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

He doubled over even as one his compatriots came at Theo. Readying himself for the fight, he didn’t have a chance. A very large man grabbed him and the would-be assailant by the collars of their shirts. “That’s enough.” His voice boomed, silencing the noise around them. “All of you out.” Then he looked over Theo’s shoulder. “And you are fired. Leave with ‘em.”

He heard a soft gasp that turned into a choking noise from just behind him. She’d been fired. What was worse, they’d all be tossed out on the street together. Theo would have to continue this fight outside or leave her to their whims.

He’d two pistols holstered under his coat, but he’d prefer not to have to use them. So giving the incredibly large innkeeper his best smile, he pulled out several pounds from his waist coat. “We’ll happily leave. Here is money for the damages and another round of drinks for these fine gentleman. The fault was not theirs.”

The innkeeper fisted the coin and nodded to another wench to serve the drinks. Without another thought, Theo reached back and grabbed the woman’s hand, pulling her out of the inn and onto the dark street. Fortunately, his carriage was just outside, his driver being of the highest quality and before she could say a word, he was pushing her into his carriage. Then he climbed in and snapped the door shut.

“Sir,” her strangled protest caught him by surprise. “What do you mean to do with me?”

He blinked several times. “I meant to remove you safely from those hooligans.”

“Fair enough,” she huffed a breath. “But what then?”

* * *

Lady Ella McIntire sat across from this total stranger in his dark carriage and took a calming breath. He didn’t seem to want to hurt her. But what did he want from her? What would happen to her tonight? And if she made it through this, what was to come of her the next night and the night after that and after that?

She had no one in this world. Her father had passed month ago, and finally having run out of pin money, she managed to secure that job, though she wasn’t entirely certain how. But it had been all that stood between her and a workhouse and now it was gone.

“What then? Those men won’t attack you. They won’t…” He let his words trail off. “You were in distress.”

He was right of course. She had no desire to be that man’s or any man’s whore. But honestly, she was running out of options. She had to eat, and it was preferable to do so with some sort of shelter. “That job was all that I had.”

“I see,” he rubbed his eyes, using the heel of his hands. The carriage was dark but she could still tell that all of this troubled him. “You’re not a commoner. How can that be?”

She swallowed. Might as well tell him as much of the truth as she dared. There was little point in hiding it. “My father passed a month ago with substantial debt. I was only able to keep enough from the debtors to support myself for as many weeks. I had only just gotten that job as a means to keep myself fed.”

His hands dropped. “Surely there is something else you could do?”

She shrugged. “I could be a governess or a tutor but they require a recommendation and I have none.”

“I see,” he said again.

Which was his way of not saying anything really, she supposed. A tiredness made her shoulders droop. Tonight everything appeared absolutely hopeless. “What do you mean to do with me?” she asked

again.

His hands dropped from his eyes but he said nothing as he stared at her. “I don’t intend to do anything with you.”

Relief made her sink against the seat, but it was momentary. She had no food, no place to go as she had no coin, no one to help her. She cleared her throat then. “You are not in need of any services are you?”

“Services?” his strangled voice filled the carriage.

Oh dear, had he thought she meant something illicit? “A maid or a cook? Do you have children? I could tutor them. I am well-versed in several languages including Latin and French.”

“French?” he repeated with a note of excitement.

“Mais oui, monsieur,” she replied with her best French accent.

“Can you converse in French?” he asked then.

“Of course,” she leaned forward in her seat, excitement filing her for the first time in a month. “Do you know someone in need of tutoring?”

“Oh no, of course not.” He shook his head and then wrapped on the carriage wall to get the driver’s attention. “Return to my lodgings at once,” he shouted. The driver snapped the reigns as the carriage picked up speed.

Ella nearly fell back in her seat but just caught herself. Oh dear, she thought again. Truly, what did he intend to do with her?