Page 53 of Wicked By Design

Damian laughed, but something shifted in his chest, making him uneasy. “Ah, now there is true love in all its glory,” he said cynically, gesturing to a very well-dressed young man with an expensive looking older lady on his arm. “He is in love.”

“With that lady?” Celia asked uncertainly.

“No, my dear, with her income.”

Celia huffed. “You are too jaded for this game, my lord.”

Damian shrugged and finished his tea. “Have you recovered from the horrid water tasting, then?”

Celia nodded, and they gathered their things, returning to the main promenade. They had barely taken two steps when a woman cried out behind them.

“Toby! Toby, come back here, you naughty—”

Glancing behind them, they saw a little boy running pell mell away from his nurse, laughing as he went, darting in and out and tripping a young woman as he pushed past her. She gave an indignant little shriek that the devil ignored, too intent on mischief.

“Good lord, he will fall on his face if she doesn’t catch him,” Celia said anxiously, but the nurse was nowhere near as fleet of foot as the child.

As if her words had provoked that very reaction, the boy stumbled, arms windmilling wildly, but his forward momentum carried him on.

Celia gasped and Damian lunged, going to one knee to grab the child before he hit the ground with his face. The child gave a startled cry, his face crumpling, lip wobbling dramatically.

“Chin up, my fine fellow, you’re all right. It was just a shock,” Damian said conversationally as he stood the little boy upright and brushed him down. “Look, not even a graze on your knee. You are a lucky devil, aren’t you?”

The boy sniffled and wiped his nose, but nodded, composure regained.

“Toby, oh, Toby!” The nursemaid, who had obviously lost control of her charge, went to her knees beside the lad and pulled him into an embrace. “Oh, you wicked boy! You scared me to death.”

“S-Sorry, Mary,” the boy said contritely.

The young woman gave him a look that suggested they would revisit this occurrence at a later date, but she stood, taking the boy by the hand, and turned to Damian. She blushed as their eyes met.

“I-I don’t know how to thank you, sir. That was most kind of you.”

“You are very welcome,” Damian said, reaching into his pocket and bringing out a handful of coins. He selected a shiny sixpence and crouched down, showing it to the lad.

“Would you like this?”

The boy’s eyes widened, and he reached for it.

Damian held it out of reach. “You may have it if you promise me you will be a good boy for Mary and stop running around like a runaway cavalry horse.”

The lad glanced up at his nurse and smiled sheepishly. “I will.”.

Damian handed him the coin, which the boy clasped tightly in his fist.

“Thank you, sir.”

Damian stood and looked down at him with an approving nod. “You are welcome.”

“Thank you again, sir,” the nursemaid said with a smile before glancing at Celia. “I expect he’s a wonderful papa,” she said, before blushing scarlet and hurrying her charge away.

Damian stiffened as he felt Celia take his arm, too aware that she was watching his reaction.

“Come on,” he said gruffly, refusing to meet her eyes.

“Bribery and corruption,” she said, tsking lightly as they walked.

Damian snorted, relaxing a degree. “Nothing of the sort. I invested in public safety.”