by Vella, Wendy
She was soon dodging people, carriages, and horses.
“Have you seen a large dog?” she asked a man pushing a cart laden with bread.
“That way.” He pointed right. “He stole a loaf, and I’ll expect payment!”
“I will return with your money!” She waved a hand and hurried on.
“I’ll be having strong words with you, Walter,” Dimity rasped as her lungs started to heave.
“Have you seen a large dog?” she asked a lady with a basket.
“He barked at me, I dropped my basket, and the blighter ran off with a length of red ribbon!”
“I will pay you for it when I return!” She ran on, cursing the dog under her breath. Leaping a large pile of manure Dimity continued to follow the trail of Walter’s exploits.
She heard his deep bark up ahead. He tended to bark when he was excited. In her arms, Romulus whined.
“Botheration,” Dimity said when she saw a gathering of men. One had Walter by the collar, jerking his neck as he struggled to restrain him.
“Kick him; that’ll subdue him.”
“Do not kick my dog!” The words had the men looking her way. “Release him at once!”
Lowering Romulus, who she knew would not leave Walter, she hurried forward.
“Give me my dog, and I will remove him from your presence.”
Walter shot her a wild-eyed look. A red ribbon was hanging from his mouth. It seemed he’d eaten the loaf or spat it out somewhere.
“He needs a lesson in manners, as, it appears, do you,” the man holding him said. He pushed her back as she tried to grab Walter. “He ran straight into Holden here. It was only luck that had him remaining on his feet.”
“You’ll not touch my dog.” Dimity glared at the man.
“What’s your name?”
The man had the type of snooty voice that grated on Dimity. It wasn’t like Lord Raine’s; this was higher-pitched and nauseating.
“Your insolent behavior would suggest you have little or no class. When you address your betters, you should curtsey and show respect.”
“You show me someone who is my better, and I will respect them,” Dimity said, standing her ground. “And ‘better’ to my mind means a person with impeccable manners and a kind nature. Not someone who would frighten my dog!”
“How dare you speak to me in such an insulant manner.” His eyes ran over her body. “Do you know who I am?”
He turned slightly, and his shirt point jabbed him in the eye. Idiot.
“How would I know that, as I’ve never met you before, and I’ll add to that I have no wish to. Now release my dog.”
“What is your occupation? Clearly you are no lady.”
She said nothing.
“As you have no companion and are out here alone, clearly you are no one of consequence.”
Walter’s eyes were bugging out now and his breath rasping.
“Release my dog at once.” Dimity fought for calm.
“Who is your employer? I doubt they would like to hear the way you spoke to your betters.” He looked down his nose at her, and Dimity’s fingers itched to punch it.
“I see no one better than me. Now give me my dog.”
“It seems her manners are no better than her dog’s,” one of the men said. They moved closer, circling her and Walter now.
“Release him,” she said slowly. “Now.”
“No.” The man tightened his grip, and Walter made a choking sound.
Dimity wondered how a busy street could suddenly be so empty. She stepped closer and kicked the man hard in the shin. Romulus sank her needle-sharp teeth into his leg. He howled, released Walter. The dog moved to her side, where he pressed against her, shivering. Romulus hurried to sit between his legs.
“Bitch!” The man rubbed his leg. “I’ll make you pay for that!”
“She needs to be taught a lesson.” She felt a hand on her shoulder. Walter rose to his hind legs and bit it. Another howl of pain filled the air.
“Get her!”
Dimity swung her fist hard at the man who advanced; it connected with his jaw. An arm wrapped around her waist, and she was lifted off her feet. She lashed out with a heel.
“Perhaps we should take her home and teach her a lesson.”
“Help!” she screamed before a hand clamped over her mouth. She bit it, hard.
“Release her!” The word was like a roll of thunder.
