Page 45 of The Duke and Lady Scandal
He wiped at his lip with the back of his hand and held her gaze. “Stubborn and incorrigible.”
“Call me anything you like, Inspector. Just get in.”
Finally relenting, he called an address up to the driver and climbed in beside her. She’d traveled inplenty of hansom cabs with her siblings and with Jo, and the seat was always cramped, but not like this.
Their bodies were seamed together, and she could not shift without pushing closer to him. As soon as the cab set off, she was glad for the heat of that closeness. But more than that, she was glad to have found him.
Her intuition had been right. She turned to tell him as much, but he’d leaned his head back against the wood. Since the man needed rest, she accomplished the great feat of not asking any further questions as they wound their way toward his home.
Chapter Ten
He didn’t want to let her go, and yet he knew he should.
She’d insisted on tucking herself against him again and helping him inside. Once they stood in his drawing room, he should have released her, and yet he still held on because she was sweet and soft and maddening.
He should be furious with her. He should have sent her home alone as he’d intended.
Something about this woman made him forgo everything he knew he should do and give in to what he wanted instead. And that was a dangerous path.
“Where do you want to sit?”
Her very practical question finally cleared a bit of the haze of the last hour, and he lifted his arm to allow her to step away. But she didn’t.
“I can manage on my own,” he told her, and it didn’t even sound convincing to his own ears.
Still, he forced himself to disentangle himself from her curves and the sweet-scented warmth of Alexandra Prince. Even her hair smelled of flowers.
“Of course you can, Inspector,” she said in thetone of one in total disagreement but humoring him to move on. He was quite used to that tone from Helen.
“Where’s the kitchen?”
“Why?”
“We need water and clean cloth to tidy you up.”
“You needn’t mind about that. It’s late and your family must be worried. Mrs. Pratt can see to a cab to take you home.”
“My family is away on an expedition.” She tipped her head. “Who is Mrs. Pratt?”
“I’m the housekeeper, miss.” As she had an extraordinary habit of doing, Mrs. Pratt appeared just when she was needed. “What can I get for you?”
“A hansom cab to see her home,” Ben said as he peeled his overcoat off. Every muscle protested. Demming’s men knew where to land punches and kicks for maximum effect.
“A basin with water and some cloth for washing up, please, Mrs. Pratt.” Miss Prince’s voice was quiet yet determined as she directed his housekeeper and ignored him entirely.
“Of course, miss.” Even as she spoke the words, Mrs. Pratt moved past Miss Prince to get a look at him. She gasped when she did. “Oh no, sir.”
“All’s well. I assure you.”
“Should I send for Miss Drake or Dr. Porter? She’ll wish she’d been here to help.”
“No.” Ben lifted a hand. “Don’t send for her or that damned doctor. Promise me, Mrs. Pratt. It’s a few scratches. Nothing more.”
The housekeeper stared at him skeptically, then finally dipped her head.
“I’ll return with the items directly,” she told Miss Prince on her way out of the room.
“I take it that Miss Drake is your sister. The one who’s brilliant at chess.”
