she told herself briskly, that she cast off maudlin thoughts and concentrate on her task: ensuring their survival, stockpiling funds and keeping Drew hidden from the threat that would rip from her even those precious few hours with him.
The tinkling of the entry bell interrupted her. Though she’d neglected to bolt the door, ’twas past regular business hours, and she wondered which tardy customer was paying her a visit. Hopefully one with pockets full of sovereigns, she thought as she summoned a welcoming smile.
Before she could exit her office, a burly figure entered. Her smile faded.
“Mr. Harding,” she said in a chilly voice. “Your employer requires something? The next rent payment isn’t due for a sennight.”
“’Afternoon, ma’am.” Short, stocky, with hulking shoulders and a barrel chest, Josh Harding ambled toward her. She stepped away from his advance across her cramped office, until he had her backed up against her desk.
His insolent leer as he deliberately looked her up and down made her fingers itch to slap his face. “No, it ain’t rent time, but being a business lady—” he gave the word scornful emphasis “—ya musta’ learnt there’s other expenses to keepin’ a shop healthy. Like makin’ sure ya gets protected from the raff ’n scaff what might try to rob honest folk.”
Emily thought of the cash bag on the desk behind her. “Indeed? I was assured ’twas a fine neighborhood. The high rent certainly supports that conclusion. Did your employer dissemble when he assured me ’twas so?”
Mr. Harding grinned, showing a gap between uneven, tobacco-stained teeth. “Even in fine neighborhoods, ya needs protection. My boss means to see ya gets it—for a small fee, a’ course. He figures annuder ten pounds a month should do the trick.”
“Ten pounds a—!” Emily gasped. “’Tis preposterous! Rather than pay such a price, if protection is truly needed, I shall unearth my late husband’s pistol and provide it myself! Thank your employer for his kind offer, but I couldn’t possibly afford it.”
“Mayhap ya can’t afford to be without.” Harding stepped to her worktable, reaching out to stroke the satin and velvet of an incomplete hat. She bit back the command that he keep his grimy hands off it.
“Things…happen sometimes, to them what don’t get protection,” he was saying. “Didya hear about that dress shop over on Fiddler’s Way? Burnt to the ground last week. Lost ever’thin, poor wench what owned it. Thought protection come at too dear a price, she did. Deal of a lot cheaper than starting over, though, I ’spect.”
Emily stiffened. “I believe what you’re suggesting is called extortion.”
Mr. Harding shrugged. “Never much on book learnin’.” He stared directly into her eyes. “Best remember that dress shop, little lady.”
Emily pressed her lips together. She could barely meet her expenses now—raising another ten pounds a month would be impossible. Besides, this was clearly illegal. How dare this bully try to intimidate her?
She straightened and turned to Mr. Harding. He lounged against the table, watching her, the trace of a mocking smile on his full lips. She felt anger flush her cheeks.
“Tell your master I cannot avail myself of his—protection. Advise him also that such threats are illegal, and I shall go to the authorities should he persist.”
To her fury, Harding’s grin widened. “Oh, I wouldn’t advise ya t’do that, ma’am. Knows a powerful lot a’ folk, does Mr. Harrington. How ya think he got to buy up so many lots hereabouts where all the nobs spends their blunt?”
His small eyes beginning to shine, he approached her again. “Now, ya needn’t fret, little lady. For special cases like yourn, old Josh here’s got another answer. Be nice to me, an’ we can talk about that ten pounds a month.”
Licking his lips, he seized her with one beefy arm. Foul panting breath descended toward her.
Bracing herself against the desk, she thrust him back. “Take your hands off me, Mr. Harding. Go peddle your threats amongst the streetwalkers of Covent Garden.”
He held on, his look turning ugly. “Think yerself too good for the likes a’ Josh Harding? Fancy one of them fine gentlemen as is always sniffing ’round yer skirts? Well, I been watchin’, an’ ain’t none of ’em stayed ’round to keep ya company. Nor will any, once they cast their peepers on this.” He showed her the bunched fist of his free hand. “So ya best be nicer, little lady.”
He yanked her roughly against him and plastered his heavy wet mouth on hers. His tongue probed her firmly closed lips and one hand fumbled at her breast, fingers groping the nipple.
Outraged, she shoved at him with all her might, managing to push him back enough to prepare a stinging slap.
He caught her hand and held her motionless. His eyes gleamed brighter, his breathing quickened and he laughed, the sound low in his throat like a growl. “Sweetheart, ya don’t even know how.” Before she could think to struggle, with one burly fist he backhanded her across the mouth.
The blow spun her into the desk, smashing her hip against its oaken surface. A hot trickle dripped from her stinging lip. Frightened but furious, she groped with trembling hands for some sort of weapon. Seizing the heavy glass inkwell, she moved it behind her and straightened to face Harding.
Utterly nonchalant, he was walking away. After two steps, he paused to make her an exaggerated bow. “Ya think about them offers. Both of ’em. ’Cause I can promise ya, little lady, yer problems is just beginnin’.”
A man strode in, then halted. “Madame Emilie?”
Hand clenched on her weapon, she whirled toward the door. In that first instant she saw not one of Harding’s cohorts, but a figure whose fashionable attire proclaimed him a gentleman even as her mind registered the cultured tone of his speech. In the next moment, she recognized Lady Cheverley’s son. Relief coursed through her.
“Excuse me, I didn’t realize you had a customer,” he said, his dubious gaze fixed on Mr. Harding.
Averting the injured side of her face, she released the inkwell and tried to gather her composure. “N-not at all, Lord Cheverley. The man was just leaving.”
After subjecting the nobleman to a careful inspection, during which he must have noted his superior height and obvious strength, Harding defiantly curled one hand into a fist. “When I gets ready, little lady. When I gets ready.”
Cheverley glanced coldly from Harding’s hand to the man’s swarthy face. “I believe the lady asked you to depart. Immediately.”
For a moment, the two men’s gazes locked. Then Harding shrugged, letting his fingers fall open. “Makes no matter. Just remember, when all the fancy toffs be gone, Josh Harding’ll be here.” He sauntered to the doorway and tipped his hat mockingly. “Ya got my word on it, little lady.”
“Was the ruffian disturbing you?” Lord Cheverley walked toward her as the shop door closed behind Harding. Two paces away, he must have caught sight of her bleeding lip, for he stopped short. “That villain struck you? By God, I’ll cut him down!” He spun on his heel.
Emily grabbed his sleeve. “Please, my lord, ’tis not your concern. Let him go.”
