Page 34 of Lady Gambit
Instinct said it was the only way to protect the men she loved. Her brothers would die for her and she had to do everything in her power to prevent that from happening.
Mr Flynn closed his eyes briefly. “It seems I’m left with little choice in the matter. I made a vow to keep you safe. A vow I mean to honour. I have no option but to remain at your side until you have the answers you seek, Miss Chance.”
Mr Daventry braced his hands on the desk and stood. “It’s settled then. We shall venture to St Giles together.”
Not wishing to gloat or give a jubilant grin, she merely nodded. “Is there anything I should know before we leave? Anything that will help in our endeavour?”
Mr Daventry reached into his desk drawer and removed a pocket pistol, powder and shot. “Keep these in your reticule. I’m told Aaron taught you how to use such a weapon.”
“Until I could hit a bottle from ten yards.”
“Anyone can hit a target, Miss Chance. Can you fire at a villain when your partner’s life depends upon it?”
She glanced at Mr Flynn, her heart clenching as a vision of his blood-soaked body flashed before her eyes. The thought of losing him left her nauseous. “I owe Mr Flynn my life. His safety is of personal importance to me.” She would fight with her bare hands, tackle a gang of hardened thugs.
Mr Daventry seemed appeased. “Excellent. Oh, before I forget, just one word of warning. There are wolves in the hen house. Never look Mrs Haggert in the eye and call her a liar.”
Seven Dials
St Giles
The five-minute walk from Hart Street to Seven Dials was not without incident. They had stopped to help a barrow boy with a broken wheel. Ladies lingering near an alley had called to Mr Flynn, offering lewd ways to wipe the scowl from his handsome face. Perhaps that’s why he insisted she take hold of his arm as they navigated the crowded streets.
She settled her fingers above the crook of his elbow, resting them against his bulging bicep. Heavens. He was a spectacular specimen of a man, spectacular in every regard, even when in a gruff mood.
“Our working relationship will be much easier if you accept my appointment,” she said, attempting to ease the tension between them.
“You know why I raised an objection,” he whispered.
“Yes, because you’re worried you might kiss me again?” She brought him to a halt in the heart of Seven Dials, where a mob had once destroyed the sundial pillar. “There’s really no need for concern. There are more important things to consider. I doubt either of us will make the same mistake.”
While Mr Daventry spoke to a blind man begging outside the saddle shop and dropped a coin into his grubby hat, Mr Flynn wished to correct any misconception.
“My reticence has nothing to do with ourmistake. Do you know how dangerous it is for a woman on these streets?”
Not wanting him to glimpse fear in her eyes, she kept her gaze fixed on the blind man, tapping Mr Daventry’s boots with his stick. Nor did she wish to look at Mr Flynn’s mouth and remember how wonderful he’d made her feel.
“I lived here for a year with Mrs Haggert.” She had no memory of the hardships she’d suffered and had likely stolen more reticules than she’d eaten hunks of bread. “And we were on the streets for two weeks before Aaron secured lodgings with Mrs Maloney.”
None of them would have survived had it been the dead of winter. Then, a mere week after they’d found a safe haven, Aaron had almost died in a fight with one of Mrs Haggert’s thugs.
“That was sixteen years ago.”
“Crime was just as rife.”
Mr Daventry called to them. He pointed to Little Earl Street and beckoned them to follow as he fell into step beside the blind man.
“I’m used to working alone,” came Mr Flynn’s next excuse.
“I’m not used to working at all. This is new to us both.”
He ground his teeth. “What part of this is hard to understand?”
“None of it. As colleagues, we’re required to show restraint.” She looked at him as they avoided the street seller, determined to sell them a broom. “It’s only natural we’re finding it difficult. You’ve not kissed anyone for years. A slimy peck from a fool with rotten breath is the limit of my experience.”
He gave a mocking snort. “I trust you’re referring to Mr Harper.”
He had remembered the man’s name.
