Page 34 of What's a Duke Got to Do With It
“Ramsleigh, stop that man!”
In an instant Sebastian saw who he was referring to: a figure in dark clothes, running his way. And in his hand was what appeared to be a reticule.
He wasted no time, stepping away from Miss Denby and into the path of the person who was no doubt a thief. The man’s eyes widened when he saw Sebastian, but though he tried to redirect his steps, he was too late. Sebastian leapt at the man, tackling him to the ground.
“Geroff me!” the thief cried, panic flaring in his eyes as he struggled beneath Sebastian’s weight.
Sebastian did, but only so he could haul the man to his feet. He plucked the reticule from his fingers, handing it off to Miss Denby before taking the man by the collar and bringing his face close to his. He was grubby, his hair unkempt, dirt smudging his cheeks. But beneath all that it was too obvious how young he was, no more than fifteen or sixteen at most.
Reaching into his pocket with one hand, he extracted a handful of banknotes and pushed them into the boy’s hand. The thief’s eyes widened in confusion.
“Wot th’ blazes?”
“I know times must be difficult for you,” he said low. “But there are other ways to obtain what you need. Do not steal from the young ladies again. Do you understand?”
He expected any number of reactions from the boy, from censure to anger to humor that Sebastian could be so stupid as to hand over money like some reward for such a crime. Instead, however, the boy’s eyes welled with tears. Sebastian released him then. The boy looked at him for a long moment before, giving Sebastian a quick nod, he disappeared into the crowd.
Miss Denby sidled up to him, the pilfered reticule pressed to her chest as she grasped at his sleeve with her free hand. “Are you well? You are not hurt, are you?”
“No, I am not hurt,” he murmured. And the smile she gifted him with, full of both admiration and a pride he could not recall ever seeing, made him feel as if he were on top of the world.
Nothing had prepared Katrina for how affected she would become when Sebastian let the thief go, even giving him money from his own pocket—money he could ill afford, if his desperate need for funds was any indication. He could have easily seen that the man was punished for his thievery, and indeed most would have agreed with the need for such a thing. He must learn his lesson, they would say. Not knowing—or caring—that the lesson would have destroyed the boy’s life.
But no, he had been kind, and generous. And Katrina knew if she wasn’t careful, she would be in danger of falling in love with him just as much as, if not more than, she had four years ago.
The rest of their party approached then, pushing through the crowd that had gathered at first sign of the scuffle but were dispersing now that the excitement was done with. Mr. Bridling was at the front of the group, and on his arm was Lady Paulette, her hair askew, her face pale with shock.
Katrina hurried forward and put an arm around the girl. “Goodness, are you all right?”
“I’m fine, Miss Denby,” she replied with a wan smile. “Thank you ever so much.”
“Did you catch the thief, Ramsleigh?” Mr. Bridling demanded, looking about for the man.
“Yes,” the duke replied. He motioned toward Katrina, who still held the reticule in her grip. “Long enough to get that.”
Lady Paulette exclaimed in relief, accepting the reticule from Katrina. “Oh goodness, you retrieved it. Thank you ever so much.”
But there was no relief on Mr. Bridling’s face. Instead his irritation seemed to only grow. “You mean you let that criminal get away?”
“It is no matter,” Lady Paulette said. “I am just happy to have my bag back.” She turned glowing eyes up to Mr. Bridling. “You were so very heroic, sir. Without you catching me, I should have fallen into the road and under the wheels of that carriage for certain.”
Lady Paulette’s effusions did much to erase whatever ire Mr. Bridling still held on to. He smiled down at her, his chest puffing up with pride. “It was nothing, nothing at all. I’m quite used to London, you know, and a quick mind is necessary in such a busy place. It seems, however, that even on this idyllic Isle there are thieves aplenty. But you’ve no need to fear, my lady, when you are in my company.”
Katrina must have looked confused at the exchange, for Miss Mishra approached. “Mr. Bridling was quite heroic,” she explained. “The thief jarred Lady Paulette, and she nearly fell into the path of a hackney. But Mr. Bridling pulled her to safety.”
“He was indeed heroic,” Honoria chimed in, taking a break from her constant bustle around her sister and cousins. “But I do think that is the perfect ending to our evening, for nothing so exciting can top that. We had all best be getting home; it has been a long day, and Father will be wondering where we are. And anyway, Lady Paulette will need rest after her ordeal.”
“Oh, but you must allow us to call Lady Tesh’s carriage for you,” Katrina said.
It was not anything out of the ordinary. Lady Tesh had done as much herself for not only the Gadfeld girls, but also for any number of young ladies to prevent them from walking alone.
The look Honoria gave her, however, was full of regret. “Thank you, dear,” she said quietly, “but I do think it’s best if we don’t.”
In a moment Katrina was reminded of her true standing in Synne society. Honoria had not told her father they had meant to spend the day with Lady Tesh. Which meant, of course, her friend had purposely kept the vicar in the dark because of Katrina’s presence. She felt the blood leave her face as, attempting an unconcerned smile, she nodded. “Of course.”
Honoria, however, saw through her ruse. She grasped her hand, pulling her off to the side of the path. “I’m so sorry, Katrina. It’s just that Father doesn’t know we were with you, you see.”
Katrina held up a hand, fighting to keep her smile intact though she wanted to cry. “Please, don’t feel you need to explain. It’s quite all right, Honoria. Only do let us secure a hackney at least.”
