How to Steal a Thief's Heart - Bree Wolf Page 0,30
stay until morning? He could not leave unless he knew for certain she would not venture out on her own this night.
And then the door opened once more, and he saw pillowing skirts flapping in the wind as another lone figure stepped outside and proceeded to the pavement. There she stood, her gaze turning up and down the street as though looking for something, before her shoulders slumped as though in resignation.
Before Pierce had decided how to proceed, she turned down the street to…what? Walk home? Where was the hackney coach Jacob had seen her hail on her way to the orphanage? In her hurry to get to the sick child, had she forgotten to inform the driver that she needed him to wait for her? And besides, why had she, of all people, been called on in the first place? Didn’t the orphanage have some kind of director who could’ve called for the doctor?
This was all very odd.
Slowly, Pierce followed in her wake, making certain to keep far enough behind that she would not sense his presence, let alone see him. More than once, she paused, her head turning from side to side in order to get her bearings. With the harsh wind, it was preferable to walk with one’s face turned to the pavement, which made finding one’s way a bit of a challenge.
For a while, they continued on like this, step by step, until Pierce felt the little hairs on the back of his neck rise. It might have been the wind but he doubted it very much.
Pulling the hood tighter around his head, he led Sport closer to a side street they were just passing. Large shadows loomed here, and he pulled the mask from his coat, attaching it securely. All the while, his gaze never once left his little, grey mouse as she pushed onward, completely oblivious that someone was nearby.
Someone other than him.
His eyes continued to sweep their surroundings, squinting to see farther ahead, and finally settled on two men lingering on the other side of the street, ahead of Caroline. She was walking straight toward them!
Pierce frowned, wondering how to proceed. He doubted he’d have any trouble discouraging the two men from their current course, which became clear as they made to shuffle across the street, ready to intercept her. Perhaps they could serve to teach his little, grey mouse a lesson. A distant voice inside his head whispered that he’d tried to frighten her before, and it had backfired. Then and there, Pierce was not in the mood to listen to objections.
His moment of hesitation lasted for but a second before he jumped on Sport’s back and urged him into a gallop down the side street he’d been hiding in. If he cut across, racing ahead on the street parallel to the one Caroline was on, he could come out of the next side street right in front of her.
In his mind’s eye, Pierce saw her eyes widening, a startled gasp torn from her lips. What would she do if she came face to face with him again? With his masked self?
He could not deny that he very much wanted an answer!
Chapter Eleven
The Masked Man Returns
Caroline cursed herself for not telling the driver of the hackney coach to wait for her return, but she’d been beside herself with worry after the message from the children’s home had arrived. Fortunately, little Dorothy would in all likelihood recover. Doctor Warner had seen to her and given specific instructions, including cold compresses and steady fluids to be given. Mary would see to the girl, ensuring that all would be done as ordered.
Mr. Wolsey had been locked in his office for the night to ensure that he would have no chance to interfere. Caroline grimaced at the thought of what he might do to his office when he woke and found himself locked in. After all, the man had quite a temper!
But that was a concern she could entertain tomorrow. Right now, she needed to find her way home which, under the present circumstances, was easier said than done.
Icy wind pulled on her skirts and cloak, pushing the hood from her head again and again. Her eyes burned from the stinging, cold air, and her skin prickled just the same. In turn, her progress was slow for it felt like walking against a wall.
And then she saw them.
Two men crossing the street to her side, their gazes fixed on her.