.
Leah had been sure of herself up until the moment William slid his hand over her skin and pressed a kiss at the center of her back. Like a shock, it had wept through her, but instead of pain, there had been such great pleasure that she’d nearly whimpered aloud. No man had ever touched her that way. She’d not even known she’d been sensitive in a such a place, but now, as she sat on the other side of the carriage, she could still feel his mouth on her, as though he’d touched her spine and had embedded himself beneath her skin, where he could torment her forever.
She shivered.
He moved, and she pulled in a breath when he touched her shoulders. “You’re obviously cold. I’m going to finish buttoning your dress now. Turn around.” Again, instead of asking, he simply acted, and she wondered if this game benefited him more than she’d planned it to.
She held his eyes. “No kisses.”
His smile was cunning and made her heart beat erratically. “No more kisses.”
She turned around.
He pressed closer and whispered in her ear, “Today.”
Today.
The warning was a shot to the place between her legs and the heated promise of more.
“Done.” He leaned away, and Leah moved her shoulders and found her dress to be secure once more. He’d worked quicker than she’d thought he would and the disappointment in that was startling.
“Thank you.” She settled her frock back around her just as the carriage came to a stop.
He got out first and assisted her down.
She took her hand from his the moment her feet were planted and then strolled into the small brick building he’d brought her to.
It was rather quiet inside, with only a few men dressed in uniform. She recognized the one who had come to the house the other day. Mr. Small. The young man glanced up once she walked into the building and was making his way toward them. Along the back wall, however, was a line of boys. From their unkempt appearance and the obvious filth on their clothes, she knew they were street urchins. There were five of them. One looked angry, three their own version of scared, and the last gazed toward the ceiling with complete indifference.
Lorenzo, her mind whispered. That indifference was so much like her brother. He’d never feared anything or anyone, even when he’d been caught stealing in France. She remembered the group of friends he’d found and how much trouble they’d caused in their town many miles south of Paris.
That was when Leah first became the actress she counted herself, weeping and pleading for the local authorities to have mercy on him.
William went to a desk and began speaking to a man there. “Are John Dean and John Graves here?”
The secretary nodded. “They’re upstairs. The captain is holding a meeting. They’ll be down shortly if you wish to wait. How may I be of service, Sir William?”
She was not surprised that men like this would know William. She’d heard of his heroism in the army and knew a man such as that would gain the respect from those who enforced peace.
Leah stopped Mr. Small from approaching William by stepping forward into his path. “Why are those boys in here?”
The young man’s gaze turned to the boys. “They were caught stealing from a baker. How—”
“And this incident didn’t cause anyone pain?”
Mr. Small shook his head. “No, though they did bump into a few men and women as they ran. I happened to be in the market at the time and was able to corner them in an alley.”
“You caught all six on your own?” She had to admit she was highly impressed.
Small blushed, which only made him seem far younger, though she knew he was not much younger than herself. Had the circumstances of his life been different, he could have just finished his studies at Oxford. He was also attractive, and the hue of his skin made his eyes that much greener. “Yes, I cornered them alone.” His gaze softened. “How are you?”
She placed a hand on her belly. She’d almost forgotten she’d been struck by that man’s fist. “I’m well. Now, what is to happen to the boys?” She found herself watching the young men and her heart broke for them. She turned back to Mr. Small when she realized he’d not answered.
The runner frowned. “No one was physically wounded, though the baker was forced to dispose of anything the young men had touched. That cost him greatly.”
Leah’s eyes widened. “You mean instead of feeding the boys, he threw the bread away?” Her voice rose slightly but only when a hand was rested on her arm. She looked over at William, who was watching her intently.
“I thought helpless women to be your cause,” William said. “Now you’re adding children?”
“I have no cause,” she told him. “I simply see injustice and want something done about it.” She turned to Mr. Small. “You’re a good man. I knew that from the moment we met. Surely, you can see that the only thing these boys are guilty of is their will to live? Would the slow and painful death of a child not hold more weight on your soul than the stealing of a few loaves of bread?”
The runner looked taken aback by her words.
William spoke for him. “The law is the law. The boys were obviously caught by this… good man. Let him do his job.”
She yanked her arm from him and glared. “I never would have thought you could be this cold.” And it pained her to know that this was who’d he’d become.
William lifted a brow. “You just met me, Mrs. Wells. How would you know what I’m like?”
She turned away then and realized how easy it was to forget her character.
