So much for getting rid of her bad mood.
“Mr. Foster”—she didn’t even try to hide her distaste—“how did you find me?” That he had tracked down her property brought her rage to the surface.
“Miss Jankowski. How lovely to see you.” He bowed and reached for her hand. “I followed your driver.”
She put her hands at her sides and stepped back, thankful Lily Rose and Jacob were by her side. “What do you want?”
“I’m here working on another story about the Great Dinosaur Rush—the Bone Wars—and how it is still ongoing today. My editor would like to expose the corrupt and criminal activity once and for all.”
“Oh?” She didn’t have time for—
Good heavens. Now she sounded like her mother. Even in her head, she couldn’t escape the woman’s influence.
He pulled out a notepad. “Did you know”—he slithered forward, and put his pencil to his tongue and then the paper—“that Mr. Duncan here was originally hired for your competitor’s team? And he was fired?”
“What?” She spun and looked at Jacob. “Tell me this isn’t true.”
But the red in his face, and the sorrow in his eyes, told her all she needed to know. “I—”
“You despicable man! I don’t want to hear it.” Her insides heated and she stomped toward her carriage even as the world around her seemed to stop. Within seconds, she reached it, but the door was closed, the step folded away. Walter sat atop the driver’s seat with his mouth agape.
With as much fire as she had within her right now, she was pretty certain she could make the leap without assistance, if not for her blasted skirts. “Walter!”
At her screech, motion began around her again.
Her driver blinked and hurried down. “I’m sorry, miss.”
Jacob ran toward her.
No, no, no. She stomped her foot like she had when she wasa little girl and wanted her way. Because if she didn’t keep her fury burning, she would curl up in a ball and cry. Right here.
This couldn’t be happening. Not like this.
Not Jacob.
Walter fumbled with the door and the step—his nervousness at her ire all too apparent. Lily Rose scrambled up into the carriage and pushed her skirts aside so Martha could sit. “Let’s go, Martha. You don’t need to give that man another second of your time.”
Lily Rose was right. But she felt paralyzed. Almost like she couldn’t breathe.
Her heart ached in her chest. It felt trampled. Beaten. Bruised. She cared for Jacob. More than anyone else. How dare he do this to her?
Walter held out a hand and helped her up in the carriage, but a hand on her arm kept her from taking her seat.
She spun around to face Jacob. “Leave me alone, Mr. Duncan.” Movement beyond him caught her eye.
That horrible Mr. Foster. He seemed to take pleasure in her situation. She wanted to scream at him too and threaten to swipe that smirk off his face, but a gentle tug on her arm brought her attention back down.
Jacob’s face was grim. “I can’t leave you alone, Martha. Not like this.”
“Do you deny that you worked for the other team?”
“I do not.”
She yanked her arm away and plopped onto the seat. “Walter—”
But Jacob moved the large man aside and stepped up into the carriage. Martha felt Lily Rose stiffen beside her, and she put a hand on her companion’s arm. She would handle Jacob. It was not Lily Rose’s place.
Jacob gripped the side of the door, his face pale. “It’s unfair for you to not allow me to defend myself.”
