Prejudice in Regency Society. Michelle Styles

so suddenly that Lottie stumbled forwards and encountered Tristan’s hard body.

      She gasped slightly at the sudden contact, but her feet refused to move as her entire body trembled. Safe. She longed to lay her head against his broad chest. Her knees refused to support her. She clung onto his arm and pushed all thoughts about what might have happened to her had Tristan not come by when he did out of her head.

      ‘I…I…’ Her throat closed and she found it difficult to speak. She swallowed and tried again, her voice barely audible. ‘I should have stayed at the inn. I went looking for you. I was worried that something might have happened and that was why you didn’t come back. I wanted to get help.’

      ‘Are you unhurt?’ His arm went about her waist, supporting her. Lottie gave into temptation and rested her head against his shoulder, felt his strength. She closed her eyes and breathed in his crisp, masculine scent. She was safe. He put her away from him and looked her up and down. ‘Have they harmed you?’

      ‘My…my reticule has vanished.’ Lottie straightened her bonnet and shook out the folds of her gown. She glanced at the rip in her sleeve, winced, but it could be mended. ‘My bag.’

      ‘Give the lady back her reticule. And her bag,’ Tristan said in the same deadly quiet voice to the man who was standing over his fallen companion, staring at them with fearful eyes.

      ‘Look what you done to our Den. There ought to be a law.’

      ‘There is and you are on the wrong side of it.’

      ‘What you mean? The wrong side?’

      ‘I have no little doubt the constable will be interested to learn of your whereabouts.’ Tristan held out his hand. ‘The bags. Now. And I might allow you to go.’

      There was a shuffling of feet and her satchel was held out. Lottie curled her fingers around it, hugging it to her body. She opened it and saw everything her mother’s maid had packed remained there.

      ‘And the reticule.’

      Much shuffling of feet and the reticule appeared. Lottie gave a small cry of joy.

      ‘Is everything there, Lottie? Check it.’

      Lottie opened it with trembling fingers and gave a little cry of delight. Lord Thorngrafton’s money was there. ‘It is all there. They took nothing.’

      ‘You see, like I said, your worship, it’s all a big misunderstanding. We was just taking her…’

      ‘You were not just taking her anywhere. Next time, when a lady protests, you leave her alone. Do you understand me?’

      ‘We didn’t mean no harm like, your worship.’ The thickset man held up his hands and backed slowly away from Tristan. ‘We didn’t know the lady was with you, like. It was just a bit o’sport. She seemed up for it, like.’

      ‘I was not! I never!’ Lottie balled her fists. She glanced up into Tristan’s face, but all she saw was cold fury. At her? At the men? She tried to breathe. ‘I would never. I was trying to get to the parish constable’s box.’

      ‘There ain’t no constable’s box around here.’

      ‘I asked…the woman said…’ Lottie paused. Tristan had to believe her. ‘I thought something had happened to you. I wanted to make sure you were safe.’

      His dark eyes stared at her for a long moment, searching her face, looking for something. The stern planes of his face did not change as he raised a single eyebrow. ‘The lady says you were mistaken.’

      ‘Maybe.’ The man flushed and ran a finger around the neck of his shirt. ‘Could have been. It were Den that—’

      ‘Definitely mistaken.’ Tristan’s voice could cut through granite. ‘You owe the lady an apology. The lady is my fiancée and deserves your respect. It is only the fact that it’s my wedding day that puts me in a good mood.’

      ‘I am…am sorry, your worship.’ The man stumbled backwards, fell over his prone friend and scrambled to stand up again, touching his cap as he did so. ‘I don’t mean no harm like. I, that is we, had no idea. Many happy returns on your marriage.’

      ‘Off you go.’ Tristan gestured towards the prone figure of Den. ‘Take your friend, he is cluttering up the pavement.’

      ‘Right you are, your worship.’ The man hoisted his friend on to his shoulder, and began to walk away, complaining loudly as he went that he did not mean any harm and how he was always hard done by.

      Lottie’s body began to shake. She wanted to sink down to the ground and weep. Tristan’s arms came around her and held her against his body until the shaking passed.

      ‘You are safe now, Lottie,’ he said, his breath ruffling her bonnet. ‘I am here.’

      ‘Yes, you are.’

      ‘And we are going to be married in a few moments.’

      This was not supposed to be what her wedding day was like. She had had it all planned right down to the white silk dress, fashionable bonnet and veil and orange blossoms. Instead she had ended up brawling in an alleyway like a fishwife. She had been taken for a lady of the night.

      Lottie moved backwards and Tristan’s hold loosened. She wrapped her arms about her waist and attempted to control the shivers that now racked her body. She did not want to think about what had nearly happened to her. She took a deep breath and regained a small measure of control.

      ‘Thank you for saving me,’ she said when she trusted her voice would not quaver. ‘Those men had evil intentions. I am sure of it. If you had not—’ Her voice broke and she could only look up at the hard planes of his face, hoping he’d understand what she meant.

      ‘You are safe with me now. Think no more about them.’

      ‘I made a mistake. I should never have listened to that old woman’s directions.’ Her voice held a pathetic quiver. She fumbled for her handkerchief, discovered she had lost it. With angry fingers, Lottie brushed away the tears. ‘None of this was supposed to happen.’

      He inclined his head, but his dark gaze searched her face. ‘Did those men do anything to you?’

      ‘They pawed at my dress and my face, but I will live.’ She brushed a speck of dust from her sleeve, a small act, but one that did much to restore her confidence. She would not think about what might have been, but about the future. From now on, it would be the future she faced. And she would refuse to let Tristan leave her again like that. ‘It is most aggravating to be touched in that familiar manner. Most unexpected.’

      ‘The streets are unsafe for a woman dressed as you are. Gretna Green teems with drunks and ne’er-do-wells today. Far more than I thought possible for such a town.’ His face turned grave. ‘If you had stayed where I told you to, none of this would have happened. Why did you leave the yard? You were safe in the yard. You had no cause to go.’

      ‘The coach driver went off. I was left alone. I became frightened and tried to find you. I went into the inn, but there was no sign of you. A woman offered to buy my hair.’ A shudder went through Lottie at the memory. ‘I couldn’t stay there. I became worried, certain something had happened to you. I went to find the parish constable.’

      ‘It took longer than I anticipated to arrange the marriage and our accommodation. I had not thought to be gone so long.’ His fingers curled around hers. He brought them to his lips. Then let go. ‘I regret that.’

      Lottie resisted the temptation to put her hand to her face and savour the touch. Was it an apology? She did not want to ask. All she knew was that he had not abandoned her. She hated her earlier thoughts.

      ‘If you had not come when you did…’ Another shiver convulsed through her.

      ‘Forget