Twilight with the Infamous Earl Read Online Free Page B

What was I supposed to do? Pretend that I didn’t see her?”
    “Most people would have,” he replied, his gaze never leaving her face. “It would have been the simple thing to do.”
    “Perhaps for you,” she said, feeling her temper rise at the thought that her companion would have walked away from the girl or, worse, might have purchased her for an amusement. “I could not turn away when she asked for my help.”
    “Christ!” he muttered irreverently. “You are one of those kinds of ladies.”
    “I beg your pardon?”
    He waved a dismissive hand in the air. “You’re one of those drawing room reformers who dream of ridding the world of its social ills. Allow me to spare you years of lost time and grief. You will not succeed. Evil thrives alongside good. It has from the beginning.”
    His words cut her to the quick. “You know nothing about me or my intentions.” Emily glanced up to check on the man and his stepdaughter, only to note with dismay that they were no longer standing across from them. “Good grief! Release me, he is getting away!”
    She kicked him in the shin and gained her freedom. Cursing, the gentleman was at her heels when she spotted the man and girl at the edge of the crowd—but he reached them before her, since her pace was hindered by her skirt and petticoat. The gentleman seized the other man by the coat, leaving Emily to appreciate his agility and strength as she attempted to catch her breath.
    While the man blustered on about his innocence, she walked over to the cowering girl and put her arm around her waist. “He will not cause you any more trouble. Are you ready to leave?”
    “He will kill me if I defy him,” the girl whispered, not taking her eyes off her stepfather.
    “You already have,” Emily said, silently applauding as the gentleman lifted the man off his feet. An impressive feat of strength, indeed, since the man was clearly heavier. The gentleman allowed his opponent to dangle helplessly for a minute before he released him. The girl’s stepfather landed on his backside on the street.
    Furious that the nobleman had gotten the better of him, he lashed out with his foot. The stranger nimbly avoided the clumsy attack. Espying the girl standing beside Emily, he pointed his finger at them.
    “You there, all of this is your fault, you haughty bitch,” he raged at Emily as he climbed to his feet. “If you had kept your nose out of my business, me and my girl would have made a tidy profit by now. I should—”
    The gentleman slapped the side of his walking stick against the man’s chest, preventing him from taking another step toward her. “Are you threatening the lady? Quite unwise with all of these witnesses about.”
    His eyes mere slits, he gave the nobleman a dismissive glance. “And what is it to you, or anyone here? Are you planning to take on the responsibility of my Katie? Feed her? Put clothes on her back?” When the gentleman remained silent, the man snorted. “Or maybe you hope the little wench will be so grateful, she will let you plow her for free.”
    “You are a horrid man!” Emily shouted, earning an angry glance from both men.
    Bursting from the crowd, her brother rushed forward. “Emily!”
    She was enveloped in her younger brother’s arms, and quickly released. “Did you find a constable?”
    “One is coming, Em, I swear,” he said, sounding breathless and excited. “He told me to run ahead and look after you.” He cast a nervous glance at the girl. “And her.”
    A woman shrieked in fright as the man tried to punch the gentleman. Emily turned in time to see the gentleman avoid the other man’s fist while driving his own into his opponent’s soft belly.
    “Bastard,” the injured man wheezed, before he lunged at his attacker and a full brawl broke out that included some of the spectators.
    “Come on,” Emily said sharply. She grabbed her brother and the girl. “It is time to leave.”
    Katie followed them willingly, but concern