The doctor frowned and moved ahead, but more slowly. “They’re both back here. He and the girl he said was his sister.”
Nathaniel prayed Alexandra would not return at that moment. He needed her to stay in the alley until he could manage to get out of the house himself.
“They’re gone,” Dr. Watts said, his voice a mixture of relief and surprise.
A creak on the stair and Tutty’s voice interrupted. “Doctor? Is that you? Oh… I didn’t realize we had a visitor.”
“Tutty, this is Inspector Striker. Do you know where Mr. Kent and his sister went?”
“No. They’re not here?” As the housekeeper spoke, Nathaniel’s strength nearly gave out on him. He had to shift his position so he could lean up against the wall, and his movement drew Tutty’s gaze through the doorway. Her eyes widened and her mouth opened to speak, but Nathaniel pressed a finger to his lips in a wordless appeal.
She looked back at Dr. Watts and the inspector. “Have they done something wrong?”
“Well, I’m not sure, not sure at all,” Dr. Watts admitted. “I was a little unsettled by the terrible marks on Mr. Kent’s back… thought they should be reported, you know. And Inspector Striker here seems to think that he’s a dangerous criminal who tried to murder the Marquess of Clifton.”
Tutty blinked in surprise. “Oh, I’m sure you’ve got the wrong fellow, sir. Mr. Kent would never do a thing like that.”
“He hardly seems the sort,” Dr. Watts agreed.
Inspector Striker’s voice held disdain. “And you are a professional in criminal matters, Doctor?” Without waiting for an answer, he continued, “Mind if I have a look around?”
“Perhaps they went out the back,” Tutty suggested, moving forward to herd the two men into the dormitory.
Nathaniel would have been grateful for her attempt to cover for him, except that Alexandra had gone out the back, and he was afraid they would find her. He coughed to gain their attention.
“What was that?” the inspector asked.
“What?” Tutty’s voice held a nervous edge.
Dr. Watts cleared his throat. “The fog always seems to give me a tickle—”
“No, the sound came from out there.”
Nathaniel heard them come toward the examination room. Reaching for the only weapon he could find, his hand closed on the handle of a surgical knife. He had no idea where the doctor had put his pistol, but now he knew why it had disappeared.
Before the inspector could take more than two steps into the room, Nathaniel grabbed him from behind and laid the knife against his throat. “Looking for me?” he asked.
The inspector didn’t move. “Please… I’m only doing my job.”
“Forgive me if letting you do your job isn’t in my best interest. Please set your pistol on the table.”
Tutty and Dr. Watts followed the inspector in, the doctor wearing a heavy frown. “I’m sorry, Mr. Kent,” he said. “I’m still not sure I was wrong for doing what I did, but I consider myself a pretty good judge of character. I can’t believe half the things this man claims you’ve done.”
“I appreciate you giving me the benefit of the doubt,” Nathaniel responded. “I don’t have the time to explain now, but I am innocent, I assure you, at least of these charges.”
“Nathaniel.” Alexandra’s voice came from the back, softly calling his name.
“We’re in the examination room,” Nathaniel called back.
She entered behind the doctor and his housekeeper, then gasped at the sight of Nathaniel holding a knife to the constable’s throat.
“Hand me that gun. And get some rope,” he told her. “We need to tie them up.”
Alexandra hesitated only a moment. Nathaniel looked as though he might swoon, and something deeper than reason or thought compelled her to move. She gave the gun to him as he asked, and waited for the doctor to pull some thick cord out of a cabinet by the window.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured to Dr. Watts and his housekeeper as she took the cord.
“Don’t worry, dear,” Tutty said as Alexandra reluctantly began to tie her up. “My niece is expected for dinner. No doubt she’ll be along shortly.”
To free them. Alexandra understood her meaning. She glanced at Nathaniel to see if he had caught it as well, but his mouth was drawn into a thin line that revealed his pain, and she began to fear he would lose consciousness again. They had to hurry.
“Looks as though you’ve had experience with such things before,” he told her, after she’d finished tying the inspector. He attempted a weak smile as he checked to make sure the knots she’d tied were secure.
Alexandra shot him a look of mock exasperation. “Since I’ve met you, I’ve gained a great deal of experience, indeed.”
