Seeing Danger (Sinclair and Raven #2)(25)

“Dear God, Lilly, tell me you are all right?”

“Y-yes, thank you, my lord. Pl-please put me down.” Her voice was unsteady.

Dev lowered her to the ground, but he couldn't let her go because he needed to touch her. Holding her upper arms, he steadied both of them.

She was safe now, he reminded himself.

“I-I didn't hear them, I'm sorry.”

“You are safe; that is all that matters.”

Dear God, the desperation inside him had been palpable. He'd experienced that sensation when he had saved the Duke of Raven at Quatre Bras, and then the other night when he had caught Lilly as she'd fallen. What did that mean? She wasn't a Raven. Could his reaction to her simply be because she had his colors?

“Yes—I'm sorry I d-did not hear the carriage coming, Lord Sinclair. It came upon me so quickly.”

She was shaking, so he ran his hands up her arms before taking one hand in his.

“Come, take my arm and we shall walk a while before we enter the building. I for one need the time.”

Her fingers gripped his sleeve, and Dev fought the urge to wrap his arm around her waist.

“I-I…. please allow me to thank you, my lord.”

“I was unsure if I would reach you.”

“It was very brave of you to take such a risk for someone you barely know.”

“You were about to be run down, Lilly. Of course I took the risk.”

“Some would not.”

Dev had a feeling there was more to that statement, but he left it for now.

“I did not hurt you?”

“No, I am quite well, thank you, just a little unsettled.”

“And forever in my debt.”

“Pardon?” She looked up at him, her lavender eyes wide. She was pale, and Dev did not fight the need to close the distance and brush his lips over hers.

“My lord!”

“Excellent, you now have color in your cheeks once more.”

“You c-cannot do such a thing out here where anyone could chance upon us!” Her eyes were shooting left and right behind the lenses of her glasses.

“All right, I shall wait till we are alone then.”

“No, you shall not!”

“Lilly—”

“Call me Miss Braithwaite!”

“No.”

“Why?” She looked up at him once more.

“Because you are now Lilly to me.”

She shook her head as if to clear it. “I really do not understand what is happening. We dislike each other, and until a few nights ago, did not even speak.”

“Come, you can mull over that later. Neither of us is still breathing like a racehorse, so we shall take on the local Watch.”

“Don't call me Lilly.”

His siblings always had the last word too, Dev thought, opening the door and ushering her inside.





CHAPTER NINE


The interior was as unassuming as the exterior. A narrow hallway led to a half wall behind which a man scribbled into a small book. He looked up as they approached, and rose with a polite smile on his face. Dev let Lilly go first, and stood at her back as she spoke.

“Good day to you, sir. My name is Miss Braithwaite, and I came here a week ago for my fifth visit and spoke with Sergeant Blacklock, yet again, about the matter of missing boys. I wish to follow up and see what is being done about this problem, as one more child was taken just last night.”

It wasn't a position he was used to, yet Dev did not intervene as she addressed the man. His siblings usually let him deal with things; it had just always been that way, yet not this woman. He had a feeling she had dealt with a great many things in her life, and wondered again at the relationship she had with her brother.

His thoughts returned to the driver of that carriage. He had seen his features clearly, and was sure he had directed his horses deliberately at Lilly. But why?

“Well, I can honestly say I know nothing about the matter, Miss Braithwaite. Where have these boys disappeared from? Are they in your service perhaps?”

“They are children who earn their living on the streets of London, sir. Young, helpless children who have fallen prey to some sort of—of foul play.”

Dev watched the man lower his eyes before once again lifting them. He was sure there had been an eye roll in there somewhere.

“As I'm sure the previous officer told you, Miss Braithwaite, the young street urchins are transient. They've probably just moved on to fleece someone else.”

“Fleece?”

There was little doubting to anyone present that Lilly was not pleased with the term. Ice had formed on the word as she said it. Dev noted her elevated chin and rigid shoulders. Small and perfectly formed, she almost quivered with indignation.

He wondered again how he'd been so foolish as to not see the woman beneath the exterior she portrayed to society. Possibly because most evenings she was hiding in the corners of the room and he never cared to look for her.

“Ahhh, well, as I see it, Miss Braithwaite, there is little we can do to find these boys, as in all honesty them disappearing is nothing new.”

“Six boys have simply vanished and this is nothing new to you?”

If her spine became any more rigid it would snap. Fearing she was about to launch a stronger attack on the helpless man, Dev stepped forward.