Page 44 of The Duke and Lady Scandal
Before she could answer, he leaned in and nuzzled her cheek, grazing his lips all the way to her jaw. “Flowers,” he mumbled. “You always smell of flowers.” Then he jerked back, though he kept one large, warm hand braced on her shoulder.
“Damned stubborn woman. You shouldn’t be here,” he hissed. “I asked a constable to see you home.”
“He did, and then I thought I should come find you.”
“I do not...” He hissed as he attempted to straighten, and she noticed that he kept one arm wrapped around his middle. “Require your help, Miss Prince.” His voice was deeper, raspier than usual.
“I’ve heard that before,” she told him as she reached for him gently, certain he was injured, judging by the labored gusts of his breath. “Let me help you,” she said softly, urging him to relent. “Please.”
“You’re incorrigible.” But he let her get an arm around him and position herself beside him. “My God, woman. Do you ever do what you’re told?”
“It may surprise you to know that, yes, I usually do. All my life, actually.”
He grunted at that. “I’m dubious as to the veracity of that statement.”
“Well, I’m horrendous at lying, so you should believe me.”
“So, it’s only since you met me that you’ve decided to become intractable?”
Allie smiled in the darkness, but she doubted he could see her. “I suppose you bring it out in me.”
“Wonderful.” He let out a grunt of pain as he straightened and drew her toward the mouth of the alley where she’d entered. She felt the unsteadiness of his gait. He was limping, and his breath wheezed in his chest.
Once they were out of the cloister of the covered space, she caught a glimpse of him in the moonlight and gasped.
“What happened to you?”
“Retribution.”
“Wait here.” She led him to a low retaining wall, and he seemed shockingly content to slump against it. “I’ll find us a cab.”
The moment she made to step away, he reached for her, gripping her upper arm. “You’re not going anywhere in these streets without me.”
Allie came back to stand before him, resisting the urge to point out that she’d come here without him, and he was in no state to take on any additional riverside criminals even if one did approach. He held tight to her arm and kept his head bowed.
“We need to get out of here.” Under a fall ofdark hair he lifted his gaze to look at her. “Together.”
In the dim light, she spotted the dark stain of blood near his lip and a thicker trickle close to his eye.
“Mercy, how many were there?”
He emitted a sound that sounded suspiciously like a raspy chuckle.
“Four but only three delivered the beating.”
She moved to stand beside him again, then took his hand and hooked his arm around her neck.
He didn’t resist and let her nestle close. The heat of his body warmed her instantly, and when she slid an arm underneath his coat and tucked it around his waist, he groaned as if something hurt him there too.
Together, they made their way toward the bridge and soon secured a hansom. When it came time to climb in, Drake disentangled himself and insisted on offering her a hand.
“What’s your address?”
For a moment, Allie panicked. “I’m not leaving you here. You said we were leaving together.”
“I can catch another.”
“No.” She’d come this far, and she wasn’t leaving him wounded and alone in this place. “Please come with me.”