“Not the kind I’d like to give you.” He spared her a lascivious grin, then saluted Dr. Watts and his housekeeper.
Alexandra smiled ruefully, her way of saying good-bye, and followed Nathaniel out the back way.
* * *
Alexandra helped Nathaniel down the alley, but progress was slow. Sweat stood out on his forehead and ran down his back as he limped along. She feared the jostling and the exertion would start him bleeding again.
“This isn’t going to work,” she said after they had traversed several blocks. “You can’t walk much farther, and we’re not moving fast enough. We have to get to an inn or someplace where I can take proper care of you.”
Nathaniel grinned as he stared at the top of Alexandra’s bodice, which kept gaping open in front. “I like traveling this way. I’ve never had a better view.”
Alexandra clamped a hand over the fabric of her dress. “You’re every bit the scoundrel I thought you were.”
“If you invite a starving man to supper, you can hardly blame him for salivating at the food.”
“You’ve been issued no invitations.” Alexandra bit her lip against a smile. “But I’ll take your interest along those lines as a good sign. I thought you were close to your last breath.” She glanced around at the rotting refuse that spilled from the gutters on both sides, and wrinkled her nose as they passed an outdoor privy. “I’ve certainly visited better places. Are you sure we’re traveling in the right direction?”
Nathaniel grimaced as a rut in the road caused him to stumble. “We’ll blend in far better here in the East End. My father is not so familiar with these climes, I assure you.”
“You mean
you’ll
blend in,” she said, stepping over the feet of a drunk sprawled across their path.
“Are you saying I look no better than yon gentleman?” He quirked an eyebrow at her.
“Let’s just say that your clothes fit you about as well as mine do me.” She laughed. “Your trousers are equally revealing, but I can’t say as I’m thrilled about seeing your ankles.”
Nathaniel grinned. “Well, I’ll be happy to show you my more exciting parts—”
Alexandra gently elbowed him in the ribs.
“Ow!”
She smiled up at him. “Sorry, did I hurt you?”
He scowled at her, but Alexandra noticed that he didn’t bother averting his gaze from her bosom.
“You’re incorrigible,” she told him.
“So they say.”
“Who says? The ladies?”
His grin widened, tempting Alexandra to kick him in the shins.
“Really, you’d think a man on the verge of death would care about more important things—”
“Are there more important things? After a month in the hulks, I’m beginning to wonder.”
Alexandra heard the serious note that had crept into Nathaniel’s voice, but when she glanced up at him, he looked away. After a moment of silence, he said, “Let’s get a room at the first inn we find. I think we’ve gone far enough.”
“Do you not expect me to draw a connection between that statement and several others you’ve just made?” she asked.
She could feel Nathaniel’s ribs shake as he chuckled. “If only I had the strength.”
“And how do you propose we pay for this room?”
“Trenton will pay for it. You’ll simply have to talk the innkeeper into giving us a room until our friend joins us.”
“And why would an innkeeper trust me, especially one in these parts?”
“With a face like yours?” Nathaniel winked. “I have faith in you, my love.”
The inn they selected was a small, ramshackle building that sat back off the main streets. The lobby was sparsely furnished with threadbare rugs and dingy draperies. The innkeeper sat behind a tall counter, chewing a soggy cigar butt between rotting teeth. He glanced up from his newspaper as Alexandra entered.
“Good afternoon,” she said, blinking as her eyes adjusted to the darkness of the room. She had left Nathaniel outside, hoping a lone woman would elicit a more positive response from the innkeeper. But she doubted anything could influence the hard-looking man she saw before her. With a bulk easily approaching three hundred and fifty pounds, he wore a grease-stained shirt that showed rings of perspiration under his armpits.
He grunted, setting his paper aside and somehow managing to stand despite his incredible weight. “Would ye like a room?”
“Yes… however, I have one small problem.” Alexandra swallowed hard and gave him her sweetest smile. “You see, I don’t have any money—”
“Then ye don’t ‘ave a room.” He heaved his hulking mass back onto his stool and took up his paper.
“I’m supposed to meet a man here. He’ll pay you when he comes. He’ll be here before nightfall.”
The innkeeper kept reading.
“Sir?”
