The Rake's Rebellious Lady by Anne Herries

of service to you,’ Freddie said. ‘I believe I still own a copy. Allow me to lend it to you, Miss Holbrook…’
    Freddie became aware that she was not attending. Her eyes seemed to be fixed on something behind him, and he turned, taking in the incident instantly, for he saw the young boy being attacked by a group of older boys. Seeing that Caroline was about to plunge recklessly into the path of an oncoming dray wagon, he took hold of her arm, restraining her so violently that she yelped with pain.
    ‘Forgive me,’ he said, ‘but I beg you, leave this to me. Stay here!’
    The instruction was given in such a severe tone that Caroline remained where she was while he crossed the road, dodging between the traffic. She watched as he spoke to the lads, sending them off about their business, and noted that he slipped a coin into the hand of the one that had been attacked.
    ‘What happened?’ she asked as he returned to her. ‘Was he much hurt?’
    ‘It was merely a spat amongst brothers,’ Freddie told her. ‘The boy had lost some money one of the others had given him to buy their supper—nothing for you to be distressed about, Miss Holbrook.’
    ‘You gave him money,’ she said. ‘That was kind of you, sir.’
    ‘It was an easy task.’ He gave her a severe look. ‘May Irecommend you to be less impulsive, Miss Holbrook. You could easily have been injured just now.’
    ‘You are good to be concerned for me,’ she replied with a toss of her head. ‘I assure you that I was aware of the wagon and felt that I was quite able to avoid it. I am not one of those fragile young ladies who faint at the slightest thing, sir.’
    ‘Indeed you are not, but your behaviour is sometimes reckless in the extreme,’ he said severely. ‘If I may say so, Miss Holbrook, you are far too pretty to end your life crushed beneath the wheels of a heavy-goods wagon. But before you grow cross with me again, I believe I had just asked if I might lend you a book you wished to read?’
    Caroline hesitated, for he had seemed critical, but her desire to read the novel overcame her pique. ‘Thank you, I should like to read it for it has been recommended to me by a friend.’
    ‘I shall send it round to your aunt’s house,’ Freddie said. ‘In the meantime, may I walk you home?’
    ‘You are kind, sir,’ Caroline replied, ‘but I am but two streets from my home and I dare say you have other things to occupy you.’
    ‘Then perhaps we shall meet again soon.’
    Freddie tipped his hat to her and set off down the street.
    * * *
    Caroline successfully managed to slip back into the house without being discovered by her aunt, though Mrs Holbrook had been to her room to inquire for her and was a little upset that she had been out alone that morning, even though it was merely to the lending library.
    ‘It will not do for you to visit these places alone in town, my dear,’ she scolded her daughter, though without malice.‘I am not sure it is safe, for who can tell what might happen to you, dearest? You might be snatched from the street and then I should never see you again.’
    ‘Oh, Mama!’ Caroline laughed. ‘I do assure you that I was quite safe, and the only person I met was Sir Frederick, who had been out riding.’
    ‘Oh, well, I suppose it was perfectly respectable,’ her mother said. ‘But I know that your aunt would not approve, my dear.’
    ‘Aunt Louisa does not approve of anything I do.’
    ‘Caroline!’ Marianne reproved her daughter with a shake of her head, and then sighed. ‘But do you know, I do not believe Louisa approves of much I do either.’
    ‘Oh, Mama!’ Caroline said and went into a fit of giggles for she had never expected to hear her mother say such a thing. ‘Do be careful or she will give us both the most frightful scold.’
    ‘I dare say she may,’ Marianne said. ‘Do you know, I think I shall accompany you this afternoon. You are going to visit some friends, I believe?’
    ‘Yes, Mama. Mr