Page 5 of For The Love Of A Widow

Daniel chuckled at the term, said in a voice several octaves too high for a lad.

“Thank you, your grace,” the livery servant called. “My master has been called.”

“Let me go, ye nob.” The boy twisted to break free from Daniel’s hold. “Me pa be look’n for me soon.”

“What do you have there, son?” Daniel asked, sinking to a squat to have a look at what the boy attempted to hide under his arm. When the boy’s feet touched the cobblestone, his wiggling nearly knocked Daniel to the ground as the child continued to struggle.

“I be no toff’s son,” the boy argued.

“All right, then,” Daniel said. “What is your name?”

“I be Charlie, Charlie Drummond.”

“Well, Charlie, what are you doing sneaking around Lord Gable’s house at this hour?” Daniel asked. “You should be abed.”

The boy snorted loudly; as if anyone with half a brain should know why he was about. “If I be sleep’n, then me mum and sisters be wake’n ta no food, ye toff.”

“Then would it not be best to gather something to eat instead of loitering about Lord Gable’s?” Daniel asked, staring pointedly at the boy.

Charlie removed the package tucked under his arm and held it out to show Daniel but did not loosen his hold on his treasure. “That’s what I be do’n, ye blighter.”

In his hands was a fresh loaf of bread wrapped in butcher paper.

“You stole this, young man?” Daniel stood, keeping a firm hold on Charlie’s collar as he wrapped the bread once more and tucked it back under his arm.

“How else we ta eat?” Charlie spit out with a snort.

“That is a good question, son.” Daniel rarely gave the lower class and their circumstances much thought. “Do you live close?”

“Let me go, ye toff,” Charlie whined. “If’n the master catches me, he said he be make’n sure I never eat again.”

Daniel chuckled at the boy’s dramatic plea. “Oh, come now, Charlie. Lord Gable is an understanding man.” And would never notice a loaf of bread had been pilfered from his pantry. Yet someone had noticed and given pursuit. Though Daniel couldn’t imagine Phineas letting ol’ Peggy off his lap long enough to handle the situation himself.

Following that thought, however, light streamed over Daniel’s shoulder as the front door swung open behind him. The color drained from Charlie’s face, and the bread dropped to the ground beside him, rolling free of its wrapping.

“Please, m’lord.” Charlie’s shoulders caved in, and Daniel swore the boy looked younger than before—frightened and helpless. “I be right—“

“What did I tell you the last time you were caught stealing from me?” Phineas’s deep voice thundered behind Daniel.

Daniel turned to see a man he hardly recognized, Phineas’s face flushed by his evening of being deep in his cups. Lord Gable had always appeared the blasé nobleman, unconcerned with anything that did not bring him pleasure. The anger that rolled off the man now was foreign and altogether unwarranted for such a minor offense as the boy pilfering bread to feed his family.

“I…well…“ Charlie stammered.

“Gaines!” Phineas called to the livery who’d chased the boy around the townhouse. “Take the vermin to the stables. I will be round as soon as I make certain my guests are entertained.”

Daniel winked at the boy and released his collar, but he stood frozen. “Now, Phineas,” Daniel started, walking toward the man. “Charlie here is sorry, and he won’t give you any more trouble.” As if on cue, Daniel spotted his carriage coming round the house from the stables.

His host stepped off the stoop and strode toward Daniel, no visible signs of the massive amount of scotch he’d guzzled over the past several hours.

His eyes never wavered from Charlie.

“Your carriage has arrived, Linwood.” Phineas jerked his head toward the approaching conveyance. “Have a pleasant Christmastide.”

“I will see the boy home and speak with his pa about his thievery from your kitchen.” Daniel set his hand on Charlie’s shoulder and made to turn him toward his waiting coach, but the boy remained stock-still, staring at Phineas. “Come, Charlie.”

“The boy will not be going with you, Daniel.” Phineas shook his head, one auburn curl breaking free to land across his forehead, all informality leaving his tone. “This urchin and I have had dealings before. He’s been caught stealing several times. I’ve warned him, and he continues to disobey me.”

A chill ran down Daniel’s spine when the man kept his eyes locked on Charlie.