“Knife,” I called in warning, but Mr.Grimes already had it twisted out of his opponent’s hand.
Three more ruffians about Mr.Grimes’s size had sailed in with fists and clubs, and they began to beat my captors remorselessly.
The men who’d nabbed me cursed and groaned as they fought, but they were outnumbered and couldn’t withstand the assault. I might feel sorry for them if they hadn’t been about to cut my throat.
A small hand gripped mine, and I looked down to see Albie, my loyal lad. “This way, missus.”
“Help me with my things.” I bent down and started to scrabble for my coins, notebook, and pencil.
Albie studied me in disbelief, then he got down on his small knees and grabbed my belongings, stuffing them back into the bag.
I didn’t have so much in my life that I could afford to lose the bits and pieces I carried with me. Besides, Joanna had given me that notebook.
Once I had everything, I let Albie tow me back to Ludgate Hill.
Mr.Grimes joined us after a moment. From the sound of it, his friends were giving the assassins a thorough going-over. Two more men jogged past us, Mr.Grimes nodding at them to join the fray.
Mr.Grimes looked none the worse for wear, with only a small bruise on his cheekbone to show for the battle.
“Let’s get you indoors, Mrs.H.,” he said. “Home is best, I think.”
I nodded shakily. As much as I wanted to rush to Grace and hold her tightly, I did not want to risk leading any other toughs waiting for me directly to her. I would forego my need to be with her to keep her safe.
“Please keep watch on Joanna’s house,” I begged him. “In case they send others to Grace.”
“My men are already there,” Mr.Grimes assured me. “No one’s going near that house or your daughter.”
“These men deal in explosives.” Panic was overtaking me. “They can set up their dynamite and flee.”
Mr.Grimes shook his head. “They won’t get close to the road, even. We don’t feel sorry for those who hurt and murder others only to gain attention. Cowards.”
I’d glimpsed his colleagues beating the lives out of the men who’d assailed me. While I did not condone such savagery, at the moment, I could only be grateful to them.
Mr.Grimes hailed a hansom, which came to us without hesitation. Daniel and Lewis must have recruited every cabbie in London to speed to my aid.
Mr.Grimes not only handed me in, my legs still wobbling, but he climbed in beside me. Albie touched his hat and ran off before I could ask him why he’d left Belgrave Square, and the cab lurched forward.
“Thank you for your timely rescue.” I tried to sound normal, but my words wheezed, and I had difficulty catching my breath.
“The boy Albie followed you from Belgravia,” Mr.Grimes said. “He saw those villains tailing you and had one of my lads alert me. Albie thought you’d be all right once you were at Scotland Yard, but he said they were still lurking. I’m sorry I didn’t get to you sooner,” he finished morosely, his gaze despondent.
“You were soon enough.” I’d known in those seconds before he reached me that I was going to die.
It had been unreal, as though another woman had been standing in my place, waiting for the end. I couldn’t quite grasp that they’d been about to kill me without contrition, but at the same time, I’d known it with all my heart.
Sitting in a hansom now instead of being dead in the lane was almost as unreal.
“You’re all right, Mrs.H.” Mr.Grimes clasped my shaking hands, his voice kindly. “Remind yourself of that. You’re breathing air, with your feet on the ground. Or at least in a hansom.”
The cab jolted over a hole, jarring us and reminding me that I could still feel.
I took a long breath, then another one. Mr.Grimes held my hands the entire time, watching me encouragingly. In his violent life, he must have made this speech many times, comforting those in his gang who’d escaped a dire fate.
When I could breathe somewhat normally again, I squeezed his large fingers. “Thank you. You are a good friend.”
“As you are to me.” Mr.Grimes smiled at me, his words ringing with sincerity. “Better now?”
“I think so.”
