God, she was so pretty. Infuriating, but pretty. What would it be like to kiss her when she was all riled up like this? Would the heat of anger melt into the ardor of passion?
Before she could escape into the orphanage, he stepped in front of her. To his pleasure, he saw the pig wind its way behind her, trapping her. “Does your mother know that you’re here?”
She crossed her arms. “Does yours?”
“That doesn’t matter. I’m a man.”
He knew immediately it was the wrong thing to say. Her green eyes turned hard as emeralds. She stepped close to him and spoke through clenched teeth. “You, sir, are an ass.” She looked as though she had more to add, but the youth picked that moment to dash up to them.
“Hey, gov! I found it. I found the building ye wanted. The Queen’s Palace.”
“Good,” Stephen stepped away from her, handing the pig’s leash to the boy. “Excuse me.” He gestured to the youth to walk with him, but Miss Hale was having none of it.
“What’s the Queen’s Palace?” she asked, following them.
The boy turned to speak to her, but Stephen put his hand on the kid’s shoulder and propelled him forward. Josephine Hale quickened her step as well. “Is it an inn? A brothel?”
“No, miss! Nothing like that.” The youth turned to speak to her, clearly upset that a lady such as she would think so lowly of him. “My mum would whip me good if I ’ad anything to do with those— ahem, ladies.”
“As well she should,” Josephine Hale said with a nod. “You seem like a good boy, uh—”
“Charlie, miss.”
Before Stephen could stop him, he’d unattached himself from Stephen’s hold and was sticking his hand out. “The name’s Charlie.”
Stephen watched in astonishment as she took the boy’s grimy hand in her clean white gloves. “Josephine Hale. A pleasure to meet you. Now, pray tell, what is the Queen’s Palace?”
“Well, I don’t rightly know. Ye’ll ’ave to ask this gent ’ere. ’e told me ’e’d give me a shilling to find it. It looks like some kind of warehouse.”
“A warehouse?” she said with a suspicious look at Stephen. “How fascinating. Do lead on, young Charlie.”
The boy did as he was told, urging his pig on with them. Josephine Hale gave a quick wave to her friends and then followed their guide. Irritated, Stephen fell in step beside her. He should have just kissed her senseless when he had the chance. Maybe that would suspend her constant interference in his life. “I don’t recall inviting you to accompany me,” he growled. “I told you this was personal business.”
“I’m not accompanying you,” she said staring ahead. “I’m accompanying Charlie, and he doesn’t mind. You don’t mind if I come along, do you, Charlie?”
The boy looked back. “No, Miss ’ale. I’m right ’onored.”
She gave Stephen a superior smile. “There. He’s honored to have me along. Would that your manners were as pleasing.”
“I was charming last night.” And just the thought of that encounter had his breath quickening.
He could have sworn her cheeks colored, but she turned away from him. “I didn’t think it very charming of you to steal from me.”
“It’s just ’round this corner!” Charlie said, pointing past a man selling brownish apples.
“I don’t steal.” For the second time in less than twenty-four hours, Stephen felt his temper surge. What was it about this woman that rankled him?
“I distinctly remember asking you to return my property,” she said, her voice haughty. “As it is still in your possession, and there without my approval, I think I am well within my rights to complain.”
“A complaining woman. What a surprise.”
She turned, most likely to verbally flay him, but Charlie came to his rescue. “That’s it, gov. Do I get me shilling?”
Stephen handed it to him, and boy and pig were gone. Stephen surveyed the old building, making a mental note of its location. “Well, there it is, Miss Hale. As you see, nothing much to look at. Now, if you’ll allow me, I’ll find you a hack and see you safely home.”
Ignoring him, she started forward. “I’m not going home, especially not with you.”
Stephen made a dash to catch her before she could enter the building. He was rather tired of dashing after her. “You’re not going in there.”
