Page 3 of Charity

Oscar set off toward home at a leisurely pace. He had nothing and nobody waiting, so there was no need to rush to hurry himself along.

Ahead of him, the fast footfalls of the women moving toward Berkeley Square echoed off the buildings. Perhaps they were some of his neighbors. But being out on a night such as this was foolish, not to mention dangerous.

Oscar lengthened his stride to catch up to them in case his protection was needed.

CHAPTER TWO

As Agatha neared the next crossing, a prickle of heat swept her skin. The unusual sensation caused her heart to race again. Afraid someone was following, she peered behind. But there was no movement, no disturbance or dark form stalking toward them.

Nell’s fanciful imagination had indeed gotten the better of her. Agatha squared her shoulders, stepped off the curb, and onto the street.

A hand closed upon her elbow in a bruising grip. Agatha shrieked right along with her maid. A greasy, cold hand slapped tight over her mouth, muting her cries for help. A man’s arm wrapped tightly around her waist—forcing her hard against a large body. She tried to pry herself free with her fingers but was hoisted into the air. She swung her feet, kicking out at the man who held her until someone else captured her legs. Held captive like a trussed lamb, Agatha was carried deeper into Berkley Square.

“Git her purse,” a gravelly voice urged.

The hand over her mouth slacked, and another fumbled at her wrist.

She bit down as hard as she could.

Her toes touched the ground as her assailant cursed. But instead of releasing her as she’d hoped, Agatha’s attacker changed his grip, winding an arm about her neck and squeezing.

“Do tha again, and I’ll let you have a taste of something else of me, ye vixen. Sommat I’ll enjoy more tha you will. Be still.”

Terrified, she obeyed the command. She didn’t want to provoke them so far that they’d fall upon her like ravenous beasts. Perhaps if she stopped fighting and gave them what valuables she had, they’d let her be. She hoped Nell did the same. Agatha whimpered her agreement.

A grubby, toothless face appeared before her from the mist and she shrieked in surprise, recoiling against her captor.

Behind her, the brute chuckled. “He isn’t a pretty sight, is he?”

The other man cackled, but then ripped Agatha’s reticule from her wrist. Toothless stuffed it down his gaping shirt front and reached toward her chest. Agatha whimpered again, desperate that Toothless not lay his hands upon her.

The arm at her neck tightened, lifting her chin until she had to stretch to remain touching the ground and keep breathing. “We git our payment one way or tuther. Ya got plenty to satisfy me without touching ya scrawny hide. There be a chain about her neck. Git it, too.”

Rough fingers slid up Agatha’s chest and her necklace was snapped from her neck. Her eyes watered as the rough fingers returned to bite cruelly into her breasts.

Toothless leaned close. “You’ll come ta like tha, missy.”

The air to the right of her whooshed, and a loud male groan of pain rang through the square. Was Nell fighting against her attacker? She’d hardly believe the girl capable of defending herself. But if she was, then there might be hope for them both. Agatha fought against the hands that held her as more grunts echoed through the square.

But then all fell silent. Agatha’s attackers turned to face the threat, dragging her with them as a shield. “This one’s ours. Be off with you,” her attacker warned, pulling her against his chest, but stepping behind the toothless man for protection.

The square remained silent.

Toothless turned to them, uncertainty clear in his movements.

Her assailant shuffled and then backed away as a dark arm appeared from the mist to wrap around Toothless’ throat. He disappeared into the mist, a desperate gasp of breath the only indication that he was still near.

Then nothing. Silence. Toothless didn’t reappear, but a loud thump echoed around them.

Agatha whimpered as the brute holding her tightened his grip on her neck. He shuffled back a few steps, turning her every which way as he sought the location of Toothless’ attacker.

Another loud crack broke the silence. The brute holding Agatha stiffened, and then she fell, slamming hard into the ground. A heavy weight fell upon her and she scrambled away, rising to a crouch quickly to see what was happening.

The sounds of fighting grew louder. She couldn’t see more than the blur of dark shapes coming closer then disappearing again as fists hit flesh. Agatha didn’t know which way to turn. Nothing made sense in the gloom. She scrambled to the left and ran her hands over the ground, feverishly searching for a weapon she could use to defend herself.

Just as her fingers closed over a thin, hard stick, a loud thump signaled the demise of one of those fighting. Agatha curled as small as she could and clutched the stick with both hands.

“Now the odds are even, you bastards,” an unfamiliar male voice growled. “The type of men who attempt to accost women in this neighborhood are vermin with a very short lifespan.”