He removed the cigar from his mouth and let it smolder in a crystal ashtray, the only delicate-looking object in the room. “There’ll be a premium then, providin’ yer man shows up.” He looked up. “I don’t run no almshouse ‘ere. An’ if ye don’t pay, I’ll boot ye out onto the street long before mornin’, understand?” His gaze searched her face.
“Perfectly,” she said. “I’m sure he’ll come.”
“That’s what they all say.” He stuffed the cigar back into his mouth and clamped down on it while he gave Alexandra a gaping leer. With her ill-fitting dress and bedraggled appearance, she knew she probably looked like a girl of dubious character, and his next words confirmed his opinion of her.
“If yer man don’t show, I might be able to replace ‘im with another uh… client, if ye like. Providin’ ye work, I’ll cover yer room an’ board for as long as ye want to stay.”
“No, thank you. I’m not what you may think, but I’ll take that room you promised.”
The innkeeper paused, obviously doubtful, then handed her a key from the wall of pigeonholes behind him. “‘Tis just down the hall to yer left. An’ don’t forget—ye might not like the method of payment I require if yer man don’t come through,” he said, and his raspy laugh followed her out.
* * *
“That wasn’t half as easy as you made it sound,” Alexandra complained as soon as she reached Nathaniel.
Sitting against the outside of the building, he squinted up at her when her shadow fell across him. “I just hope you got a room,” he said, his voice weaker than before.
Alexandra felt a prickle of fear crawl up her spine. Had his wound begun to bleed again? “I got the room. Let me help you up. Do you think you can make it past the innkeeper while I distract him? Otherwise he’ll demand payment right away.”
Nathaniel nodded.
When they reached the door, Alexandra entered first. She approached the counter and smiled when the innkeeper finally looked up from his newspaper. “I just wanted to be sure you would tell my friend, when he comes, which room I’m in.”
His eyebrows drew together, but he nodded, the smelly cigar moving in his mouth as he spoke. “I’ll tell ‘im—right after ‘e gives me my money.”
Alexandra moved to the right, drawing the innkeeper’s eye with her so he wouldn’t see Nathaniel. “That’s very kind of you.” She lowered her voice. “You know, there are not many men in your position who would have treated me so generously.”
He grunted, the kindness of her words obviously throwing him off-balance. “Don’t think ye’ll change my mind,” he rallied. “Yer fellow pays or ye don’t stay.”
“Of course. Oh, and I was wondering, do you happen to have a porter or someone with whom I could send a message?”
“Not without money, I don’t.”
“Fine.” Alexandra could see that Nathaniel had already made his way down the darkened hallway so she smiled again, then followed him.
Nathaniel sagged onto the bed as soon as she opened the door. Propping a pillow behind his head, Alexandra swung his feet up and rolled him onto his side to examine the bandage. There was little fresh blood. He just needed to rest.
Breathing a sigh of relief, she turned her attention to the room, which was almost as sparse as the lobby. A washbasin containing gray, tepid water stood near the window, and a chest and a chair were placed on either side of the iron bed. One small rug covered the filthy wood floor. None of the mismatched furniture was in good condition, but it was the smell of the place that offended Alexandra most. Old sweat and camphor balls combined to create a musty odor that prompted her to open the window straightaway. The stench of the open sewer that ran through the gutter outside, made worse by the warmth of the afternoon sun, motivated her to hurry and close it again.
Taking the pitcher from the washstand, she left the room in search of fresh water.
“Pump’s at the end of the street,” the innkeeper told her when he saw what she carried.
Alexandra scowled at him, wondering why she’d been left with dirty water in the first place. “And some clean linens?” she pressed.
“Yer a picky sort for not ‘avin’ paid a farthin’ as yet.” He entered a small room behind him and returned with two towels and a set of sheets.
When Alexandra returned, Nathaniel felt hot to the touch. She took a clean rag, dipped it into the cool water, and dabbed it across his forehead. He didn’t move, but he seemed to be resting comfortably.
“You’re going to be all right, my pirate captain,” she whispered. Then, exhausted herself, she curled up next to him as a vision of the house and children she had always wanted flashed across her mind—the one that came with a husband who was kind and stable.
She had craved such peace and comfort since her mother had died. But when she looked at Nathaniel and felt the warmth of his body next to hers, she was tempted to trade it all away for whatever the pirate captain could provide… if only he would ask her.