Beauty Tempts the Beast (Sins for All Seasons #6) - Lorraine Heath Page 0,31

everyone began tidying up, Mac called her over and pointed at some coins he’d set on the counter. “Your earnings for the nights you were here.”

After counting it, she shook her head. “You didn’t take out for the beers I dumped on heads.”

“I never do. I just threaten to so a girl will think twice before drenching some bloke, but I figure if she still upends the tankard then he probably deserved it.” He gave her a wink. “Probably pinched her bum.”

She smiled at him. “I liked working for you. Thank you for hiring me when I had no experience.”

“You gave the place a bit of class. Good luck with your new venture.”

She hadn’t told him what it was, only that she’d taken a position elsewhere. Slipping the coins into her pockets, she went to help the others, sweeping then mopping the floor. She wouldn’t miss this.

When they were finally all in the alleyway, Mac gave her a gruff farewell. Perhaps he was going to miss her after all. Polly hugged her. Rob told her to come back for a pint sometime. The others just waved before they started off.

She walked to the street and smiled when she saw Griffith with his back to the wall, one leg bent, his foot pressed to the brick, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his coat, his head lowered. Hearing her steps, he glanced over, straightened, and returned her smile.

“Told you I wouldn’t be late again.”

She hadn’t seen him since he’d left for the docks before dawn that morning. That was how their days always went, with a long absence from each other from dawn until midnight. She had so much to tell him.

“Miss Stanwick?”

Looking past Griffith, she saw the hansom cab and the driver sitting atop his high seat. She shouldn’t have been surprised. “Yes?”

“I’ve been paid to see you home.”

“Trewlove, I assume,” Griffith said, not sounding particularly pleased.

“Probably.” Absolutely. She’d wager the two thousand quid she had yet to earn.

“How did you know it was me?” she asked the driver as she strolled toward his conveyance.

“Gentleman told me to keep an eye out for the beauty coming from the alleyway.”

That should not have pleased her, should not have made her cheeks warm. She had a feeling when all was said and done, she was going to resent that one rule he would cling to.

Griffith handed her up into the conveyance before settling in beside her. “Guess he didn’t trust me to keep my word and not be late.”

She suspected it had more to do with Benedict seeing himself as responsible for her now. As the driver set the horse into a trot, she sighed at the luxury of not having to walk home.

“His sister owns the tavern, doesn’t she?” Griffith asked. “The Duchess of Thornley?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll get word to him through her that you’re no longer in need of his assistance, that I’m fully capable of escorting you home.”

Her brother had so much pride. Having to sometimes rely on the kindness of strangers had been one of the hardest things for any of them to accept. She thought about telling him that no missive was necessary but decided to wait until they were in the residence in the event he began voicing objections to her plans. She had no desire for the driver to overhear an argument.

Once they were inside the small dwelling, with the lamp lit, she walked to the fireplace and studied the bucket filled with coal and could not help but think she’d surprised Benedict by appearing in his parlor that morning. If he’d been expecting her, he’d have not sent so much coal. Oddly, the abundance served to not only reaffirm his generous nature and that the decision she’d made was the right one, but also to shore up her resolve for wading into what might become an unpleasant discussion.

“I’m to bed,” her brother said, and she heard the weariness in his voice, but this could not wait. He’d be gone before dawn and matters needed to be settled.

She swung around. “Tonight was my last to work at the tavern.”

He was standing near the table, no doubt waiting for her to pick up the lamp so they could go through their nightly ritual. “Thank goodness. I never liked you working there, especially so late into the night. I’ll feel much better going about my day knowing you are simply locked in safely at the residence.”

“Actually, Griff, this morning Mr. Trewlove offered me a position as a tutor.