Chapter 23

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

C yn hurt, but she had far more pressing concerns than her physical discomfort. She was currently seated in her carriage with Leo, Ellen, Mary, and Clara.

"There really is no need for you to come with us. I will of course have someone fetch a doctor," Cyn said, attempting to regain control. "We have no wish to disrupt your day any further."

"You are not serious?" Leo said, glaring at her. "You were just set upon by men, and had Ellen and I not arrived, things would have gone a great deal worse for you."

He spoke the words calmly, but she'd seen the rage in those dark eyes. Leo was furious at the risks she'd taken. He had no need to be, as she was angry with herself. Her ignorance of what could have happened nearly resulted in two of her staff being injured or worse. Cyn should have listened to Monty. Instead, she'd taken action without thought and had plunged them all into danger. Damn that Lionel, as surely he had double-crossed them.

"How would your children have fared had you not returned home tonight, my lady?" Leo snapped at her. His use of her title told her how angry he was. "If you had died?"

Both Mary and Ellen were silently listening to the conversation between Cyn and Leo, their eyes going from one to the other.

"My children are away from London with friends," Cyn said. Now the immediate danger had gone, she could feel the tremors starting. While she'd been fighting for herself and her staff, she'd kept them at bay, but now her body ached, and she felt weak. She clenched her hands into fists so no one could see them trembling. Kenneth had taught her to hide overt displays of emotion, as they made a person weak. Right then, she was grateful for those lessons.

"That is not the point," Leo gritted out. "But as we are turning into the agency's street now, we will suspend further conversation."

Suspend it indefinitely, Cyn added silently.

"That, what you just experienced, does not simply happen without a reason. There is a great deal more to this, Cyn," Ellen said. "We know your agency is for ladies of the night, just as we know that you have raised the ire of the Baddon Boys."

"Let us help you," Leo said.

"I can't talk of this now," Cyn said. She needed to get Clara to the agency and then herself home before she fell apart.

When the carriage was stopped, Leo then lifted Clara into his arms as his sister opened the door.

"Monty can carry her," Cyn protested.

"As can I. Open the front door to the agency, Cyn."

There was little she could do but what he asked. Opening the door, she stepped inside and held it wide.

"Cyn!" Lewis came at a run, with Mrs. Varney not far behind .

"Lawks, what's amiss?" the woman shrieked.

"Upstairs," Cyn said to Leo. "Second door on the left. Mary, go with him and settle Clara on the bed."

"At once, my lady." Mary led the way, and Leo followed with Clara in his arms and Lewis behind them. Mary would be hurting too, but Clara needed tending before they tended themselves.

"Mrs. Varney, hot water to wash Clara, please, and any medical supplies. Bring tea or anything that you think will help her, as she has been badly hurt. As yet, I'm not sure how extensively," Cyn added. "We will go for help if it is required."

"We need Mr. Greedy," Mrs. Varney said.

"Tell me where I find him, and I will go and fetch him," Monty said. His face was bruised and one eye nearly shut.

"You need tending, Monty," Cyn said.

"We all need tending and will get it, but later. Now I will fetch this Mr. Greedy, my lady. The carriage is still outside."

"I'll fetch him, as my husband and family will be worried that we have not returned," Ellen said.

They all moved at once, and lifting her skirts, Cyn took the stairs up, ignoring the twinges and aches in her muscles. Reaching the room she directed Leo to take Clara to, she found him and Lewis standing beside the bed. Both looked at her as she walked in, but it was Lewis that Cyn focused on.

"Take Lord Seddon downstairs now. Mary and I will make Clara comfortable. Monty has gone to collect Mr. Greedy in the carriage with Mrs. Fletcher."

"What can I do?" Leo asked her.

"You have done enough, my lord, thank you." Silence greeted her words, so she added, "Good day to you, my lord, and thank you again for your assistance."

She didn't look at him but could feel his displeasure at her dismissal. Cyn only exhaled when she heard his footsteps on the stairs. She couldn't deal with him now, as she wanted desperately to stay in control, and seeing him was weakening that.

"Let's get Clara cleaned up and see how badly hurt she is," Mary said.

Between them they stripped off her filthy clothes until she was resting in her chemise.

"Get a clean one, Mary from the spare clothes we keep here," Cyn said.

Lewis arrived with water for washing, and behind him came Mrs. Varney with other supplies and tea.

