Dragonblade Holiday Bundle: A Historical Romance Collection by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Romance, Anthology, Historical, Fiction
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2020-11-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Two

Caroline ushered Lucas away and dared a glance behind her.

The man who saved him – Julian – was surrounded by three women, two of whom looked like relatives.

The other… well, she looked like the man’s mistress.

She even smelled like one

Caroline wrinkled her nose.

Now that was completely uncharitable.

She recognized the thought for what it was – a deflection against her own culpability in losing sight of the child. He’d been at her side one moment and gone the next. He was a strong-willed little boy.

Thank God the gentleman had been swift enough to save him from injury or worse. Caroline’s hand tightened around the boy’s as they crossed the still-busy street away from the coaching inn.

Her claim to being Lucas’s mother fell naturally from her lips before she could give the truth. But their knight in shining armor didn’t believe her. She saw it and heard it – and he was right.

She prayed forgiveness for her half-lie – after all, what harm could it do? The chances of seeing the man again in a city as large as London would be infinitesimal.

Ahead, light still burned in the windows in St. Luke’s Mission’s kitchen. It was still early by the standards of the place. Reverend Alfred Camp and his other workers were doling out hot meals and arranging a cot for the night to those who could not bear a night out of doors in the cold.

She urged Lucas through one of the side doors and closed it behind her. The vicar’s wife, Patricia – Patty to those close to her – spotted them immediately.

Mrs. Camp was a small woman in contrast to her much taller and stickily-built husband, but she had a nervous energy that translated itself into good works for the residents of this borough.

“Ah, there you are!” said the older woman, kindly. “I thought you’d gone to take this little one to bed.”

Caroline was breathless but forced out an explanation. “L… Lucas gave me the slip before we reached the stables a… and nearly got himself run over,”

Despite the warmth of the hall, she suddenly felt cold. Her hands trembled.

Mrs. Camp frowned a moment. She gave her apron over to another and gently led Caroline to a quiet part of the hall. “You’ve had a wee shock, haven’t you? Come sit down here a moment.”

“She be needin’ a spot o’ brandy, she do,” observed O’Toole, one of the Mission’s regulars.

“She might, but there will be no spirits imbibed here.”

“More’s the pity,” the vagrant grumbled.

Despite feeling lightheaded, Caroline could still smile at the exchange. She sat on the bench where Mrs. Camp placed her and pulled Lucas onto her lap.

The boy was quiet, hopefully chastened by his experience. He settled against her chest.

A moment later, a cup of warm milk was placed in her hands. She took a sip and offered the cup to Lucas. The boy shook his head in refusal. Caroline finished the rest, pleased to see her hand now steady as she placed the vessel on the bench beside her.

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