houses, shopkeepers and their
wives, apprentices and shopgirls, dandies
out for a lark, a few daring members of the
nobility, prostitutes, pimps, pickpockets,
young boys from flash houses, military
men and dockworkers all rubbed elbows
together as they sought the after-dark
thrills of the fair.
My lord," Victoria murmured as they
stopped to buy a custard tart," I know
you are concerned about calling attention
to my disguise."
Concerned is quite an understatement,
Miss Huntington. Those damned breeches
fit you like a second skin," Lucas muttered,
eyeing the smooth line of her hips.
I shall be happy to give you the name
of my tailor. In the meantime, perhaps it
would be best if you released my arm. A
certain man across the way is staring."
Bloody hell." Lucas dropped her arm
as if he had been burned. He felt himself
turning a dull red as he realized what a
stranger would think to see him holding
another gentleman's arm the way a man
holds the arm of a woman." This silly get up
of yours is bound to cause trouble."
No one will think twice about it unless
they see you treating me as though I were
a female." Victoria took an enthusiastic bite
of her tart.
It isn't just the way I treat you, it's the
way you look in those breeches."
Victoria fingered her collar." I thought
the coat hid my figure rather well."
I have news for you. It doesn't."
You're determined to be difficult to
night, aren't you, my lord? Kindly remember
that it was you who insisted on
inviting yourself along on this venture
I am merely the innocent victim of your
blackmail scheme."
Lucas grinned ruefully." Innocent victim.
Miss Huntington? Somehow I feel that
description could never be applied to you.
Whatever else you are, you will never be
anyone's innocent victim."
Victoria surveyed him, considering his
words for a moment." I should probably
take offense at that but I am having far
too much fun. Oh, look, the acrobats
are starting another performance. Let's go
watch them."
Lucas glanced around." I don't see
Lyndwood and his sister."
Bertie wanted more beer. They'll be
back in a moment. Stop fretting, sir."
I am not fretting, Miss Huntington, I am
trying to exercise a measure of prudence.
No one else on the scene appears inclined
to do so."
That's because there's little sport to be
had in exercising prudence. Come, let's
hurry or we won't be able to see the
acrobats."
A short while later Lucas had just begun
to relax and even convince himself they
might all survive the hour at the fair
unscathed when disaster broke out with
no warning.
It might have been the particularly
extravagant fireworks display which started
the small fire. Or perhaps it was the fight
that occurred between two prostitutes who
were demanding payment for their favors
from a soldier. Or it could simply have
been the normal propensity of any large
London crowd to turn itself into a mob
on the slightest pretext.
Whatever the reason, the conversion of
the throng of cheerful fair-goers into a
wild, unruly human wave bent on causing
trouble happened in less than a moment.
Fireworks burst overhead, people screamed,
curses filled the air.
Horses reared and plunged. A gang of
boys took advantage of the opportunity to
steal a tray of pies, causing the pie seller
to run after them, hurling insults into the
evening air. There were more screams and
another flash of fireworks. Flames leapt up
as a nearby booth caught fire and then all
was chaos; dangerous, terrifying chaos; a
chaos in which people would be trampled,
assaulted, and robbed. Some might even
be killed.
Lucas reacted automatically the instant
he felt the mood of the crowd shift. For
the second time that night he clamped his
fingers in a viselike grip around Victoria's
fine-boned wrist.
This way," he ordered, pitching his
voice to be heard above the din." Follow
me."
What about Annabella and
wives, apprentices and shopgirls, dandies
out for a lark, a few daring members of the
nobility, prostitutes, pimps, pickpockets,
young boys from flash houses, military
men and dockworkers all rubbed elbows
together as they sought the after-dark
thrills of the fair.
My lord," Victoria murmured as they
stopped to buy a custard tart," I know
you are concerned about calling attention
to my disguise."
Concerned is quite an understatement,
Miss Huntington. Those damned breeches
fit you like a second skin," Lucas muttered,
eyeing the smooth line of her hips.
I shall be happy to give you the name
of my tailor. In the meantime, perhaps it
would be best if you released my arm. A
certain man across the way is staring."
Bloody hell." Lucas dropped her arm
as if he had been burned. He felt himself
turning a dull red as he realized what a
stranger would think to see him holding
another gentleman's arm the way a man
holds the arm of a woman." This silly get up
of yours is bound to cause trouble."
No one will think twice about it unless
they see you treating me as though I were
a female." Victoria took an enthusiastic bite
of her tart.
It isn't just the way I treat you, it's the
way you look in those breeches."
Victoria fingered her collar." I thought
the coat hid my figure rather well."
I have news for you. It doesn't."
You're determined to be difficult to
night, aren't you, my lord? Kindly remember
that it was you who insisted on
inviting yourself along on this venture
I am merely the innocent victim of your
blackmail scheme."
Lucas grinned ruefully." Innocent victim.
Miss Huntington? Somehow I feel that
description could never be applied to you.
Whatever else you are, you will never be
anyone's innocent victim."
Victoria surveyed him, considering his
words for a moment." I should probably
take offense at that but I am having far
too much fun. Oh, look, the acrobats
are starting another performance. Let's go
watch them."
Lucas glanced around." I don't see
Lyndwood and his sister."
Bertie wanted more beer. They'll be
back in a moment. Stop fretting, sir."
I am not fretting, Miss Huntington, I am
trying to exercise a measure of prudence.
No one else on the scene appears inclined
to do so."
That's because there's little sport to be
had in exercising prudence. Come, let's
hurry or we won't be able to see the
acrobats."
A short while later Lucas had just begun
to relax and even convince himself they
might all survive the hour at the fair
unscathed when disaster broke out with
no warning.
It might have been the particularly
extravagant fireworks display which started
the small fire. Or perhaps it was the fight
that occurred between two prostitutes who
were demanding payment for their favors
from a soldier. Or it could simply have
been the normal propensity of any large
London crowd to turn itself into a mob
on the slightest pretext.
Whatever the reason, the conversion of
the throng of cheerful fair-goers into a
wild, unruly human wave bent on causing
trouble happened in less than a moment.
Fireworks burst overhead, people screamed,
curses filled the air.
Horses reared and plunged. A gang of
boys took advantage of the opportunity to
steal a tray of pies, causing the pie seller
to run after them, hurling insults into the
evening air. There were more screams and
another flash of fireworks. Flames leapt up
as a nearby booth caught fire and then all
was chaos; dangerous, terrifying chaos; a
chaos in which people would be trampled,
assaulted, and robbed. Some might even
be killed.
Lucas reacted automatically the instant
he felt the mood of the crowd shift. For
the second time that night he clamped his
fingers in a viselike grip around Victoria's
fine-boned wrist.
This way," he ordered, pitching his
voice to be heard above the din." Follow
me."
What about Annabella and
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