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With Graeme closing in, the thief took off toward the closest gate to the park, directly into Tommy’s path. The man slipped a hand into his jacket and pulled out a knife.
“Tommy, duck,” roared Graeme.
The boy dove for the grass and rolled before coming up in a defensive crouch. The man kept running, heading for Piccadilly.
Graeme abandoned his pursuit. The woman was flailing about, obviously panicking as she struggled to keep her head above water, her sodden bonnet half covering her face.
“Hang on, lass,” he called as he stripped off his coat.
The Serpentine, while a piddling excuse for a lake, was certainly deep enough to drown someone dressed in layers of clothing, including a heavy cloak. Water was a killer, as he knew all too well.
He leapt in, sending a huge splash over the woman, all but submerging her. By the time he reached her, she was sputtering some surprisingly salty oaths.
“I’ve got ye,” he said, grabbing her shoulders.
She blindly swatted at him, the brim of her soaked bonnet now almost down to her chin. Still, she managed a good clout to his ear.
“Get away, you bounder,” she gasped.
“You need help, guv?” Tommy called from the shore as Graeme struggled to keep himself and the woman from going under. She was a slender thing, but no weakling.
“I’ve got this,” Graeme barked as he clamped his hands around the woman’s ribcage and pulled her against his chest. “Get after the bastard, but donotget too close. Just follow and report back. I’ll paddle your arse if ye do otherwise.”
The lad nodded and took off. Probably a lost cause, but if anyone could catch up, Tommy could. Hopefully, he’d obey orders and keep his distance. This mission was now officially a cock-up, but Tommy was a bright one, and Graeme had to trust him to be smart now.
Right now, Graeme had to focus on keeping the woman in his arms from drowning them both, which she seemed determined to do.
“Stop strugglin’, ye barmy lass.” He managed to drag her toward the embankment. “I’m not tryin’ to rob ye. That idiot’s long gone, no thanks to ye.”
The woman finally stopped swatting long enough to yank her bonnet away from her face. Graeme encountered a gorgeous—and furious—peacock-blue glare. That fury in no way detracted from the rest of her attractive face. Stunning, in fact, if one ignored the tangle of hair plastered to her forehead or the glob of mud across her perfectly straight nose and sharply delicate cheekbone.
“Release me, sir. Rightnow.”
She gave him a surprisingly strong shove, which unfortunately caused her to lose her balance and go under again.
Sighing, Graeme hauled her back to the surface. “If you would hold still for a minute and let me get this bonnet off, you would see that I am not your assailant.”
She stopped flopping about. He yanked the blasted hat back so it dangled from her neck instead of covering her face.
“I’m trying to rescue you,” he added.
She glared at him. “You’re making a hash of it, then. And I’m perfectly capable of rescuing myself.”
“I don’t think the man who attacked you would agree.” Graeme pulled her to the edge of the greensward that surrounded the water.
“I was doing quite well on my own, thank you very much.”
“Yes, I noticed that when you were tumbled into the water.”
“Which only happenedafteryou rushed up at us.”
Graeme stared at her in disbelief. “He was attacking you, lass. What in God’s name was I supposed to do? Stroll on by and let you two thrash it out?”
For a moment, it seemed she would continue her fiery tirade. Then she reached up and rubbed her nose, as if trying to prevent a sneeze. When she dropped her hand, Graeme saw her mouth curve up in a rueful smile. She had beautiful lips as plump and pink as a budding rose.
Which, of course, had nothing to do with anything.
“I sound awfully ungrateful, don’t I?” she said. “It was very kind of you to jump in after me, although quite unnecessary. I’m a very good swimmer.”
