My Duke's Seduction (Wicked Lords of London 1)

His eyes narrowed into dangerous slits and a sizzle of something danced along her spine. He looked like a lion she’d once seen in a book, both beautiful and dangerous. “I cannot leave you here unattended. It’s as good as signing your death certificate.”

That made her blink. “I am not trying to be foolish,” she whispered. “But if I don’t help him, rest assured, it is he who will perish.”

He cocked his head to one side and for a long moment said nothing. The silence stretched for so long that she found herself shifting from foot to foot.

“There is very little you can do, I’m afraid. Even if you stand in the docklands all night, you likely won’t find him. Even if you happened upon someone who had seen him, they’d never tell you. It is a place of secrets and if there is one code they honor, it is to keep them. Trust me, I know from experience.”

Her shoulders drooped. It couldn’t be true because if it was, she was going to lose two important men in her life in the span of a moment. “No,” it came out jagged and breathy, and even she could hear the tears in her own voice.

He cleared his throat. “I will tell no one that I met you, I swear. Give me your cousin’s name and I will send a man first thing in the morning to search him out. He is an excellent detective and well qualified at such matters.”

Hope that she hadn’t felt in days bloomed in her chest. “Really? You’d do that? His name is Lord Fenton Allstar.” Without meaning to, she stepped closer to him. “Thank you, Ryker. You’ve no idea what this means to me.”

“I have an inkling.” He held out his arm to her rather than grabbing hers. “My carriage is not far from here. I will escort you to whatever address you wish, provided it is in a respectable neighborhood.”

She nodded then and placed her gloved hand in the crook of his elbow. Strong, hard muscles flexed under her grip and her body fluttered again. Strange, considering she was no longer afraid.

They walked in silence through the quiet, foggy streets. Tricia had to admit that she felt far safer by his side.

It was the wee hours of the morning and he was right, she really should be getting home. Days of barely sleeping at night were taking their toll. With renewed hope that Fenton might be found she’d go home and get some much needed—

The sound of a baby crying interrupted her thoughts.

Her head snapped up and her stomach twisted again. She could only hope that the baby would pass by them safely in a mother’s arms. But it was late and unlikely. Her sister ran an orphanage and too many unwanted children ended up on its steps or far worse. As long as she lived, she’d never understand how anyone could do such a thing to a baby. If an infant was unwanted, it could be left on the street to die of exposure.

She heard Ryker mumble just under his breath, “Heathens.”

The crying grew louder and Tricia saw the bundle of blankets down the alley they were passing. She just couldn’t leave the child and so, bre

aking from Ryker’s side, she ran to the baby and picked it up.

Ryker followed slowly. “Not that I think it’s right to expose an infant, but what do you hope to do with that child?”

Tricia opened her pelisse and tucked the little one inside, close to her body to provide warmth. Pressed against her heat, the infant quieted. “I’ve somewhere I can take it.” Her eyes left the baby’s face to look up into his. “You needn’t worry. I will not drop another problem on your doorstep.”

Chapter Two

Ryker made to swear softly under his breath but then thought better of it. He was in the company of a lady and now an infant, strange as that was. It was, after all, well past midnight and they were traipsing down the foggy streets of London as though it were midday.

He tried and failed to think of another time where he’d done anything remotely like this.

She was correct. She had, in fact, tossed several rather inconvenient problems in his way this evening. He’d been down at the docks to try and solve another mystery entirely but now found himself babysitting a lady and a baby.

And he’d lost his only lead.

He was certain she was a lady, or very nearly one anyway. If he ever attended any ton events, he’d likely be acquainted with her already. Her clothing was of the finest quality, her manner genteel, her speech perfectly accented.

He almost grinned. But he restrained himself. He rarely smiled and this didn’t seem the time to start. But it did amuse him that if he’d met her in a ballroom, he likely would have thought her boring, actually. Not that she wasn’t pretty, but so many of them were. Her eyes were large and luminous, her lips temptingly full. But so many debutantes appeared attractive at first blush. It was when they began speaking that he found them dreadfully dull.

But honestly, she was anything but. Which is why, despite his better judgment, he found himself helping her yet again. “My carriage is just two streets away. Come on.”

She gave him a delighted grin, her entire face lighting with it as her sparkling eyes crinkled ever so slightly at the corners.

“Thank you,” she answered breathlessly. Something about the tone of her voice along with her large eyes looking up at him with such expression made him clench in the most unwanted way. Attraction in this moment was entirely unwelcome. She was troublesome and, while clearly comfortable with breeching social convention, he suspected she was innocent.

He wanted nothing to do with an innocent woman of marriageable age. Depending on how well-connected her father was, Ryker was sure he’d seize the opportunity to make a match if any hint of scandal touched him. Which is why he would absolutely keep her identity secret. And he’d have to impress upon her that she do the same.

Not that he’d shared even a hint of who he was. He had told her his given name, but no one used it, except for his mother, who stayed at his country estate. She hadn’t been to London in years.