A group of men started down the stairs, and William grabbed her arm. “Good day, Mr. Small.” Then he was steering her toward the back.
Anger boiled in Leah’s stomach, but she said nothing as William approached the men who came from upstairs. There were ten of them. Two wore suits, but the rest were in uniform. She hardly noticed their faces, however, for heading in their direction had also brought her close to the boys.
They were all staring at her now. Some of them looked on with hope. Had they heard her outburst? The one she’d named after her brother still looked indifferent, but his gaze on her was just as intense as the others.
“Sir William?”
Leah turned as one of the men, who stood nearly a foot taller than the others, moved forward. He moved with the grace of an aristocrat and when he smiled at William, Leah couldn’t help but marvel at his beauty. His hair was a similar shade to William’s, a brown so dark it was nearly black, but where William’s eyes were like summer grass, this man’s eyes were setting suns, a brilliant gold that seemed to vibrate with energy.
“Levi.” William shook his hand with a wide grin that stopped Leah’s heart. “I already gave you leave to use my name. Too many favors rest between us for me to consider you anything less than a friend.” The ease and friendliness Leah witnessed in him had her speechless. This was a William she’d not seen in a long time and hadn’t known still existed. She was glad to know that had not changed. “Call me William,” he offered the other man.
Levi smiled. “William. What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to speak to those two.” William nodded his head at the two men who’d stopped walking once they’d come down the stairs and seen William. “Mrs. Leah Wells, meet Master and Commander Levi Nicholas.”
Leah smiled and offered her hand.
“Widow?” Levi asked as his warm fingers cradled hers.
William answered for her just as he took her hand back. “No, her husband is very much alive.”
He spoke to warn Levi off, though Leah knew he didn’t believe them himself.
“How do you know one another?” Leah asked.
William answered, “When my friend, Mrs. Alice Lockwood’s, father was taken by the Navy, I met Levi. He assisted me in finding where the man had been sent and when he could be expected back.”
Leah hadn’t heard that Alice’s father was in the navy.
Levi said, “I also convinced my brother, Baron Nicholson, to see that Lord and Lady Edvoy are never bothered by the law concerning their marriage.”
Everyone knew about Taygete’s marriage to the Marquess of Edvoy. They’d been in-laws, which the Crown frowned upon. It was a law that protected families from men who preyed on their fortune, marrying one daughter after another in order to gain their dowries. Leah understood the benefits of such protections, but she also thought that people should be allowed to love who they wished, and one only had to look at the way Hugh was with Taygete to know he’d do anything to protect her.
William grinned. “They were truly surprised that you were willing to help.”
Levi sighed and placed his hands behind his back. It was a move that would have made a lesser man seem innocent and vulnerable, but neither word fit the man before her. “Since Taygete wouldn’t marry me, the least I could do was see that she was happy.”
Leah’s appreciation of the naval commander grew at the confession. “How beautiful and how very fortunate they are to have your friendship.”
His gaze fell on her. “I’m very good to all my friends.”
Her cheeks burned at the warmth she saw in his gaze.
“She has enough friends.” William moved closer until their sides brushed. Her thigh pressed against his and even through the fabric, she felt his body heat like burning iron. He was hard where her body was soft, and she liked it far too much.
Before Levi could say more, William motioned two more men to their circle and introduced her to Mr. Dean and Mr. Graves.
“I need watchmen,” William told Dean and Graves before giving them any more details. William spelled out his needs clearly, and Leah watched in fascination as her old friend became a Major General before her eyes. It was clear by the way he laid out the job that he’d never march a man into war without them knowing what to expect.
Dean said, “You know I’d help you in any way I can.”
“As would I,” Graves added with a grin. Both men looked to be around William’s age, if not slightly older. “The field may have changed, but I’ll always stand by you when called.” It was clear then that the men had fought together during a war. Had it been the French? She sensed no hostility from either of the men as they repeatedly met her gaze and relaxed.
William turned to her. “What do you think? Are the men likely to scare the women?” His gaze was serious.
She was surprised he’d asked for her opinion. Surprised and delighted and moved.
He held up a finger. “Before you answer, this is not one of my questions.”
She smiled, having almost forgotten about the game… though not really. She nodded and turned to Mr. Dean and Mr. Graves. She looked the men over and asked, “Would you ever hit a woman?”
Graves looked surprised. “If I ever dreamed of doing so, I’m sure I’d wake up to find my mother had skinned me alive.”
Leah laughed at the comment.
Dean frowned. “I’ve never hurt a woman and pray I never have to.”
