Chapter Seven

25 Curzon Street, Mayfair

London

That afternoon

"L ord Sinclair, it's a pleasure to see you again," Jenkins said, opening the door.

"Thank you, Jenkins," Sin said, handing the butler his hat and coat. "I'm here to see Mrs. Pritchett."

"They are expecting you, my lord. If you'll follow me," Jenkins said, escorting him to the parlor. "My lady and Mrs. Pritchett, Lord Sinclair has arrived."

Aunt Millie gave a brief nod. The retainer bowed and closed the door behind him.

Sin noticed his aunt's three cats had taken their chaperone positions on the opposite end of the settee from Lizzie and Aunt Millie. He greeted his aunt with a kiss on her cheek. Then he turned to greet Lizzie, taking her hand in his hand and kissing it lightly. She looked beautiful in her emerald-colored dress and simple pearl earrings. He had to stop himself from staring at her. He would happily spend the entire day doing so, but then she would likely think him daft.

"Sin, join us. I know you wanted to leave for your ride in the park. But humor an old woman. Cook brought us some refreshing lemonade and sandwiches, and I'd love to take a minute and enjoy them. Do you enjoy cucumber sandwiches?" his aunt asked both him and Lizzie.

"Certainly, sandwiches and lemonade would be most welcome," Sin replied with a smile.

His aunt, ever the curious one, prodded further. "Where are you two young people off to?"

He chuckled. "Nowhere too adventurous, I'm afraid. I thought we'd keep to tradition and enjoy a carriage ride through Hyde Park, but early, before the fashionable hour."

Lizzie's smile widened. "That sounds wonderfully relaxing, Lord Sinclair."

"In Boston, I was known as Edward Sinclair. Please call me Edward or Sin, whichever you prefer." He'd encouraged her to call him by his nickname at the ball, but realizing how Lizzie must feel in such different circumstances, he wanted her to feel comfortable using his first name and would continue to remind her.

"In that case, Edward it is," she affirmed.

Sin noticed a subtle rise in his aunt's eyebrows. But his heart warmed to the sound of his name on Lizzie's lips. She was the only one who called him Edward, as she did in Boston, and it felt like a special and intimate connection between the two of them.

"Tell me, how well acquainted are you two?" Aunt Millie asked. "And while I don't doubt your hospital work, dear Lizzie, something tells me that is not how you actually met."

Lizzie's lovely face reddened, and she looked down. "I'm afraid the truth might have caused trouble for you, Lady Beadle."

"We are friends, and I've asked you to call me Millie, my dear." Aunt Millie patted Lizzie on the hand before looking at Sin. She picked up her hearing trumpet and placed it on her ear. "I must know everything, and I don't want to miss a word. It is the only way I can help you—if need be."

Lizzie turned her gaze toward Sin, who responded with a subtle nod and a smile of reassurance. "We can trust my aunt," he said softly.

Taking a deep breath, Lizzie related the events to Aunt Millie. "Edward arrived unexpectedly at my doorstep in the middle of the night, his condition dire and urgent. There was hardly a moment for him to plead for aid, for he was in a delirium and a feverish state. Instinctively, I welcomed him into my home. Dr. Hastings, in his kindness, visited to attend to Lord Sin—Edward's needs."

The pretty blush in her cheeks deepened, and Sin couldn't help his heart rate accelerating. She was lovely, demure, and a true lady, and yet she had shown such courage and strength in America.

"With his expertise and the resources Dr. Hastings provided, I did everything in my power to help Edward through the illness," Lizzie continued, her voice quivering with emotion. "The fever raged on for many days. Its intensity would ebb for a day or two, only to surge once more. Dr. Hastings said it was one of the most challenging cases he'd seen, but I was determined to do everything I could to s-save Edward."

Sin yearned to recall what had transpired those few weeks, but for the past year, every attempt to recall their first month together had ended in frustration. Even now, he hung on every word that came from her beautiful, bow-shaped mouth.

"I begin to understand why you offered up the story about the hospital," Aunt Millie said softly. "You are a widow, but even a widow would not be forgiven such an impropriety. The narrow-minded ton would see things differently. But I think you showed tremendous courage, my dear. And I thank you for saving our Edward," she added, her voice cracking. She dabbed at her eyes with the fine linen napkin on her lap.

