pull the fabric to hide them somewhat.
“Here, take this.” Alice lifted an apron from her small pile of things and handed it to Raeni. The once-white apron was gray from use and many washings, but it would cover the stains. Raeni took it gratefully.
“Thank you. I’ll bring it back tonight.”
An hour or so later she was almost to Bond Street Coffee & Tobacco. She had arrived before it opened, so she stood across the street and pretended to read an old copy of The Midnight Cryer she’d found on a bench. In reality, she studied the shop. Bond Street was still relatively quiet at this hour, although carts full of goods disturbed the quiet when they rumbled past.
Someone had arrived even earlier than she and washed Mr. Gaines’s stoop and windows. Everything glittered in the morning sun. Although it was autumn now, it had not turned cold enough to kill the flowers in the boxes and they were an orange and yellow contrast to the white exterior. Her gaze lifted to the first floor window. She wondered if Mr. Gaines was in his room now, lying on his chaise, one powerful arm slung over his head.
She shook her head. She hadn’t wanted to admit it, but the sight of him shirtless had affected her—not simply because of the scars he bore from the lash. She was filled with more lust than sympathy. She’d seen men without shirts many times, and she had always admired the male form. But something about Mr. Gaines was different. Her belly tightened and her cheeks heated. She wanted to touch his hard biceps and run her tongue over the powerful ridges of his shoulders. Even more than that, she wanted to step into the comfort of his arms and know she was safe.
Perhaps the thought of safety made her a bit more cautious because her gaze fell on a man at the corner near The Greedy Vicar. He was white and well-dressed, and he seemed to be watching her. Raeni’s entire body went rigid with fear. How long had he been watching her? Had he followed her? Had he been following her? She risked glancing at him again, and now his attention seemed directed at Bond Street Coffee & Tobacco.
She had the overwhelming urge to run and keep running. She’d let her guard down and now one of her father’s slavers had found her. He’d grab her, stuff her on a ship, and take her back.
And she would die before going back.
She took a step back and then another. She had to find somewhere else to hide. London had seemed so large and crowded. She’d thought it would be impossible for anyone to find her, even if she wanted to be found. But somehow he’d managed it. She took another step back. Her carelessness had led him right to her place of employment and—
She stepped into a hard, unyielding shape she thought was the stone of the building behind her until she realized stone would not have been so warm or smelled so lovely. Raeni spun around and looked into the expressive eyes of Mr. Gaines. With a shocked gasp, she jumped back and almost toppled over. Mr. Gaines caught her arm and countered her backward momentum by pulling her toward him. She landed right where she had moments ago longed to be—in his arms.
Her gaze met his for a long moment, their mouths inches apart. She felt the hand on the small of her back tighten just a fraction and watched as Mr. Gaines’s attention drifted down to her lips. He licked his own lips before taking a breath and stepping back from her. “Miss Sawyer, I apologize for startling you.” His voice was deep and steady, while her own throat had closed up and she could barely take a breath.
“It’s my fault, sir,” she said breathlessly. “I did not see you there.”
“What were you backing away from?” he asked, his gaze sweeping the street. Her own gaze flew to the man she’d seen outside The Greedy Vicar, but to her relief he was no longer there.
“I...” She tried to think of some plausible explanation. She could not tell him the truth—that he was harboring a fugitive. He had already overlooked so many of her failings. She shuddered, thinking what would happen if her father’s man really had found her. But now that the man in question was no longer in sight, she realized she had probably overreacted. She had only been in London