Rising, he looked out the carriage door and saw Miss March passing beneath a streetlamp. She was striding down the road, alone and unprotected. It was freezing out there; even wrapped up, Jacob was cold. The woman must be chilled to the bone, and now bruised and battered from her fall.
"Hamley, follow that silly woman."
"At once, my lord."
Why he was following her, he couldn't say. Perhaps it was because she had mentioned Lady Revel, or perhaps it was because she intrigued him, and he hadn't been this entertained in years, or perhaps it was because he was a good judge of character, and knew that what she had told him was indeed true, even though he had not told her that.
"Who would make up such a ridiculous story?" he muttered.
CHAPTER TWO
The carriage pulled alongside and slowed to a crawl as they reached Miss March. Opening the door, he stepped down before her.
"Are you completely witless, Miss March?"
"Step aside, my lord, I have no time for more of your insults!"
She moved left, and Jacob did the same.
"To have leapt from my carriage in such a reckless manner does not suggest an intellect worthy of respect."
"You insulted me!"
"Are you hurt, Miss March?"
"I am not."
"That is something then," Jacob exhaled loudly. "Now if you will-"
She prepared to step around him once more, but he intercepted her, grabbing her arm.
"Unhand me, my lord!"
"God's blood, madam. I did not say that I did not believe you, I was merely shocked at what had transpired, and to be fair, who would not be?"
She looked at him, eyes steady, and Jacob felt a desperate need to really see her in the light of day.
"I concede that perhaps it did sound far-fetched, and perhaps I could have handled the telling better."
"Perhaps?"
She sighed. "The thing is, my lord, I tend to get nervous around people I do not know, and most especially nobility."
"We are no different than the next person, surely, and certainly not fearful enough to have you leaping from a moving carriage?"
"You cannot possibly be serious? Just finding money for food is a daily struggle for most of us. Can you say the same?"
To his shame, he could not, and wished he hadn't spoken impulsively. He knew how many suffered while he did not... at least not in the way she believed.
"You are of course quite right. Forgive me." Jacob then did something he'd rarely done before. He agreed to take on the case of Lady Revel without looking into the matter or checking with his friends first. "If you still wish it, I would like to help. We," he added. "The Lords of Night Street."
Her mouth formed a perfect kissable circle, and then she smiled. It was wide and changed her face once more, to a thing of beauty.
"Oh... oh dear, I do believe I feel tears, and as I n-never cry-"
"Think nothing of it, Miss March." Jacob led her to the carriage. "Let us return to the warmth, and I will take you home. If it is acceptable to you I shall ask some questions so I can start the investigation tomorrow."
"You have no need to take me home, my lord. I live nearby, and assure you I walk these streets alone often."
"Why would you do something so foolhardy?" These streets were not fit for her to walk alone. Any number of nefarious individuals could be out there awaiting the opportunity to pounce on a woman. "Furthermore, that is hardly wise, considering someone has tried to dispose of you three times. You are merely giving them a fourth opportunity."
She tilted her head slightly to the right to study him, as if he were some kind of specimen she had never seen before.
"You are of noble birth, so I understand that a carriage and transportation is readily available, my lord. But I do not have such luxuries."
"I understand not everyone has a carriage, Miss March, but is there a need to walk about at night?"
"If I am to work, then yes, there is."
"I thought you were a companion?" Jacob hustled her into the carriage before she could protest further.
"I was a companion. The agency I am registered with is having trouble placing me, as I was dismissed without references."
Bastard. Lord Revel and some of the others who shared the title of "nobleman" would have no idea the impact being dismissed without a reference would have on their staff.
"So what is it you are doing now?"
"I clean premises."
"What kind of premises?"
"It matters not," she dismissed. "Now, what is it you wish to know, as I am due to start work shortly."