Among the Darkness Stirs

She frowned. “Why isn’t it logical?”

“If you were my mistress, I wouldn’t give you the job at the workhouse, Audrey,” he said, purposefully using her name. “I would settle you somewhere with your own household and we’d make a different sort of arrangement.”

Audrey’s cheeks flushed warm. She pushed at his chest. “A different sort of arrangement?”

He rubbed at where she’d pushed him. “Ow. That hurt.”

“This is just so funny to you.” She glared at him. “I meant to be kind. Helpful. As you had been to me. I listened to your problems and wanted to help. And what do I get in return? A drunken night in the middle of nowhere with you and my reputation in shatters.”

“Audrey.”

She rounded on him. “Stop calling me by my first name!”

“Ms. Wakefield,” he said, and that sounded silly even to her. “No one knows we’re here. You go back to the workhouse. Tell Matron you went to see your family. You were homesick.”

“She’s not stupid.” If she were a child, she might have stomped her foot out of frustration just then.

“Tell her. And if you ever need me to back up the story, any story, I will.”

Audrey stood up and brushed off her skirts. “You’ve done one good thing for me. And I am appreciative. But every other time you seem to bring me bad luck.”

He stood up as well. “That’s rude.”

She smacked at the bottom of her skirt with perhaps a little more force than necessary. “I’m sorry, but it’s the truth. I think it best we keep out of each other’s way.”

“You came to see me. Do you recall?”

Audrey paused. “So I did. It was a moment of happiness to share with someone about the cottage. It was foolish. I won’t make that mistake again.”

Henry tried to make her see reason. “Ms. Wakefield, we don’t need to be unfriendly. I obviously had too much to drink and too much on my mind. In the light of day, I’m a good friend to have.”

She stared at his earnest expression and finally relented. “Very well. In the light of day, should we meet, I will speak to you.”

“And when the moon is full, and I thirst for blood—I’m a werewolf?” he asked, deliberately being ridiculous.

Audrey stood there with her hands on her hips, saying nothing. “I’m going to head back now,” she said finally, her tone cold.

“Aud—Ms. Wakefield, I can walk with you a bit of the way. No one will see us here. No one is up.” He pointed out the still grey sky.

Audrey pondered his words. “Fine. But the minute we see anyone, we go separate ways.”

“Yes, ma’am. I wouldn’t want you to be tainted by my mere presence.”

“That’s the first thing you’ve said in some time that makes sense,” she said rudely.

“You’ve a harsh tongue,” he commented.

She met his stare, refusing to back down. “I use it when necessary.”

When they finally made their way to the small road, she turned to him. “I’ll walk back from here. When I find a cab, I’ll take it back to the workhouse.”

“Ms. Wakefield,” he said curtly.

“Good morning, Mr. Ryland,” she returned, leaving him to stand alone in the road.

Chapter Twelve

Matron folded her arms over her large bosom. She watched from her apartment window high above the workhouse as Audrey exited the hansom cab.