Page 71 of Again, Scoundrel

Jess nodded, the tears threatening to breach her eyelids before she shook them away.

“Enough of that,” she said, forcing a smile. “Tell me, it’s Miss Goodwin, isn’t it? The one who’s set you straight? You deserve a nice lady.”

Alistair cleared his throat roughly at the suggestion that Violet Goodwin might be his.

“She’s not my lady,” he said. “And I definitely don’t deserve a nice one. Where’s your brother?”

“He went to the tavern you sent him to. They hired him on, just like you said. He’s over the moon for it. We can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for us.”

“I’ve done nothing that anyone else wouldn’t do,” he said, but the girl only shrugged at his dismissal.

“Jess,” he continued. “I’ve got to go away for a few days. Williams will know how to reach me if you need anything.”

“I see,” she said. “We’ll go home. I’m well enough.”

“No.” Alistair shook his head. “You’ll stay here where you’ll be looked after. I insist. You shouldn’t go back there.”

“There’s nothing wrong with where we live.”

“You need a clean bed to sleep in. And a meal in your stomach at the end of the day. Davy does too. Stay. That’s an order.”

She nodded her head, acquiescing, but he noticed she wasn’t quite meeting his eye.

“Jess? You agree, do you not?”

“I do.” She turned her head back to him then, abruptly. “She talks about you, you know.”

“Don’t change the subject,” Alistair said. And then, not being able to help himself, “Who talks about me?”

“Miss Goodwin does. I don’t think she realizes how often, either.”

“I see.”

“Do you?”

“Again, I’ll remind you that you’re ten and four and should not be so insolent.”

Jess just shrugged. “Fourteen-year-olds have ears in their heads and sense in their brains, sirrah. I wonder if forty-year-olds do?”

“Who in Christ’s name is forty in this example?”

The girl grinned. “I think you know.”

“I think I do too. Although I’ll have you know I am not a day beyond twenty and five.”

“Where are you going?” she asked. “To the house party Miss Goodwin was invited to?”

Alistair wondered for a moment if he should go. He’d been invited. But he pushed that thought away. No. Not yet. He wanted to be ready when he saw her again.

“I’m going to Rosehips,” he said. “I have some family business to attend to.” He squeezed her hand. “I must go. Send for me if you need me.”

“I will.” She turned her face from him again, the pain and sadness washing back over her features.

“Promise me,” he said, and Jess nodded her head in reply.

Chapter

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