The young woman smiled quickly.
“Yes, of course. Now I remember.”
“I see.” He turned to face her a little more when he realized that her fingers had tightened gently on his arm in a somewhat possessive manner. “I wonder, do you recall who I left with that night?”
She shook her head.
“No, I don’t. But Idoremember that it wasn’t with me.”
Henry blinked. This was not what he had expected. She had suddenly gone from speaking with a gentle voice to a rather coy one, and he winced inwardly, seeing exactly what he’d let himself in for.
“You donotremember seeing me.” Stepping back a little, he pulled back his arm and her hand fell from his. “We have never met here before. You are only saying so because you hope for my company this evening. Is that not so?”
“And is that such a bad thing?” Batting her eyelashes, she tilted her head, one hand to her hip, the other pushed out to the side. “I can promise you that I am excellent company, and you look like a proper fellow. I haven’t had one of those for a while.” Scowling, Henry turned his head away, but she grabbed his arm again. “Wait, no need to rush off like that.”
“I don’t have anything to offer you. That’s not why I am here. That’s not why I came. Please let me be.”
“What do you mean, that’s not what you came for?” She rolled her eyes and pouted. “That’s what every man here wants.”
“Then make me the exception.”
“What’s that you’re saying to my Peggy?”
Henry turned his head to the other side, to where a fellow had thrown himself up from the table, his hands planted either side. His shoulders were lifting and the look of sheer anger on his face had Henry’s stomach somersaulting.
“I haven’t said anything.”
“Then why’s she looking so upset?”
The man’s voice flooded the whole room, and everyone fell silent, with every eye on Henry.
So much for remaininginconspicuous.
“You’d better get away from her. She don’t want to be talking to the likes of you.”
Henry opened his mouth to say that Peggy had been the one to come and speak with him, only to close it again. This was no time to argue.
“I am just here to play cards.”
Putting out both hands, he threw a glance at Peggy. She was standing with both hands on her hips, her head cocked to one side, a lifted eyebrow, and a grin dancing across her face. It was clear that she was enjoying being defended with such fervor.
“I didn’t mean no insult.”
The words felt unfamiliar on his tongue, but he spoke them anyway, making Peggy laugh.
“I don’t think this is the place for you.”
The man at the table pushed himself up and walked across towards Henry, swaying slightly. Henry backed away slowly, having no interest in spending any time arguing. He was meant to be discreet and at the moment, all he was doing was drawing attention to himself.
“I am just here to play cards,” he said again but the man shook his head. The next second, something hit him so hard in the face that he fell backward, striking his head on the counter. His fingers clung to anything he could, only, to his horror to hear the sound of fabric ripping. Something told him he was pulling at Peggy’s clothing and even though he let it go quickly, this only enraged her defender all the more. He came striding towards Henry, his fist at the ready and his face red and screwed up with anger. Twisting to his left, Henry practically rolled across the floor before managing to push himself to his feet. He did not pause to ask any further questions but instead hurried out into the cold. The darkness made it even more difficult to see, but fumbling his way along the wall, he returned the way he had come. Hailing a hackney, he climbed inside and immediately gave directions.
What a dreadful evening.
Dropping his head, he groaned aloud as the pain in his head and his face began to grow. The pain to his cheek now ran along his jaw, down the side of his neck, and into his shoulder, while the throbbing in his head spread all the way down his back.
And all because I did not want to pay Peggy for her favors.
Scowling, he closed his eyes, leaned his head back, and then immediately recoiled as pain shot through him again.
