father?”
“No, her father’s a jack. A sailor. Mary loved him, but when he came back from sea and saw her with a swollen belly, he denied the babe could be his.” Simon had gone at him for that, but after the beating, the bloke had set sail on another ship and never returned.
“Oh, well, then, why does Brody have a say?” she asked.
“He didn’t want me to leave and doesn’t want me to stay at Montague. He resents the fact that he can’t use me as he did before. I’ve cost him much in unearned wealth.”
With her free hand, she touched his hand that held hers. He looked down at her fingers, taking comfort in the touch, before looking up at her. “You cared about him, didn’t you?” she asked.
A lump rose in his throat causing it to feel tight and achy, but he quickly pushed the pain away. “He was the only father I ever knew. For a time I thought he felt like I was his son.” He shrugged. “I was wrong.” He’d been wrong about so many things in his life, but that had hurt the most.
“Or perhaps he did feel that way and he’s hurt that you left?”
Simon shook his head. “That wouldn’t change a thing. He’s gone too far. He claims that I owe him money for leaving, and he won’t let Daisy leave until I pay for her freedom. It’s why I’ve agreed to that final fight. He’s promised that we’ll both be free of him.”
“Wait a moment.” She came to a stop, forcing Simon to stop with her. “You have to participate in a prizefight to be allowed to take Daisy out of here?”
He nodded.
Her brow furrowed and she brought his hand to her chest, hugging it to her breast. He forced himself to take a deep breath and not focus on how soft and warm she was. Still, he found himself drawing closer to her as thoughts of last night burned their way through his mind. The way she had felt beneath his hands…riding his fingers.
“But isn’t it dangerous?” she asked. “Isn’t it a leap of faith? If he’s truly so bitter about you leaving him for another life, then how do you know he isn’t planning something terrible? How do you know he doesn’t mean to hurt you in some way? How can you trust that he’ll follow through with his promise?”
Everything she said was correct. His smile was tinged with sadness. “It’s good you understand that Brody can’t be trusted.”
“Simon.”
Simon stared at her like he might stare at a simple child. “Wot choice do I have, then, Eliza?”
Understanding dawned on her face. “You don’t have choices, do you? Choice is a privilege granted to those lucky enough to have a little bit of power,” she said.
The tight ache returned to his throat. This was why he’d never be allowed to have her for his own. The sadness was chased by anger. He wanted to punch something. Brody came to mind.
“You’ve not been born to privilege, but you’ve made powerful friends. You could talk to Mr. Thorne or Lord Leigh. Surely, you know the Duke of Rothschild would help you.”
“What would they do? Send police to the streets ofWhitechapel to root him out? Put everyone—Daisy, themselves, and their families—in danger? No, I’ll deal with him on my own.” His jaw set rigidly and he started walking, but she refused to budge, drawing him back to her.
“Simon, wait. There must be something—”
“No, Eliza, there’s nothing that can be done. Ye don’t understand how it is here. If I don’t do what he wants, I may very well return to find Daisy gone, and I can’t risk it.”
The terror reflected on her face was enough to reassure him that she understood now. He wouldn’t have to pick her up and tote her out of there, which is what he’d been on the verge of doing. They couldn’t stay here, and she needed to know how dangerous it was for her here. She squeezed his hand and followed along beside him.
They emerged onto the pavement lining Commercial, and he looked for the carriage along the crowded street but didn’t see it.
“What is stopping you from taking her out of there?” Eliza asked, a quiet hesitation in her voice.
He was silent for a moment, contemplating how much to tell her. “The house has a watchman. He follows Heni and Daisy whenever they leave. Brody will know about your visit soon enough now.” His grip on her hand tightened again, as if he could feel her being pulled away from him. She glanced around them as if looking for the man or the men who had followed them the last time they’d come to Whitechapel.
Her body tightened; he could feel her tense next to him. “Promise me that you’ll never come here again. He’s much too dangerous.” When she didn’t answer immediately, he turned to her and took hold of her shoulders. “Please, Eliza.”
She nodded. “I promise. I mean it this time.”