Sin stood and walked over to his aunt. Sitting on her other side, on the edge of the settee, he took her hand and kissed it, trying to suppress a smile as she grumbled about his fussing. He'd known his aunt would understand and agree that Lizzie was an exceptional woman. Sin had sensed Lizzie's anxiety and wanted to reassure her. But it had been impossible to do so at the ball. Now, in the privacy of his aunt's home, Lizzie had revealed the truth, and everything was much easier. As he looked into her green eyes, his heart thudded in his chest.

"Now then," his aunt said. "Lizzie, I want you and Sin to spend the afternoon together. I insist on it. My needs are small, and I can see to them this afternoon. If not, Jenkins is in charge. What I cannot do is allow the two of you to miss a most fortuitous opportunity to reacquaint yourselves. The circumstances of your first meeting were remarkable, only to be topped by your second meeting at the ball last night. Quite remarkable indeed." Her eyes sparkled. "And in the meantime, I'm going to bask in all the clucking and speculation—seeing you two together will disappoint the matchmaking mamas of the ton ." She tapped her cane on the floor. "Go on. Get on with your afternoon. Enjoy yourselves."

A few minutes later, Sin helped Lizzie into his carriage. He positioned himself beside her. "Are you comfortable?" he asked her. "If you are chilly, I have blankets under the bench seat."

"I am well, thank you." She smiled.

He lightly tapped the ceiling of the coach, signaling the driver to set their journey in motion.

Lizzie's voice trembled slightly as she asked the question that must have been weighing on her mind. "Are…are we courting?" she asked, her words barely audible above the gentle rumble of the carriage's wheels along the cobblestone streets.

Sin noticed her clasped hands trembled slightly on her lap.

He reached over and delicately cradled her face in his palms, his gaze locked with hers, drowning in the depths of her shimmering emerald eyes. "Lizzie," he whispered. He could hear the mixture of longing and determination in his own voice. "I've traveled continents in search of you. Every silhouette that bore even a faint resemblance to your graceful form, every hint of your possible presence, prompted my heart to race, and I would call out your name, hoping against hope that she was you. Yet each time, it was a cruel twist of fate denying me. And now, here you are before me, a beautiful mirage turned into reality."

His words hung in the air, charged with the weight of unspoken emotions.

"There exists an undeniable connection between us, one that transcends time and distance," he continued. "Had we remained in Boston, I would have courted you and forged an everlasting bond. I regret that circumstances prevented that. That I prevented that. So, my dear Lizzie, unless your heart does not echo my sentiments, I implore you to allow me to court you."

Lizzie swiped at her eyes. "I have never heard more beautiful words from you, not even in my dreams."

"Am I in your dreams, sweet Lizzie?" he asked.

She hesitated before nodding. "Yes, you are in my dreams," she said in a husky voice. "But despite my feelings, I fear this will not work for us. Society will not accept me. Peter's parents refused to accept me as his wife."

"You base this conviction on your marriage to Lord Peter Pritchett?"

A tear spilled down her cheek as she tipped her head in silent acknowledgment.

"Then Society be damned. I care not a whit for what the ton thinks. Your late husband's parents were fools to ignore their son's heart and his good sense in marrying such an incredible young woman. Now that he's gone without a chance to repair their foolish perceptions, it is up to them to make peace with their actions. I care about you, Lizzie—the person you are, not your pedigree." His voice softened and he gave a brief chuckle. "Besides, have you met my sister and my aunt? They accept you completely, and their influence is no small thing."

She gave a shaky smile. "Yes, your aunt has said as much. She refused to listen to reason and has outfitted me in the finest of fabrics and lace, despite my objections."

Sin grinned. "The modiste did a marvelous job, but she had a perfect model to clothe. And you realize by now, Aunt Millie won't accept ‘no' unless it's from the Almighty or the king himself."

Lizzie giggled. "Your aunt is a force of nature."

"Indeed," Sin remarked. "I hadn't anticipated Aunt Millie's thorough interrogation over refreshments. I love her, and I know she means well, but she can be quite formidable at times. Now, I had hoped we could stop by Gunter's."

Lizzie's smile brightened as she spoke. "Gunter's sounds delightful. I was too nervous to partake of the refreshments, though I do adore those sandwiches."

