The Tenant's Guest by Leenie Brown

Author:Leenie Brown [Brown, Leenie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Leenie B Books
Published: 2016-10-31T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

London

Lydia folded her arms and stood in front of Wickham, blocking his path to the establishment behind her. People bustled in and out of the inn. One young gentleman paused for a moment, looking curiously at the pair before moving on. A maid slowed her steps as she passed them, and Wickham’s lips curled into a smile as he winked at the young girl. Lydia rolled her eyes and shook her head. Staying here as Wickham had suggested would not do.

“You will take me and my maid,” Lydia waved a hand at the poor frightened servant, who stood fidgeting behind her mistress, “to Derbyshire. My sisters are there, and I wish to join their fun.”

“I will do no such thing,” he said, taking a step to the side.

She placed herself between him and the inn once again. “I cannot stay here.”

He shrugged. “Where you stay or where you go is none of my concern.” There was no way he would willingly go to Derbyshire. Mr. Williams had told him that to show his face again in the area would likely lead to unpleasantness, and old Williams was just the man to ensure it happened. He might be the constable, but, rumor had it, he was not above seeing justice fulfilled outside of due process. His men had appeared rather suddenly after Tolson’s accident last spring. He shook himself. No, Williams was not a man with whom he wished to trifle. Wickham appreciated life and wished to keep his.

And then there were Darcy and his cousin, Fitzwilliam. After last summer’s botched play for Miss Darcy’s inheritance — well, it was best if he stayed clear of those gentlemen. Darcy would likely not kill him, but he could not guarantee the good colonel would not find a way to follow through on the threats he had snarled at Ramsgate. Wickham had been enduring the constant glares and sudden appearances of that man at Brighton. More than one amorous rendezvous had been scuttled due to him. Wickham was looking forward to a few days without supervision.

Lydia matched Wickham’s step to the side again. He could not leave her here on the streets of London when she needed to find her way to Derbyshire! He simply could not. She had expected a bit more cooperation from him than a flat refusal. He had always willingly done what she asked before. It was not an eventuality for which she had not prepared, but it was not exactly what she had expected.

“I cannot go to Derbyshire,” said Wickham. “Town is my destination, and I’ll go no farther.”

Lydia fluttered her eyelashes and smiled. It was a technique that had worked before. Perhaps it might be more effective now than just demanding. “Oh, but you must.”

He shook his head. He was not going one mile closer to Derbyshire unless forced, and he doubted very much that the feather-brained chit before him would be able to force him to do anything. He smiled as her smile turned to a frown before becoming something of an indifferent pout.

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