Dimity was dropped, landing hard on her bottom. Hands lifted her to her feet.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes.” She looked into the dark, angry eyes of Lord Raine. “They tried to harm Walter. That man was choking him!” She pointed to the man, who now stood in a line with his friends. “Walter and Romulus bit them, but they deserved it.”
“Raine,” her attacker said with a mocking look on his face. “You know this woman, clearly?”
Lord Raine let his eyes pass over Dimity before pushing her behind him.
“Don’t kill them,” she said.
His sigh was loud enough to reach her.
“No, really. I know what you can do, and I have no wish for you to harm them. I don’t want you being a hero for me again and them ending up groaning on the ground.”
He shot her a smile over his shoulder, boyish and full of trouble. Dimity had never seen that look on his face before. “Shall I just use my fists then and defend your honor in the traditional way?”
“I think that would be for the best,” Dimity said solemnly.
“Are you well, Miss Brown?” Mr. Sinclair had arrived.
“I am, thank you, sir.”
His smile was gentle, but the look in his eyes was not as he passed her to stand at Lord Raine’s side. Suddenly the man who’d read Captain Broadbent and Lady Nauticus in a mocking voice while wearing material over his head was no longer in evidence.
“Are you all right?” Next came Michael Deville. He touched her shoulder gently.
“I am, thank you. That man was hurting Walter.”
“Well, we cannot allow that to go unpunished.” With a final squeeze of her shoulder, he moved past to join his brother and Mr. Sinclair.
Dimity took her place at their side.
“Get behind me,” Lord Raine demanded.
“I behaved last time. I have no wish to this time.” She pushed his hand aside. “Besides, I know you’ll win.”
“Mouthy shrew,” he whispered.
“I have sisters like that,” Mr. Sinclair said. “Willfully disobedient, I call them, but only with a door between us.”
“She is a friend, Harding,” Lord Raine said.
“Ah.” The man called Harding gave a mocking smile. “A friend.”
“Harding.” Mr. Sinclair sighed. “Not all of us are lecherous fools with limited intelligence. Some of us even understand that women are the superior species with a great deal to offer outside the bedroom. You’ll pardon my words, Miss Brown.”
“Not at all. I thoroughly agree with them, Mr. Sinclair.”
The men defending her smiled.
“Why did you have your arm around my friend’s waist, Laidlaw?” Lord Raine asked.
“She was being disrespectful,” the man said. Like the others, he looked like a gentleman, although also like the others his collars were ridiculously high and pointy.
“How is it you can even see with those collars?” Michael Deville asked. “Must be deuced hard to turn your head and not take out an eye.”
“It’s called style, Deville,” one of the men gritted out.
“Oh, is that what we’re calling it?” Mr. Sinclair said.
“She was disrespectful,” the man she now knew was Laidlaw growled.
“Disrespectful,” Lord Raine said, almost like he was testing how the word sounded.
“Her hound charged at Rivers here and nearly knocked him flat. Had his teeth bared. We feared for our lives.”
“Yes, he looks an evil beast.” As one they all looked at Walter, who was leaning on D
imity, shaking.
“Look here, Raine—”
“No, you look here.” The words were like the crack of a whip as he stepped out of the line. “I don’t like men who think because they were born into wealth and title that makes them worthy of respect. Which, let me assure you, none of you are.”
“Now see here!”
“Well said,” Mr. Sinclair added. “I second that and will add that laying your hands on a woman without her permission is something I and my family will never tolerate. Walter also deserves your respect.”
“Who is she?” someone asked.
“It matters not who she is, only that she is under my protection, therefore you will apologize,” Lord Raine said.
Dimity would have to be made of wood not to be enjoying this. Only her father and Abby had ever stood up for her… well, and Lord Raine. Having someone believe her worthy was a wonderful thing, and she felt that tight dark knot of pain inside her unravel slightly.
She may not know where she came from, but she had people who were willing to stand up for her, and right in that moment, that mattered.
“I will not apologize!” Laidlaw said.