Leah lifted a brow. “Under what circumstances would you feel you had to?”
“If she tried to hurt someone else,” he answered swiftly. “Though I’d never strike her, if that’s what you mean.”
Leah nodded. “Good.” Because their enemy was indeed a woman. Sarah hadn’t left one of her notes in the last few days, and Leah wondered if she’d returned to the city yet.
The men went on to complete their duties, and William turned when Levi spoke.
“I knew it was only a matter of time before those women found themselves in trouble once more.”
Leah had no clue what he was speaking about, but William answered with a sigh.
“Actually, it may not be Lorena and the Spinsters this time.”
Leah began to pay close attention when Levi’s gaze came alert. “You will tell me if there is anything I can do for you, won’t you?”
William smiled. “I’ll call on you before I leave the city.”
Levi nodded and turned to Leah. “And I understand the circumstances that bring a woman to the Spinsters House and have helped one or more of the Spinsters themselves over the years. So, I extend the same courtesy to you as well. If you need anything from me, let William know and I will take care of it.” She saw everything she needed to see in those eyes and knew the threat to her enemies had not been made lightly. He thought her husband to have brought her physical pain and would use deadly force to defend her.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
He took her hand and kissed it. “Don’t hesitate.”
William took her hand once again and spoke before she could. “Don’t worry about Mrs. Wells. If she’s in any danger, I’ll take care of it myself.”
Levi met William’s eyes, held them, and then nodded before turning to Leah again, “Good day, Mrs. Wells.” Good day, but not goodbye.
“Good day.” She watched him leave.
There was the clearing of a throat and, strangely, it didn’t come from William. Instead, it was the young man who reminded her of Lorenzo. He had blue eyes and hair she suspected was blond when clean.
Leah cleared her mind and then moved over to the boy. “What is your name?”
“Noah.” The boy crossed his arms and looked over her shoulder.
Leah turned to see that William had followed her and was glaring at the young men.
“Stealing is wrong,” William told him and the other boys.
Noah dropped his arms. “Well, you’d think different if you didn’t have fancy clothes.” The boy looked William over with disdain.
“No, I think differently because I know what it is like to be hungry.”
Leah was startled by William’s confession. When they’d been young, she’d always assumed he was just as wealthy as the other boys. Knowing that at one point he’d been hungry was unsettling, especially when she recalled the way she’d taunted him.
Had she known better… she might still have been unkind. It had simply been her way until she’d finally learned for herself what it was like to have nothing. Yet, at the moment, she wanted to comfort the little boy William had been.
William suddenly placed a hand on Leah’s arm and she wondered why. He didn’t try to pull her away or move her toward the door. He just held her as though she were anchoring him to the ground. “Have you asked for work?”
“Yes,” Noah said with great arrogance.
“How many shopkeepers have you asked?”
Noah thought and then looked away. “A few.”
“The city is large. You should have asked at least a hundred a day.”
Leah more than slightly agreed and felt William’s fingers tighten before instinctively relaxing as though he knew his limit with her.
“Tomorrow, you will begin your search for work,” William told them.
Leah turned to him. “How can they look for work if they’re arrested?” Or worse.
William turned to her. “Mr. Small pled their case an hour before we arrived. The boys are simply being forced to clean the building before they’re released. I asked the secretary when I walked in.”
There was great sighing from the six young men and Leah.
Then her cheeks pinked. “Oh… Well, I knew Mr. Small was a wonderful man, and he’s proven that once again.” She turned to the boys. “Please, don’t get into the trouble again. Listen to Sir William. Go look for work. Ask as many people as it takes for as long as it takes until someone says yes.” And she knew what she was speaking of, because she and Lorenzo had been forced to do the same. Her eyes watered. “Please, don’t steal again.”
The boys looked away and didn’t quite meet her eyes again.
“Let’s go.” William turned her toward the door. “I think that did it.”
She batted back her tears. “I don’t know what you mean.”
William handed her his handkerchief. “You nearly moved them to tears. It’s likely they don’t know too many people who care about them enough to shed a tear.”
The shock of the cold brought her back to her senses, but the scene from inside of the Runners’ station made her reckless at the same time. “I wasn’t always this way,” she confessed for reasons she didn’t know. Maybe there was a part of her that wanted William to understand her, not Leah, but Natalia. She wanted him to forgive the girl she’d been. “I changed long ago.”
“Well, aren’t the vagabonds of the world fortunate for that.”