Page 26 of Bella Darcy is on the Run

"Be quiet," George hissed. "For the love of God, both of you, be quiet."

Bella stared up at him, her eyes enormous in the moonlight.

"It is the middle of the night, and I have information suggesting that a dangerous gang is operating in this area. What in the devil are you doing here, woman?"

Her expression changed at once. "How would you know that a dangerous gang was operating in this area unless you were part of the same dangerous gang?"

George stared at her and tried fruitlessly to gather the last shreds of his patience. "I work with the Customs service, you vexatious woman."

Bella’s mouth dropped open, but at least she remained silent.

"This is an operation I have been working on for months. I need to observe Sly Trevethan engaged in the act of smuggling, because the man is an absolute menace to this town and yet nobody has managed to witness him doing anything untoward." He stopped himself and blew out a frustrated breath. "Why in God's name am I explaining myself to you? You need to return home immediately."

She looked up at him with wide eyes, plainly shaken by his words and, to her credit, apparently recognising that she had made a grievous error. "I am sorry, sir. I should not have judged you so harshly with so little information. I only wished to know."

"What did you wish to know? What exactly did you imagine you might achieve by following me through Falmouth in the middle of the night?"

Her mouth tightened. "If I discovered that you were not a good sort of man, I could put my aunt and the other women in the area on notice, I suppose."

There was, he had to admit, the smallest kernel of goodness in that, although it had been wrapped in so many layers of foolishness that he was reluctant to tell her so. "You must return home. Now."

Bella nodded. A small, submissive nod that was so unlike her usual demeanour that he felt suddenly guilty for speaking so harshly. George looked from her to Clara and swore softly beneath his breath. Of course he could not simply send two women wandering back through Falmouth alone at this hour.

"Come. I will accompany you."

"But your business?"

"Will have to wait for another night."

Bella's face fell. "I did not mean to inconvenience you. I only..." She pressed her lips together. "And now I feel such a fool."

Good, he wanted to say. You are a bloody little fool. But her eyes had gone glassy, and he found that he could not bear to see her so unhappy.

A slow clap sounded from the mouth of the alley. George went still and shoved the women behind him.

"Well now," said a man's voice from the darkness. "Ain't this an interestin' conversation to stumble upon?"

A broad figure stepped into the moonlight, followed by another man almost as large. "Work for the Customs, do you, Captain?" The first man's smile showed several missing teeth. "That's a right useful piece of information. Sly'll be very interested in that."

George turned his head by the smallest degree. "Run," he said quietly.

Bella caught at the back of his coat. "Captain..." she breathed.

"Both of you. Run as fast as you can."

"No need for that carry on now is there…" The second man had moved around the entrance to the alley, neatly blocking their way back towards the street. His gaze slid over Bella in a manner that made George feel sick to his stomach.

"Fine pretty little piece, ain't she?"

"And the other one ain't bad neither. I ‘ave always had a fondness for redheads. My old ma were a redhead."

Clara made a disgusted noise. "You come one step nearer and I'll kick you somewhere you'll not soon forget, you dirty cove."

The first man laughed. "Got a mouth on her, right enough."

George shifted his weight, measuring the distance between himself and the two men. He could take one. Possibly both, given enough room. But not with Bella and Clara trapped behind him and no certainty that more men were not waiting nearby. He lowered his voice. "When I move, Clara, take Miss Bennet and run."

"I can hear you," Bella whispered indignantly.