Seeing Danger (Sinclair and Raven #2)(41)
“As it happens, my destination is also Dr. Engle’s House of Ghoulish Horrors, so I shall be happy to escort you there, and to pass the time on the journey you can tell me why you were at the docks today.”
“You made that up!” Lilly said, certain she was right, and equally certain she did not want to spend any more time than necessary in this man’s presence.
“No, I did not. My siblings are at present awaiting me outside Dr. Engle’s House of Ghoulish Horrors. No doubt impatiently,” Dev added, pulling his watch from his pocket and noting he was now late.
Dev knew she wanted to tell him to go to hell; he could see the anger in her eyes. They had darkened to purple and her hands were clenched. He was a rational man, always had been. He liked to follow things to their logical conclusions. Everything had its place, but she made him irrational. He wanted to lock her in a room with him so he could learn everything she was hiding behind those pretty eyes.
“Why were you in that room above the Anchor today, Lilly?”
Ignoring his question she said, “Thank you for....”
“Saving you?”
“Aiding us in leaving the scene, my lord.”
“Why were you there? Surely you know it is not safe for you—”
“Because I am a woman, my lord, and therefore unable to look after myself?”
“Because anyone who was caught in that today would have been lucky to escape, and yes, because you are an intelligent woman and should know better. For pity’s sake, Lilly, had I not arrived when I did you would have been trampled!” Dev felt the anger he had just tamped down surge to life once more. If he hadn't arrived when he had....
“My name is Miss Braithwaite, please use it.”
“You are Lilly to me, as you were the night you ran your hand over my—”
“Yes, thank you.” She shot a look at the boy, who had stopped looking out the window and was now watching them closely.
“He's right though, Lilly, we shouldn't have gone there without more men.”
He was young, perhaps the age of Dorrie and Somer. But Dev had a feeling this boy, like the one he had met in Lilly's little house in Temple Street, had seen some of the worst things life had to offer a child. He had that world-weary look in his eyes. Clean and tidy, he was small, as many were who had lived a tough life.
“Please set us down, Lord Sinclair. We will make our own way from here,” Lilly said, drawing his eyes from the boy.
“As I have explained, our destinations are the same. Therefore there is no need to take a hackney,” Dev said, swallowing his smile as her teeth snapped together. “What were you doing at the port today, Lilly?”
“What I was doing there is none of your business.”
“How long before we get to Dr. Engle’s House of Ghoulish Horrors?” the boy said as Dev was about to question her again.
“Not long, I am sure,” she said, straightening his cap and shirt.
She was comfortable with him. Dev had never seen her touch anyone willingly, except children; of course, she still had her gloves on.
“Five minutes, Toby, and we shall arrive.”
Dev was subjected to a frank appraisal from the lad, which he sat calmly through.
“Thank you for saving Lilly, my lord.”
Dev nodded.
“It could have got nasty back there, Lilly, like I'm always telling you. You gotta be more careful.”
Good boy, Dev thought. The boy was reinforcing his own statement. Lilly didn't like it, not one bit, yet she bore it silently from Toby.
“I shall be more careful in future.”
“When will you begin fixing the place up then?”
“What place are you fixing up, Toby?” Dev asked, keeping his voice light. He could usually pry anything out of his younger siblings with that tone.
“Do not bore Lord Sinclair, Toby, he has no interest in our affairs.”
Dev watched Lilly wriggle in her seat then adjust her gloves and straighten her skirts. She wanted to be anyplace but here with him, while Dev could honestly say he was quite happy where he was, sitting across from her, smelling her scent, watching her twitch and generally unsettling her.
“You always told me to respect my elders, Lilly, and if I am spoken to then I should speak back.”
She glared at Dev as he muffled his laughter behind a cough.
“Of course, and you are right, but I am sure it would take too long to go into all the details, Toby, therefore I shall apprise Lord Sinclair of them when we have more time.”
Toby looked at her as only a child who has been fobbed off could, then shrugged and remained silent.
“As I am meeting my family at Dr. Engle’s House of Ghoulish Horrors, perhaps we can view the place together?”
“I-I don't think that will be necessary, thank you, Lord Sinclair. We have inconvenienced you enough. Toby and I have no wish to hold up your family, as he has never been there and it will take us some time to observe the exhibits.”
“My family has never been there either, and I'm sure they will wish to also take their time. The twins are very thorough.”
“Twins?” Toby said.
Dev spent the remainder of the journey telling the boy about his siblings. Lilly, he noticed, feigned indifference, yet he knew she was taking in every word. He liked children; they were open and honest, for the most, unless they were trying to get him to do something.