"Off with you now." Mrs. Varney shooed Lewis out of the room. "The poor wee lassie," she added, looking at Clara. "We'll set her to rights."

Between them, they washed her, dressed her in a clean chemise, and slathered her bruises in something Mrs. Varney insisted they keep stocks of here at the agency.

"Let's get this tea down you now, Clara," Mary said, and Cyn could hear the tiredness in her voice. Like her, she was drooping after the day they'd endured.

"Not long now, Mary, and we can take care of our needs," Cyn said.

After Clara had taken some nourishment, she was soon slumbering. They all left the room quietly.

"She's bruised, but I don't believe anything is broken," Mary said.

"I agree," Mrs. Varney said. "But Mr. Greedy will know for sure. Now it's you two who need tending."

"I would love some tea, Mrs. Varney, and then, after I know Clara is well, I shall return to my house," Cyn said with a loud yawn.

"I have it brewing and some treacle cake for you both. Go on now and change, Mary, and then come into the parlor, and you can tell Lewis everything. He was terribly afeared for you both, pacing the floors till I thought he'd wear right through."

Mrs. Varney went to the kitchen, and Cyn, into the parlor. Stopping in the doorway, she looked at the only occupant.

"I thought you would have left?"

"As you see, I did not." Leo rose after lowering the mug he held. Before him on the table was a plate with cake. Cyn's stomach growled.

"Come and sit," Leo said, coming to where she stood. "Now, Cyn, before you fall."

"I'm all right."

"No, you're exhausted, terrified, and what happened has finally caught up with you, hasn't it?" His hands cupped her cheeks, and he looked into her eyes. "It's all right now. You are safe, as are the others, Cyn."

"I was so scared," she whispered, closing her eyes as the first tear fell.

She didn't fight him as he pulled her close, so close that she was soon pressed to his body. One large hand cupped the back of her neck, easing her head into his chest as she began to weep.

Cyn felt surrounded by him. His warmth, his scent. It all helped to settle the terror and fear that still gripped her. Never had she experienced what she had today, and she never wanted to again.

The hand at her back stroked her through her clothes, running up and down her spine in soothing gestures. It felt wonderful.

"The first time I had to fight someone who called my family something foul because of what my father had done was three days after he'd killed himself." He spoke the words slowly, as if recounting them wasn't easy. "I had left the house because my little siblings were scared, and I thought to comfort them by purchasing them some éclairs, which are a particular favorite."

She listened to the rumble of his voice with her ear pressed to his chest. Cyn knew she should move but had no strength in that moment to do so. Right now, she felt safe and wanted to hold on to that feeling as long as she could. Reality would soon return, she knew, but not yet. It had been so long since she'd been held like this; in fact, she could not remember a time she had been.

"I had nearly reached the bakery, and I saw three men who had been acquaintances. They walked up to me and explained to me in great detail what they thought of me and my family and the shameful act my father had done. I was filled with rage anyway, so the words just pushed me over, and soon I was fighting all three of them."

"Oh, Leo, I'm so sorry."

"It was a lesson," he said, kissing the top of her head. "I knew from that moment on that I never wanted to be vulnerable again. My uncle taught us how to fight. But my point is, when I returned to the house, I had weak knees and was shaking, as you are now."

"Did you get the éclairs?"

He snorted. "Yes, my siblings got their éclairs."

Easing off his body reluctantly, Cyn looked up at the man who she'd once loved and feared still did. They stared at each other for long moments. He leaned in and kissed her, and she let him, because right then, she needed that too. It was soft, achingly sweet, and she wanted more… so much more.

"Come, sit, and drink some tea. It will help," he said, taking her hand. She was led to a seat, and as her legs had no strength, she simply fell into it. He handed her a mug and a wedge of cake, and she took a large bite, sighing at the deliciousness.

"Now, I want to talk about this agency and, more importantly, who is angry with you for running it and helping the women who work as prostitutes to change professions and start new lives."

"Leo—"

"It is a wonderful thing you do here, Cyn, but it has put you at risk, and now you are in the sights of the Baddon Boys, and that scares me. So, I want to help you and have the means and people to do so."

She studied him sitting there across from her. He was so very different from the man she'd once known. There were depths to Leo that had not been there before, Cyn thought. Did she dare put her trust in him again?