Page 22 of A Little Bit Dangerous
And how had he repaid his brother?
By entertaining their enemy’s daughter.
Like the worst sort of Judas, he turned and helped Miss Lawton step down from the carriage. Touching her felt so natural it helped banish the guilt. “I’ll check Mrs Maloney will let you stay before I fetch your valise.”
She nodded and showed him her crossed fingers. “I’ll be grateful for a bed, even for a few nights. Mr Daventry agreed to give me an advance on my wages, then I should be able to secure a hotel.”
“Mrs Maloney won’t turn you away.”
The overhead bell tinkled as they entered the shop. Mrs Maloney sat in a wing chair behind the counter, engrossed in a book, her round spectacles perched on the end of her nose.
Christian coughed discreetly, his whole person lighting on the inside when the ageing woman looked up and smiled.
“Christian. You never mentioned calling today.” She placed the book on the counter along with her spectacles. It took three attempts to haul herself out of the chair, but he knew better than to offer assistance. “We always take tea on Thursday. Good Lord! It’s not Thursday, is it? One day seems to merge into the next.”
He rounded the counter and took her soft, wrinkled hand in his. “It’s not Thursday, but I’ll gladly take tea. I have a dilemma, and you’re the only person I can turn to for help.”
Mrs Maloney reached up and cupped his cheek like she had in his youth. “You always were a kind boy. You know how to make an old lady feel special. But there’s not a problem in this world Aaron can’t solve.”
“Aaron is the problem.”
Mrs Maloney paled. “Oh! Is he ill?”
“No, he’s angry.”
She chuckled. “He’s always angry.”
“He’s angry with me,” Christian corrected. He gestured to the woman he couldn’t shake from his mind. “Allow me to present Miss Lawton. We were neighbours as children. That should help to explain my dilemma.”
Miss Lawton stepped forward. “Good morning, Mrs Maloney. I’m afraid I’m to blame for their disagreement.”
The woman’s tired eyes brightened as they scanned Miss Lawton’s exotic features. “Is that so? I’ve never known the men argue over a lady. Not in all the years of our acquaintance.”
Why the devil did she look so pleased?
Christian explained Miss Lawton’s parentage and her dire circumstances. “Aaron cannot see past the fact she’s Lawton’s daughter. But I cannot leave her to fend for herself on the street.”
“And so you want me to give her your room until she can afford a place of her own?”
“In a nutshell, yes.”
“I’m willing to pay,” Miss Lawton blurted, her desperation clear for all to see. “And I shall be no trouble. Perhaps I might help in the shop for a few hours a day. I’ve spent most of my life reading.”
Christian pictured her alone in an Italian tower with nothing but books for company while her mother entertained her lover downstairs.
Mrs Maloney considered him through narrowed eyes. “You’ve a house in Ludgate Hill. I’m told it’s empty.”
Christian inwardly groaned. “It’s unsuitable. I do not want people thinking ill of Miss Lawton.” Gossip would spread faster than a fire in a hay barn. He’d not have people think he was paying her for services rendered. And Lawton had more chance of finding her there. “I need to know she’s safe.”
“Well, this is a turn-up for the books.”
“Does that mean you’ll let her stay?”
Mrs Maloney patted Christian’s upper arm. “Yes, she can have your old room for the time being. There’ll be no charge, but I need someone to climb the steps and dust the top shelves.”
Miss Lawton gasped in relief. “I’ll do anything to help, Mrs Maloney. I cannot tell you how grateful I am for your kindness.”
“You’ll tell me if you require a hot meal. Dinner is around eight, once I’ve closed the shop. And you can help yourself to anything from the pantry.” Mrs Maloney leaned closer. “No gentlemen callers. No callers of any kind.”
