Miss Nothing (Unexpected Heirs)

Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

M r. Keynsham seemed preoccupied—even cross. He’d turned away from her and was staring out at the passing streets.

Perhaps he was regretting that his handsome face—and it was very handsome—would be marred by a large bruise for some time to come.

She studied him out of the corner of her eye. She’d heard that wealthy young London gentlemen were rakehells, and gamesters, and… well, other things that sheltered young ladies from small country towns weren’t supposed to know about. Mr. Keynsham didn’t seem like a rakehell… but then again, he had been drinking in taverns in a bad part of town.

Still, she had to admit that their escape together had been thrilling. The way he’d seized her hand, the way it had seemed that she was nearly flying as they ran together… What would it be like to feel those arms around her and melt into the warmth of his embrace?

What on earth was she thinking? Never in her life had she wanted to be held by a gentleman! And this was no time to start. She must keep her mind focused on getting out of London. Every hour that she stayed here was an hour that increased the danger that Wilkes would find her.

If everything had gone according to plan, she’d already be safely on the stage to Lincoln. And then she wouldn’t have crossed paths with Mr. Keynsham at all—let alone be having inappropriate thoughts of embracing him.

And yet… she had a strange feeling of safety and rightness as she sat by his side. But why? He was a stranger—a wealthy London Corinthian in a perfectly tailored jacket and glossy top boots, who’d intervened in her life on a tipsy whim and was now rather clearly regretting it.

She slipped her fingers into the torn silk lining of the pocketbook. Yes. The letter was definitely still there. She was lucky that the thieves hadn’t discovered it and thrown it away. Her plan, such as it was, could still work.

Of course, what she was doing wasn’t strictly ethical. But… well, it couldn’t be totally unforgivable, either. Could it? After all, she’d prayed for a way to escape. And then, by chance or providence, a way to escape had appeared. And she’d leapt at it. That wasn’t wicked—was it? After all, she was saving Mrs. Allen the trouble, expense and delay of advertising for a lady’s companion all over again. One could argue that she was actually doing a good thing.

Of course, she had a feeling that Mr. Keynsham wouldn’t be capable of understanding at all. Which was a very good reason not to tell him any of it.

The tall houses, broad, well-swept streets and large, extravagantly candlelit windows signaled that they’d reached a very elegant part of town. She cleared her throat. “What… what part of London is this?”

“This is St. James. As I find myself short of ready money, I must apply to the one person who can help us.”

“The one person…?” This wasn’t reassuring. “But surely your situation is not so… desperate! If it is, I am certain that I ought not to be imposing up on you!”

“Desperate?” He smiled. “I hope not. But my cousin, who is staying with me at the moment, owes me a tidy sum. And as the banks are not open at this hour, I intend to ask him for at least a little of it back.”

“I see.” She’d heard, of course, that London gentlemen of means were scandalously careless with their cash. Why, the prince regent himself owed money that he hadn’t paid in years! His vast debts had caused a scandal and forced politicians in parliament to take sides for and against him.

“I see your frown, Miss Ryder. Allow me to interpret it: My lack of money, along with the fact that I drank alcohol in a low tavern, make you assume the worst of me.”

“I said nothing of the kind.”

“But your expression gives you away. You, a young lady from the country who is unfamiliar with London, surmise that I am a most scandalous and dissolute rake.”

She clutched the pocketbook closer to her chest. “Please do not interpret my expressions for me. And the fact that I have never been to London does not mean that I know nothing.“

“I must beg your pardon. I must have mis-remembered—for I thought that you said that you had visited London many times—with your husband .”

Oh dear. She had said that, hadn’t she?

The cab turned into his grandmother’s street. “Park Place,” announced the driver.