"Perfect. I see no reason for a change of plans. We can enjoy a ride through Hyde Park and stop at Gunter's."

"Thank you for suggesting a carriage ride before the crush of the ton ," she said. "While I was in Boston after you left…I thought…" She sighed. "Well, never mind. It no longer matters what I thought."

"Please share your thoughts with me," he said, holding her hand. "I respect what you have to say, and your opinion means a great deal to me."

She closed her eyes, and her lips trembled as she spoke. "After you left, word got out about your presence in my home. I don't know how it happened, for neither I nor Dr. Hastings breathed a word. But gossip that I had kept a man in my home for many weeks began to fly. It did not matter that you were ill and that I was tending your fever, or that Dr. Hastings visited every day. It only mattered that I, as a widow, had allowed a man to live in my home without the benefit of marriage." She swallowed and then continued, "I waited as long as I could for your return, but after the gossip began, I could no longer remain there with no funds of my own, and with no means to make a living. There was no longer any goodwill for me there, and I could not cope with the lascivious stares from men when I went into town, nor the hateful looks from women."

"I am sorry you had to go through that," he said. "I wish I could have been there to protect you from those vile people." That Lizzie had to go through it on her own and without any support, except from Dr. Hastings, tore at his heart, while at the same time left him in awe at her fortitude. She had been brutalized by town gossip over his stay. How could he not have realized what would have happened to her, had Society realized their living arrangements? It was no different than if she had been here in England. An ocean between two continents wouldn't change human nature. It had been so thoughtless of him. He would make it up to her somehow.

"It was a difficult time, but it is in the past and I must move beyond those memories."

"You are not alone anymore, Lizzie. I promise you that."

"Thank you, Edward. Please let us speak of other things that are more pleasing." Her lips curved up in a smile. "There is a question I've been wanting to ask."

"And that is?" he said. Her smile was infectious, and he could not help smiling back.

"Is there more to the name Sin than just a short form of Sinclair? Anything I should know?" she asked.

He chuckled at the arch of her delicate brows and the teasing glint in her eyes. "Almost everyone calls me Sin—since childhood. But I must confess that hearing my first name on your lips is something I cherish."

Her eyes widened. "You do?"

"I do." He leaned in and brushed his lips over hers. They had only kissed once. The day he'd left. But the feel of her lips had been branded in his memory for more than a year.

She breathed out a sigh as she caressed the side of his face. "I never thought I'd see you again. But I am so thankful I did."

They enjoyed the lush green trees and colorful flowers as they passed through the park. Several couples had stopped along the way to enjoy a picnic in the warmth of the summer sunshine. They held hands and kissed several more times, each kiss becoming more fervent, and Sin had to call on every ounce of discipline he had to hold his passion in check.

When they arrived at Gunter's an hour later, the bustling atmosphere made it difficult to find a place to stop. The carriage jostled past the narrow alley next to the establishment. Sin spotted a young boy behind a low wall made of stacked wooden crates. The boy looked no more than ten years old, and so undernourished that he looked small for his age. He sat huddled with a small brown puppy, whose ribs were also showing. They shared a roll obviously scavenged from the crates of refuse.

The sight twisted through Sin's heart. He'd seen other children, sometimes with a dog or a cat, scavenging during his travels and his work. What he'd witnessed was heartrending. There were times when he had been able to intervene and other times when he could not.

The back door of the establishment swung open, and a woman brandishing a spatula appeared, yelling at the boy to leave. Startled, the tiny, emaciated dog barked in protest as the boy hastily secured a worn rope around its neck and prepared to depart. "Come on, Josie. We can't stay here," he murmured, urgency evident in his voice.

"I'll be right back," Sin said to Lizzie, tapping the ceiling of the carriage and opening the door. He jumped out. "Wait, young man."

"Oi, guv'na," the young boy blurted out, looking at him with wide eyes. "Me and m' dog was just grabbin' a nibble. We ain't lookin' for no trouble. I swear."

"I didn't think you were looking for trouble, son." Sin scanned the back of Gunter's and glanced at the small hovel the boy had made of discarded crates. "Were you living here?"

The boy's lower lip trembled, and he looked at his dog before answering. "It's just me and Josie here, and we ain't taken nothin' 'cept an occasional sweet roll 'at gets tossed."

