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“A pleasure, I’m sure.”
The more Seth studied the dandy, the younger he appeared. He was all arms and legs and no muscle. All bravado and self-importance, and no sound reasoning.
“A pleasure that has already come to an end,” Seth said, his voice taut. “Good evening, sir.”
The dandy let out a guttural guffaw that put Seth in mind of a milk cow he’d once owned who chewed her cud unusually loudly.
“You have no authority to tell me what to do,” the young man said, his nose in the air.
“Too bad for you, I am, regardless.”
“You forget your place,” the young man hissed.
Seth slowly clasped his hands behind his back and took two steps forward. The young man was taller than he, but if it came to blows, Seth had him in breadth, experience, and, no doubt, skill.
“You, sir, will leave this street immediately,” Seth said, his words slow and precise. “You will never bother this young woman, or any other, ever again. Is that understood?”
“Says the man who was nothing but a merchant a year ago.”
“Says the man who once single-handedly took down three armed highwaymen.” Seth took a step forward. The dandy took one back. “Says the man who can shoot a bear directly between the eyes from three-hundred paces.” Another step forward. Another step back. “Says the man who will hunt you down if ever word gets back to him that you have been less than a true gentleman.”
The dandy was nearly as white as his cravat.
Seth leaned in close enough that the young man squirmed. When he spoke next, he added enough force that his voice rumbled.
“Now leave.”
The dandy’s eyes went wide, the fear in them obvious. He spun about in his overly polished Hessians and hurried away.
Seth swung his hat up and plopped it back down onto his head, tapping it satisfactorily into place. That was one idiot seen to today. Heaven help the fool who crossed his path next.
He turned to find the young woman watching him wordlessly. She didn’t look injured. “Are you Emma?”
Her brow creased. “I am, sir. How did you know?”
“I’m Sir Seth Mulgrave. I’m friends with Lady Blackmore.”
The young woman’s expression eased. “She is a most kind lady.”
Seth nodded. “That she is. Now, are you all right?”
The soft smile that had begun to grow across her face died away. “For now, sir.”
For now? That didn’t sound good. No doubt, this was not the first distasteful encounter the young woman had suffered. Could this be part of the reason she’d asked Lord Windham for help in finding a new post?
“If he ever bothers you again, I would consider it a favor if you were to let me know. After all,” Seth was sure to keep his tone easy so Emma would know he wasn’t too upset, “I’d hate to be known among London as a man who doesn’t follow through on his threats.”
Emma almost smiled at that. “He’snot so bad. Truly.”
Seth thought carefully over that turn of phrase. The way she’d emphasized the first word felt telling. “Is there someone worse?”
Emma’s eyes went wide, then she dropped her gaze. He’d stumbled upon a piece of the truth, then.
Seth took a small, careful step forward and dropped his tone. “I know a maid is not to speak out against her master or those she works for. But, Emma, if there’s someone hurting you, you need to speak up.”
Emma wouldn’t look at him, but she held herself stiffly. At length, she said, “I’m all right.”
Blast. He’d been so hopeful she’d been about to tell him the truth. Until she told either him or Charlotte what was actually happening, it would be very difficult to help her.
