Page 81 of Beyond Scandal and Desire
He would, of course. He had a keen understanding of the price paid by the illegitimate while until recently she’d only had a vague notion that they existed.
Standing, he held out his hand to her. “Let’s see you home.”
Shortly thereafter, they located Nan and the coachman in the parlor, sipping brandy before the fire, talking low. When they spotted Aslyn, they both jumped to their feet as though caught doing something they shouldn’t.
“Did you enjoy your relaxing evening?” she asked.
Nan bobbed her head. “It was a lovely dinner. Thank you, Mr. Trewlove.”
“You can thank me by keeping where you came tonight to yourself.”
Nan tilted up her chin. “After dinner, my lady went to bed with a megrim. We never left the residence.”
He grinned with approval. “I hope she feels better on the morrow.”
“I’m certain she will, sir.”
“We should be on our way, then,” Aslyn said.
As they neared the coach, Mick asked, “Nan, have you ever ridden atop a coach?”
“I most certainly have not.” Her tone indicated she was offended by the question.
“Then you’re in for an adventure.”
Her maid came to an abrupt halt. “My lady?”
Aslyn looked at Mick. “My maid doesn’t travel outside of the carriage.”
“Tonight she does. I’m seeing you home.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“I insist. I’m not sending you through the London streets without escort.”
“I travel in this manner, with only Nan, the driver and the footman, all the time.”
“Not tonight, not anytime after you’ve been with me.”
The man was so stubborn. “Then they’ll have to bring you back.”
“I’ll walk or find a hansom.” In front of her servants—thank goodness they were the only ones about at the moment, except for Jones at the door—he cupped her face, tilted it up and held her gaze. “You are too precious for me to risk that something might go awry on your way to Hedley Hall. It’s late. Ruffians are likely to be about.”
Her heart warmed with his words that she was precious to him, but she also saw no need for his protection. “So we’ll both be at risk.”
His grin was wicked and dangerous, as though he were spoiling for a fight. “I can hold my own against them.”
She had no doubt of that, and she did appreciate that he worried for her. “All right. But Nan does not ride atop.”
“There’s a hundred pounds in it for her if she does.”
“You can’t buy—”
“I’ve always wanted to ride atop a carriage,” Nan suddenly announced. “I think it’ll be jolly good fun.”
Mick’s smile was one of victory that made her want to kiss him. “Fine,” she said. “Let’s be on our way.”
Like a gentleman, he took the seat opposite her. He had the sense she wasn’t quite pleased with his high-handedness, that she wasn’t happy he’d been unwilling to let her travel without his escort. The odds were she’d get home safely. But even a one in a hundred chance she wouldn’t was too high as far as he was concerned. And he did know how to handle ruffians. He and his brothers had been dealing with them their entire lives.