Sin considered the structure the child had built for shelter. He'd done a decent job at building it with what was available. But living in a pile of garbage was no place for a dog, let alone a small boy. "You have no home." It was not a question. "No parent or guardian to watch over you?"

The boy shook his head. "Unless you're countin' the bloke who had me crawlin' up them chimneys like a bloomin' monkey. Ain't got no recollection of me pa, and me mum died when my little brother was born."

"Where's your little brother?" Sin asked.

"With the bl…man. I ain't seen Bobby in two years." His eyes welled with tears at the mention of his brother. "He'd be four years now."

"I see." The lads had most likely been sold by their father to a man who used small children to clean out chimneys. It was commonplace. Once the children grew too large to slip up and down chimneys, many were trained to pick pockets or other things, just to survive. It was a despicable occurrence that happened too often in London. Sin planned to do his best to work with his brother-in-law, Lord Armstrong—who saw things as he did on child labor laws—as soon as he completed the Crown assignment he had already agreed to do. In the meantime, the least he could do was find a safe place for the boy and his dog.

"My name is Baron Edward Sinclair, and my home is in Mayfair." Before Sin could say anything more, the carriage door opened, and Lizzie appeared. Titus, his footman—confused over what was happening—hurried to place the step so she could alight from the carriage.

"My name is Mrs. Pritchett. You can call me Lizzie. And I think…" She looked at Sin, who nodded. "I heard your conversation with Lord Sinclair. We would like to do something to help you and your dog. Do you have a name?" Lizzie asked, bending to pat Josie's head.

"The name's Simon—me mum named me fer her pa."

"Well, Simon, there may be a solution that will meet with your approval. Allow me to speak with Lord Sinclair for a moment. We are going to talk quietly. Will you trust us, and stay right there?"

He nodded. "I've got no other place to be."

Lizzie watched as Simon whispered an order to Josie, and the pup sat down next to him.

"Most impressive," Lizzie whispered before turning to Sin. "What do you plan to do?"

"I could give him money, but that's no solution. I'm thinking of taking him to my townhouse and speaking with Mrs. Jones, my housekeeper, who can find a place for him."

"You would do that?" she asked.

"Yes, I would," Sin said. "But I'm not sure he would trust me to go with me, let alone take my offer, after what he's already been through."

"What if you gave him money but bade him stay while we go inside for refreshment?" Lizzie suggested. "We could encourage him to speak to your driver and footman and find out if you are a person worth trusting. It would give him control. He would have the freedom to choose to leave or stay and the additional security of the coins."

"That's very fair, and an excellent idea," Sin said. "Let us put this proposal to the boy." He fished in his pocket and withdrew six shillings. "I can't give him too much, or my footman and driver may demand a raise."

That drew a laugh from Lizzie. He loved the sound of her laugh. He had missed it so much.

Sin approached the boy. "Simon, I live in Mayfair and would like to offer you and Josie a place to live and a position as a valued member of my household. You would have your own room, clean clothes, plenty of food, and time to spend with Josie. We can find a suitable role for you, either in the kitchen or assisting the footmen. I realize you don't know me. And I realize these are just words to you. But I would never harm a child or an animal." He looked at Josie and then back at Simon. "It must be your decision. In the meantime, here are six shillings. They're yours—for you and Josie—whether you agree to this proposal or not. But if you decide to live and work for me at my home, you keep the money and will earn a fair income. If you decide you don't want to do that, you still have six shillings. While we step inside, you can speak with my footman and driver. They can answer any questions you might have."

"You would do that…for me?" Simon asked, his voice filled with emotion. "No one has ever given me so much money in my whole entire life."

"It's yours…yours and Josie's." Sin paused and crouched to meet the boy at eye level. "To be fair, if you decide to accept my proposal, I'd expect you to work—wherever Mrs. Jones, my housekeeper, or Mr. Fringe, my stable master, or Mr. Kingsley, the butler, felt you'd be best. You will earn your keep. But you'll have a home, and you won't have to fear that man hurting you ever again."

"But sir, you don't know me," Simon persisted. "I could rob you blind."

"I don't think you will. And I'm willing to take a chance on you. You have a dog that's taken a chance on you already, and she seems to find you worthy."

Sin held out the coins, and Simon hesitated a few moments and then took them, squeezing them firmly within his grasp.

