yer grace,” Nan said, dropping a quick curtsey, “I dunno what we would ’ave done if ye and yer lady ’adn’t a’come up when ye did. That Mr. Runyon is the devil hisself.”
“I know, Nan.” James glanced at the other girl. “How did your friend happen to entangle herself with him? I thought you all knew to avoid him.”
Nan nodded. “Aye, that we do. Molly’s new to the trade, ye see.”
Molly stepped out of Nan’s shadow. “My ma’s sick, yer grace, and we’ve got little ones to feed. We needed more money.” She looked back at the other girl. “Nan promised me an easy trick.”
“Shush up, Molly.” Nan threw a harried look at James.
“Well, ye promised, Nan.”
“And if ye’d waited like ye was supposed to, ye’d ’ave gotten what I promised.”
“How was I to know? Ye said to wait for a lord.”
“Runyon ain’t no lord, ye booby.”
“He looks like a lord.”
Nan rolled her eyes. “I told ye the lord wanted ye for a friend, not hisself.”
“Ladies, I believe you can carry on this discussion elsewhere.” James turned to the injured girl. “Molly, have a surgeon see to your eye. You may have him send me the bill. And I suggest you consider another line of work. There must be some other way for you to make ends meet.”
“Well, I guess there is, only I thought this would be easiest. I’s gots some experience in the business, if ye know what I mean. I jist never did the deed professionally.”
“Yes, well, I suggest you go put something on that eye.”
“Yes, yer grace, I will. Thankee.”
Sarah watched Molly and Nan disappear into the inn. “That was the girl Robbie was waiting for.”
“It does look that way.”
“My hair isn’t that red!”
James laughed. “Your hair is beautiful, Sarah.” He pushed a loose strand behind her ear. She felt the warmth of his fingers against her cheek. “It is fire and gold. I am very glad Robbie did not encounter Molly last night. I would have sent her on her way the moment I saw her in my bed.”
“And then you wouldn’t be in your present predicament.”
“A predicament, as I told you, I am delighted to be in.”
Sarah ignored that comment. “The innkeeper told me the Green Man was respectable, but it looks like it has a thriving trade in exactly what he assumed I was selling.”
“Don’t be offended. I’m sure old Jakes just wanted to protect the local girls’ interests. If you’d hung out your shingle, no one else would have gotten any business.”
“That’s ridiculous!” Sarah felt her cheeks flame.
“Oh no, love. At first I thought Robbie had imported you from London.”
“You thought I came from London in this dress?”
“Well, I must point out that you were not in that dress when I first saw you.”
Sarah’s cheeks burned in earnest.
“But you could be dressed in a sack—which, if you’ll pardon my saying so, you are—and still be beautiful.” His fingers brushed lightly over her face. Sarah found herself turning up to him like a flower to the sun.
“Your hair, your lashes, your lips, and your lovely hazel eyes. You would make a man a fine mistress if you had a mind to—except, of course, you will be making me a fine wife.”
His hands cupped her face, while his thumbs stroked her cheeks. Sarah thought he was going to kiss her right there in the inn yard. His face got the intent look she was beginning to recognize. But a coach clattered over the cobblestones and he straightened.
“Let’s find Aunt Gladys and Lady Amanda,” he said. “I’m sure they are wondering what has become of us.”
The ladies were still in the private sitting room when James and Sarah returned. There was no sign of Major Draysmith or Robbie.
“So, is everything settled?” Lady Gladys asked. “You were certainly gone long enough. Are you engaged, James?”
“Not exactly, Aunt. Miss Hamilton has graciously agreed to consider my suit. I’m hopeful that once she becomes more acquainted with me, she’ll also agree to our marriage.”
Lady Gladys lifted an eyebrow. “How much better acquainted can she be, James?”
“Aunt!” James said repressively.
“So there’s no need to hurry the banns along?” Lady Amanda’s eyes focused on Sarah’s middle as if she could detect an incipient pregnancy. Sarah felt an irrational urge to cover her stomach.
James shook his head. “No. However, Miss Hamilton has agreed to an immediate engagement should gossip of last night’s little adventure become public. Since I’m certain that neither my relatives nor my friends will ever breathe a word of these events, I feel confident that we can give her the time she needs to make up her mind. Isn’t that right, Aunt? Lady Amanda?”
“Certainly.” Lady Gladys smiled. “We have no interest in rushing the nuptials, do we, Amanda?”
“Indeed, no.” Lady Amanda was still casting Sarah’s abdomen suspicious glances. “If you’re sure there is no possibility of an awkward event in nine months’ time?”
“Quite sure,” James said. Sarah was too mortified to open her mouth.
“That’s settled, then.” Lady Gladys stood. “Let’s go home. I take it Miss Hamilton will stay at Alvord, James? She can’t very well go to Westbrooke. Robbie may be her cousin, but he’s got only a bachelor household.”
“Exactly. I’m sure that I can depend on you and Lady Amanda to be the perfect chaperones.”
James escorted the ladies outside to an impressive carriage. Sarah eyed the large, black horse standing nearby.
“You aren’t traveling with us?” she asked quietly after James had handed the older ladies into the carriage.
“No. This will give you a chance to become better acquainted with my aunt and Lady Amanda.” He raised his voice to address Lady Gladys. “Be nice to Sarah, Aunt.”
“Of course we’ll be nice to Miss Hamilton, James. We are not animals.”
Sarah was not so sure. Studying Lady Amanda’s smile as James handed her into the coach, she had an inkling of how the biblical Daniel must have felt entering the lion’s den.
“I confess I don’t know whom your father married, Miss Hamilton,” Lady Gladys said as soon as the coach lurched into motion. “David became the black sheep when he left England. The old earl never spoke of him.”
“I didn’t really know my mother, either, Lady Gladys.” Sarah had only vague memories of a soft voice and flame-colored hair. “Her name was Susan MacDonald. Her father was a Philadelphian flour merchant.”
“A Scottish tradesman.” Lady Amanda folded her hands and sniffed.
Sarah did not care for the criticism she detected in Lady Amanda’s tone. “He was a very good tradesman. If my father had had a jot of my grandfather’s business sense, I’m sure I would not be penniless now.”
Lady Gladys smiled. “I’m sure you are right, my dear.” She turned to Lady Amanda. “Really, Amanda, Miss Hamilton’s connection to trade is not significant. You know that successful merchants are always acceptable.”
“True. The ton overlooks the dirt on their hands for the money in their pockets. And let us not forget,