“Very well.” The earl began to shrug out of his jacket.
“I am not holding your jacket again. Besides, if you are hampered with that, the fight may be fairer,” Dimity said.
He sighed but left his jacket on.
“Is he good at fighting then?” Mr. Sinclair asked, clearly intrigued.
“He is,” Michael said, stepping up to join his brother. “We all are.”
“Excellent. I don’t mind a good mill. However, it is imperative my face remain unharmed. My wife, you know, gets upset when my beauty is marred.” Mr. Sinclair gave Dimity a wink, and she could do nothing but laugh at his foolishness.
“I have to say, Raine,” Mr. Sinclair continued. “I thought you a stodgy, pompous sort, but my opinion is changing. First the poem and now defending a woman’s honor.”
“Of course, I live to ensure you see me in a more flattering light, Sinclair,” Lord Raine said conversationally, as if they were simply sharing a cup of tea. “Laidlaw.” He moved into the center as the circle formed around him. “Put up your fists.”
“We are in a street, Raine!” Laidlaw looked panicky now. His friends were nudging him forward.
“You should stop this from happening. I have no wish to see him hurt.” Dimity grabbed Mr. Sinclair’s arm.
“Two things that will help you immensely going forward, Miss Brown. Firstly, never suggest a man cannot hold his own in a fight, and secondly, once set on a course of saving a woman’s reputation, a man will not back away.”
“I’m not worried for Lord Raine,” she said. “It’s the other one who will suffer. You must ensure he doesn’t kill anyone.”
Chapter Sixteen
Gabe heard Dimity’s words as he approached Lord Laidlaw. She was a mouthy woman and could clearly hold her own, but not against four men. When he’d seen one of the men holding her as she struggled, rage had filled his body. How dare anyone touch her!
He’d had no dealings with Laidlaw and his cohorts, and in fact had given them little thought other than they were men of high spirits. Zach spent time in their company, but that would stop.
“Laidlaw, is there a problem?” Gabe taunted him.
“I have explained this is a public thoroughfare, Raine. Hardly the place to conduct such affairs.”
Looking about him, Gabe saw they had quite a crowd now watching.
“But it was the place to abuse a woman, who is a friend, and a dog I happen to also like?”
The Deville siblings had left the Duchess of Yardly’s home and were in their carriage heading to theirs when he’d seen Dimity sprinting down the road from his window. Stopping it, he’d told Abby to stay and set off after her with Michael on his heels. He’d heard Dimity scream, and his blood had run cold.
“Dimity, are you all right?” He heard his sister’s voice.
Of course Abby had not stayed in the carriage as Gabe had ordered her to do, but it had been a faint hope at best.
“I am, and I was just explaining to Mr. Sinclair that they must ensure your brother does not harm those men.”
“Yes, my brothers can certainly take care of themselves and be quite ruthless when provoked.”
“We are the same,” Mr. Sinclair said. “My brother ensured we could all fight, and then James, pardon me, the Duke of Raven, taught us other moves.”
“What other moves?” he heard Dimity ask.
Gabe tried to concentrate on the man before him and not listen to the conversation that was going on behind him.
“I believe their origins are Ancient Greece,” Cambridge said conversationally.
“Leg kicking?” Dimity asked.
“That and more.”
“He does that.” Gabe knew Dimity was pointing at him.
“Does he really? How interesting,” Cambridge said.
“Laidlaw, I am waiting,” Gabe said testily.
“Listen, Raine, there really is no need for this.” Suddenly the man he faced was not looking quite so confident. In fact, his face was pale and sweaty.
“Apologize to the lady or you get my fist in your face.”
“She is no lady, as you very well know,” the idiot said. “In fact, given your defense, I would suggest she is perhaps your doxy.”
Dimity’s shriek filled the air, and before he could react to Laidlaw’s insult, she’d run by Gabe and punched him in the nose. The man stumbled back and fell, landing on his ass, blood now running from his nose.