"I'll talk to 'em." Simon nodded toward the driver and footman, who were observing the exchange with interest.

"Good. I hope you decide to take me up on the offer," Sin said, although he could only imagine what his housekeeper would say when he brought the urchin and his puppy home.

Sin and Lizzie walked into Gunter's and ordered some food and treats for the child and his dog. He courteously held out a chair for Lizzie before heading off with the food to find Simon. He intended for Mr. Rufus to give the boy the food, knowing that the old driver would have an easier time getting Simon to eat.

After handing off the food, Sin returned to find that Lizzie had moved to a spot near a window with a clear view of his carriage and the boy.

"Do you think he'll stay?" Sin asked as they tasted their ices.

"I think…" She paused and nodded to the window, where they saw Titus and Mr. Rufus talking animatedly to Simon. The boy was nodding in between taking bites of his sandwich. He reached down and handed Josie half of the sandwich, and then whispered something to her. "I think he's made a decision," she finally said. "He just whispered to his dog after he fed her the sandwich."

"How did you become so smart with children?" Sin asked, and then could have kicked himself, thinking he might have hurt her feelings. After all, she had been widowed before she could experience motherhood. "I didn't mean to…"

"It's fine," Lizzie said. "I am not upset. Peter and I had little time together." Her face pinkened. "Anyway, I do love children. I had considered becoming a governess. If it's all right with you, I'd like to tutor Simon—of course, Lady Beadle would have to agree. But I predict that one glance at Simon and you may lose him to her," she teased.

"That is a sound idea, but perhaps we can hold off for now and observe how Simon accepts everything and everyone. That's a lot of change for a boy," Sin said.

"I agree. We can take it a day at a time," Lizzie said. "For now, let's take the boy away from here before that brute finds him."

"Aunt Millie's cats might not appreciate Josie, so we may need to have his lessons at my townhouse," Sin said. "I'm sure they come as a matched set."

"I have a feeling that, knowing your aunt, she would find a way for the animals to get along—no doubt by giving them a stern lecture." Lizzie chuckled.

"This was not the outing I had planned for you today," Sin said after a few moments.

"On the contrary—it has been the most enjoyable afternoon I've had in ages." She beamed at him, making his heart kick into a thunderous beat. Then her eyes suddenly widened. "Look! Simon is climbing up with the driver already. And he's got Josie beside him."

Sin turned and noted his footman had moved to a ledge on the back of the carriage. "Shall we go see what he has officially decided?"

"Yes, please." Lizzie nodded, her lovely green eyes dancing with enthusiasm.

As they exited Gunter's and approached the carriage, Sin noticed Simon was all smiles. And he could have sworn Josie was smiling as well.

"Have you decided?" he called up to Simon. Although the boy's decision had become obvious by the happy look on his face.

"Yes, milord. Titus said your cook makes the best biscuits, and everything she makes is so good that everyone has at least seconds and thirds. Titus and Mr. Rufus both told me that everyone is so very kind at your house. Mr. Rufus said there might be work in the stables. And if I stay there, Josie can stay with me. Your men said you're a decent bloke." Simon sat up and straightened his shoulders "So, I decided to take you up on your offer."

"You've made a fine decision, Simon," Sin said, reaching up and shaking the boy's hand. "I'll meet with Mrs. Jones and Mr. Fringe when we return to my townhouse after we take Mrs. Pritchett home. Then we can make some decisions for you and Josie."

"Ye don't need to hurry on my account. You can take your time escorting Mrs. Pritchett home; she's a true lady of quality, she is," the boy said, nodding at Lizzie, then added, "May I pose another question, milord?"

"Yes, of course," Sin answered, suppressing a smile at Simon's sudden formal tone.

"Do you think this is enough money to hire someone to help find me brother, Bobby?" Simon asked, holding out his open palm with the coins Sin had given him a half-hour earlier.

Sin glanced at Lizzie, whose face glowed with a soft light. Looking into her eyes, he knew that he would move heaven and earth to find Simon's brother.

He cleared his throat and turned back to Simon. "Let us ensure your comfort first. While I cannot make promises that we will discover Bobby's whereabouts, I can assure you we will explore all avenues."

As he assisted Lizzie into the carriage, she gazed up at him and whispered, "If I didn't already have affection for you, what you have done here today would have endeared you to me a thousand times over."