THE RELUCTANT REFORMER by The Reluctant Reformer (V1)

Author:The Reluctant Reformer (V1) [Reformer, The Reluctant]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2010-12-24T00:11:32.292000+00:00

“A scar on his cheek, you say?” she asked.

“Aye. A big, wide one. Looked like a burn, maybe. It was kind of a square patch a little smaller than me ‘and. It covered a good portion of ’is cheek.”

Maggie frowned as a face flashed in her memory: a laughing man, placing a bet, then turning so that she saw just such a puckered scar on his cheek.

“What is it?” James asked sharply, taking in her expression. “Do you know someone like that?”

“No I know no one like that. But I have seen someone fitting that description before, I think.”

“So have I.” When Maggie turned to him questioningly, James added, “The man driving the carriage that nearly ran you down two days ago was rather large and had dark hair and a scar.”

Maggie stiffened. “Surely you are not thinking it was the same man? That either incident was on purpose?” When Lord Ramsey merely frowned, avoiding her eyes, alarm made her sit up despite the pain that stabbed through her brain. “Why would anyone wish to do me harm?”

James hesitated briefly, then met her gaze. “You have exposed a rather dastardly character or two with your artic—” His mouth snapped closed as Maggie’s horrified gaze shot to the curious hack driver. He cleared his throat, then smiled widely at the man.

“We would like to thank you for your assistance in this matter, Mr. Lawrence. It was kind of you to bring Maggie to us. I realize we are taking you away from your business though.”

Gripping the hack driver’s arm, he led him toward the door.

Maggie watched them go and was sure she saw Lord Ramsey hand the man some money as they went. Wondering how she was to find out how much and replace it—she didn’t want to be beholden to James for any reason—she slid her feet to the floor and sat up gingerly.

“Oh, my lady, maybe you should stay lying down for now,” the butler Lord Ramsey had called Meeks exclaimed, catching the damp cloth as it slid from her forehead.

Forcing a smile, she started to shake her head, then breathed in sharply and hesitated. Perhaps the man was right.

“That’s it,” the butler said with relief as she sank back down. She glimpsed him dipping the cloth in the bowl of water, then closed her eyes. She heard him wringing it out and raised a hand self-consciously to her forehead, wincing as she brushed the lump forming there. She had barely removed her hand when the cloth was laid in place.

Opening her eyes, she glanced at Meeks, noting that his gaze had moved down her body with a small frown.

Lifting her head the tiniest bit, she followed his eyes the length of her gown. She, too, grimaced in dismay. Her head wasn’t the only thing that had been damaged in the fall; her gown was ripped and covered with filth. It had been her best gown, but was now quite ruined. With the one Frances had ripped off of Maisey, her wardrobe was dwindling at a rather rapid rate.

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