“As long as it has a bed, I won’t change my mind.”
He hated knowing how little had been left to her. A duke’s daughter reduced to being content with scraps. She would discover within this residence there were no scraps. Anything she wanted, she would have. He would see to it.
In the foyer, he retrieved her cloak from the rack and draped it over her narrow shoulders. He shrugged into his own coat.
“You don’t have to walk me home,” she said.
“I don’t intend to.”
She looked both disappointed and pleased, as though craving independence but also a man to care enough to watch over her.
He did take satisfaction in her quick laugh when he hailed a cab. “I should have known you’d not let me walk home alone.”
“I didn’t think to ask. How is your head?”
“Better. The area is still tender, but the knot is not as large.”
“Good.” He gave the driver her address. “Wait for her to ready herself, then take her to the Mermaid and Unicorn. This should see your time well compensated.” He handed up the coins.
The man gave them a quick look, doffed his hat. “Very good, sir.”
“You don’t have to do that,” she said.
“We have an arrangement now. Besides, haven’t you yet learned that when you tell me I don’t have to do something, it doesn’t stop me from doing it?”
“I do hope we won’t be at cross-purposes for the next three months.”
“I very much doubt we will be.” Although his cock was going to disagree with a vengeance.
He assisted her into the cab. “Send word if there is anything you need.”
“I require nothing more than what we agreed to.”
As the driver sent the horse into a trot, Beast crossed his arms and watched until she disappeared from sight. He was quite looking forward to proving her wrong.
Chapter 7
He didn’t come into the Mermaid that night. Althea had barely been able to properly attend to her customers with all the minutes she’d become lost in watching the door, willing him to stride through it.
After catching Mac scowling at her several times, she was rather certain he was relieved she’d given her notice. With Benedict’s generous offer, he’d had no trouble finding a couple of the other serving girls willing to take her shifts. One even had a friend who’d been looking for an opportunity to work at the Mermaid, so that eased her guilt at leaving so abruptly.
When they’d closed for the night, and everyone began tidying up, Mac called her over and pointed at some coins he’d set on the counter. “Your earnings for the nights you were here.”
After counting it, she shook her head. “You didn’t take out for the beers I dumped on heads.”
“I never do. I just threaten to so a girl will think twice before drenching some bloke, but I figure if she still upends the tankard then he probably deserved it.” He gave her a wink. “Probably pinched her bum.”
She smiled at him. “I liked working for you. Thank you for hiring me when I had no experience.”
“You gave the place a bit of class. Good luck with your new venture.”
She hadn’t told him what it was, only that she’d taken a position elsewhere. Slipping the coins into her pockets, she went to help the others, sweeping then mopping the floor. She wouldn’t miss this.
When they were finally all in the alleyway, Mac gave her a gruff farewell. Perhaps he was going to miss her after all. Polly hugged her. Rob told her to come back for a pint sometime. The others just waved before they started off.
She walked to the street and smiled when she saw Griffith with his back to the wall, one leg bent, his foot pressed to the brick, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his coat, his head lowered. Hearing her steps, he glanced over, straightened, and returned her smile.
“Told you I wouldn’t be late again.”
