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I say go, we grab ‘em, knock ’em senseless, stuff ’em inside, and off we go. None the wiser.”
“Yer crazy,” Styles pronounced. “But, damn, this might work.”
“Aye, crazy enough not to want to go on living the way we have these last couple of weeks. We ain’t got a choice, do we? And, aye, it will work,” Lew told him.
“Then whot?” Styles wanted details.
“We toike ’em to Bess. We’ll have to cut her in, but with two of ’em, we’ll get a bundle of the ready, we will. Lookee how they are dressed—to the nines. Aye, their people will pay.”
His friend’s ugly face broke out into a slow grin. “Whot we waiting for?”
* * *
Felicia and Becky weaved through the hubbub of shouting people who had gathered and were taking sides between the hackney driver and the fruit and vegetable vendor. Everyone had an opinion and wanted to be heard. The din was overwhelming.
Becky looked at the scene and sighed, as Felicia was already taking sides herself. “Becky—that poor vendor has lost a day’s earnings because of something that was not his fault.”
“Yes, but the hackney driver is also trying to earn a living,” Becky pointed out.
“It isn’t the vendor’s fault that the driver wasn’t able to control his skittish animal. In fact, he shouldn’t have such a skittish animal pulling his cab.”
“Oh, Felicia … do let us get out of this crowd.” Becky looked around with some concern.
“Right then, you are right—this is getting a bit too rowdy,” Felicia agreed.
They held to each other tightly as they worked their way through the mob. It wasn’t easy, as people didn’t want to give way.
Finally they managed to disengage themselves from the press of people. They were standing a moment to gather their wits and regain their bearings when Felicia heard a horse and cab trot up far too close.
She turned to Becky, and a scream died in her throat as a burly man jumped on her and grabbed her roughly. With his hand over her mouth, he dragged her backwards. Another man was on Becky, only Felicia could see that he meant Becky harm. She kicked at her captor. She tried freeing her arms, but he had her so tightly, and she couldn’t quite breathe with his hand over both her nose and her mouth.
They were in trouble.
She knew who these men were. The duke had said only the other day that he had inquiries set about but the two that had gotten away had left no trail as to where they had gone. Well, here they were, bent on finishing the job.
Felicia got one arm free and jabbed with her elbow hard and with everything she had. The man yelped and for her efforts slammed a fist into her head.
She could see that Becky was already unconscious. She had to keep her wits. She had to, but everything was fading out. Don’t faint—don’t pass out—don’t … she told herself.
And promptly did.
* * *
Bean stood at the curb and watched “his pretty miss” manhandled and shoved into a hackney coach. Gawd, whot, whot is happening?
He stood frozen, dumbfounded by what he had just witnessed. In all his life on the streets, he had never seen a gentry mort mistreated.
It just wasn’t done. Death—or worse—lay that way. The aristocrats would be up in arms if one of their women was ever touched by a street covey. What were those two thinking, but more importantly, how could he save her? For save her he must.
He had been on his way to 810 Kensington. He hadn’t left because he had been delayed by that bully Tom always out to steal his ready. He had managed to evade him and was just about to leave for Miss Felicia’s like she told him to do when he saw those two men come at her.
Who was he to help? He was nothing and no one. He had spent the last four years an orphan on the streets, surviving. He was only twelve, and he still had very fond memories of his mother, a soft and gentle woman who had given him a healthy mindset about the female gender. They were to be protected and loved.
He had lost her to an illness she had not been able to overcome, but she had tried, even in her worst hour, to provide for him.
She couldn’t know that he would be robbed on his way up north to his cousin. She couldn’t know he would be beaten and left for dead. They had been poor, but she had saved every coin she got her hands on, to insure he would be safe.
At the time, he had felt guilt well up and choke him. Well, she would want him to save the young miss who had shown him a kindness. Dash it all, he wanted to save the young miss … Miss Felicia. How?