“I am no man’s doxy!” She stood over him. “And never will I be.”
God, I want her, Gabe thought and was glad the words were only in his head. She was magnificent.
“I think that will do. You have reduced the man to a whimpering mess, Dimity.” Gabe wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her. “Clearly my superior fighting skills are no longer required.” He carried her back to Abby, gently lowering her to her feet.
“You’re not a Raven, are you?” Mr. Sinclair asked Dimity.
“I don’t believe so,” Dimity replied.
“Pity. You’d make my brother an excellent wife. Now, I must be off, as it seems I was surplus to requirements and you are more than capable of taking care of yourself.” Cambridge Sinclair bowed, then patted Walter’s head before wandering off down the street.
“An interesting man,” Abby said.
“Very. Nice family, but odd, as I believe we’ve said before,” Gabe added. “Now, let us return you to the Duchess of Yardly’s, Dimity.”
The men had picked their friend up and scurried away. Laidlaw with a handkerchief pressed to his nose.
“There is no need; I shall walk. But thank you for once again coming to my aid.”
Gabe watched her hug Abby, curtsey to him and Michael, then grab Walter and Romulus and walk away as Cambridge Sinclair had.
“Why will she accept no help from me?”
“Don’t take it personally. She doesn’t accept it from anyone,” Abby said.
He watched her weave through people and around carriages. Dimity did not move slowly anywhere; she strode with purpose.
“Gabe,” Michael said. “To the left and forward.”
His eyes moved in the direction his brother indicated, and he saw two men watching them. Nothing overly odd in that considering the scene they’d just created, but one of the men was familiar to Gabe.
“Keep your eyes on them while I put Abby in the carriage and send her home.”
“What? Why am I being sent home? I thought you promised me tea and cakes or an ice from Gunter’s, and considering that I carry your niece or nephew in my belly, I find I want to eat while it will stay down.”
“Charming, but not now, sister.” He raised a hand to their driver, waving him forward. “Besides, you just ate at the duchess’s home.”
“Those cakes were horrid.”
“I didn’t mind them,” Michael
said.
“Is this about what you do secretly?” Abby asked.
“What?” He looked down at her.
“I am no fool, Gabe. I have lived with you for years and know you and the others do something in secret for someone. As yet, I have not discovered exactly what it is.”
“It is a secret; will that suffice for now?” Opening the carriage door as it stopped beside them, he ushered his sister inside. “Now go home to your husband, and I will call on you tomorrow. He can supply you with any food you wish for, I’m sure.”
“Be careful, brothers. I find I quite like you to stay in one piece.”
“We will.” He kissed her cheek. “Take care of yourself and my niece or nephew.”
“They are on the move,” Michael said as he reached his side. “We need to show caution, Gabe, especially considering the danger you are in.”
“I will be careful. Now, let’s find out why these men were watching us.” Gabe followed at a distance and was fairly sure they knew they were being followed.
It was when they reached a narrow lane that he stopped.
“This could be a trap. We’ve never had an informant step into our world before; they usually send a messenger.”
“Why would one of our informants want to trap us?” Michael asked.
“If someone paid a higher price, I’m fairly sure any one of them would sell us out. Just be on your guard.”
They entered the narrow lane and found the two men halfway down it. They’d stopped and were facing the Deville brothers.
“What do you want with us, Nix?” Gabe said, stopping a few feet away. Michael moved to his side.
“We’ve news, and it needs saying now.”
Gabe nodded for him to continue.
“He’s been approached.” Nix, a small weasel of a man, nodded to the man with him. He’d been one of the Deville brothers’ informants for five years.
“About what?”
The man was taller; in fact, next to Nix he looked a giant. Gabe couldn’t see much of his face, as his hat was pulled forward and it was dark in the lane.
“Tell them.” Nix nudged the man.
“I was called to a meeting with others.”
