Page 16 of The Duke and the Darkness

“It is. Too far to walk. You’ll have to take a hackney.” When she hesitated, he dared her, “Grownups take hackneys. Are you grown up enough to ride in one?”

She gave a fierce nod and scowled. “I’m big enough.”

“Yes, you are.” This one had spirit. He hoped she could be saved before that spirit was broken. “Come on then. Let’s get you a hackney.”

He held out his hand and waited.

A long stretch of stillness passed before she slowly put her trembling fingers into his. He pulled her gently to her feet. Only then did he see that she was wearing little more than rags. He resisted the urge to give her his jacket, not wanting to embarrass her any more than she already was.

He stepped to the curb, raised his arm, and let out a shrill whistle into the traffic, which was busy even for four o’clock in the morning. After a few moments, an old hackney cab stopped beside him.

He opened the door and put Mary inside.

“Take her to number seven Wadley Street in Seven Dials,” he instructed the driver. “Wake up the woman there who runs the place—Mrs. Martin. Tell her that Mr. Hunter sent the girl to her and that she’s to take her in.”

The man held out his hand for payment.

Devlin fished a coin from his pocket and held it up. “Mrs. Martin will give you a sealed note that you are to deliver to Number Ten Grosvenor Square. When the footman receives the note, you will be paid well for your trouble.” He stepped up onto the cab and leaned in toward the driver as he placed the coin in the man’s hand. Then he warned in a low voice that was little more than a threatening rasp, “If you harm her, I will hunt you down, and I will end you.”

Despite the darkness, Devlin was certain the driver paled as he nodded.

Good. No one was going to harm an innocent tonight as long as Devlin could help it.

He jumped to the ground. The driver flicked the whip and started the old horse forward. From the side of the road, Devlin watched as the carriage disappeared into the traffic and darkness, carrying the homeless child away.

Another innocent saved.

It seemed that was all he’d done for the past ten years—attempt to save innocents and keep more of them from being harmed. He and Crewe had sworn to take their fathers’ secrets to their graves. With Horrender gone, they’d thought they’d succeeded.

But the devil always collected his due, and Devlin feared it was finally time to pay.

Chapter Four

Peyton stood onthe first-floor landing and watched through the large fanlight over the front door as the approaching dawn chased away the night. It felt as if the world was frozen in place, the whole city pausing to catch its breath before the sun rose and the day started.

Sleep had proven impossible last night after her encounter with Dartmoor. So she’d rolled out of bed and was making her way down to the kitchens when the view from the fanlight stopped her. The rest of the house was still asleep, including the scullery maid who would be rising soon to start the fires, so she paused on the landing and let the quiet moment have her.

A key scraped in the lock, and the front door opened.

Peyton froze, every muscle tensing instantly like a coil ready to spring. She held her breath as the door opened and watched the slant of light fall across the marble checkerboard tile of the entry hall floor, waiting for the first glimpse—

“Sweet heavens!” Betty Proctor glanced up and gave a startled cry to find Peyton standing there. The older woman’s hand went straight to her chest. “You scared the daylights out of me!”

Peyton bit back the urge to tell Proctor that she’d done the same to her. Instead, she leaned against the wall in her satindressing robe and waited for the older woman to catch back her breath.

Then she frowned to see Proctor in her coat and hat. “What were you doing out so early? It’s not even dawn.”

Closing the door, Proctor waved a hand in front of her face to fan air at herself and subdue her fluster at being surprised. “Oh, you know me.” Another wave of her hand, although this one was half-dismissive. “I’m used to being up early. All those years as a lady’s maid when I had to get up early to make certain the fires were lit, the breakfast tray ready, the mistress’s clothes tended to.”

Perhaps, but… “Where were you at this hour?”

“Just went for a little walk to stretch my old legs.” She rubbed her hip with a smile. “Feels good to get them moving, especially on cold mornings like these.”

“Please don’t go out alone next time. The city is dangerous. Take one of the footmen with you.” Peyton hadn’t felt safe herself since they’d disembarked from the ship nearly two months ago. She added quietly, “I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.”

Another dismissive wave. “No one bothers with an old woman like me.” Then she crooked her head and looked sternly up at Peyton. “But why areyouawake? You should still be in bed after the late night you had.”

“I couldn’t sleep.” She forced a weak smile. “You caught me on my way down to the kitchen to see if there was any hot water for coffee.”