Page 35 of Secrets of the Heart

His only answer was a shrug and a surly look. Rachel turned and walked to the front door.

“Wait.” Hobson came quickly down the last few steps. “You can’t just walk out there. You won’t be finding many hansoms rolling down this street lookin’ for fares, at least not until later, when the gentlemen are all leaving, drunk.”

“I am sure I will find one soon enough.”

“Oh, no, my lady!” Mrs. Neeley exclaimed. “He is right. It would never do. You shouldn’t be walking here unescorted.”

“I’ll see her home,” Hobson said gruffly, snatching a jacket and cloth cap from the hat tree by the door. “Come on, then.”

“It is quite all right,” Rachel assured him, trying for a tone of hauteur. “You need not put yourself to the bother, Mr. Hobson.”

“I do if I’m to keep Lilith from burning my ears,” he growled, taking her arm firmly in his grasp and steering her through the front door.

“Really, Mr. Hobson, there is no need to push me,” Rachel snapped, jerking her arm from his.

“Excuse me,” he said, doffing his cap to her. “’Fraid I wasn’t brought up right.”

“I suspect that any talk of manners would have fallen on deaf ears with you,” Rachel shot back tartly, turning and starting up the street.

It was late afternoon by now, and the setting sun was blocked by buildings, so that the street was already growing dusky. Though she would not have admitted it to this man, Rachel was frankly rather glad to have someone accompanying her. She had no idea where her home lay from here or what street she should take to find an available hansom cab. Nor did she know what way she might turn that would lead her into another, more unsavory area.

“Ooh, you’re a feisty one, aren’t you?” Hobson said in a conversational manner as he slouched along beside her, his hands thrust into his pockets.

“Because I answered you in kind? You are a very unfriendly man, you know.” Rachel looked over at him.

He was bulkier and a trifle shorter than Michael, she thought, though with the way he carried himself, it was difficult to tell his true height. It was amazing how much he resembled Michael, though, even with the differences she could pick out. He was more rough and ready, of course, the kind of man who could doubtless take care of himself in a fight. It occurred to her that he might be the reason for the strange things that Anthony had said about Michael.

“Do you pretend to be Westhampton sometimes?” she asked.

He looked at her a little warily. “I have been mistaken for him now and again. Why do you ask?”

Rachel did not answer but instead asked another question. “Do you work with the Bow Street Runners?” she asked.

Hobson whipped his head around to stare at her. “What? How did you—What are you talking about?”

“How did I know about that?” she asked a little smugly, completing his half-asked question. “You would be surprised at what I know.”

“I’m beginning to realize that.” He scowled at her.

They had reached a cross street, a more major thoroughfare, and he raised his hand for a cab, and when it stopped, opened the door for her and helped her in. He climbed in after her.

“You need not see me home, Mr. Hobson,” Rachel said coolly. “I will be quite all right now that you have found me a vehicle.”

“That may be, but I have a few questions for you.”

Rachel looked at him. It was dim inside the cab, but she could see the hard glitter of his eyes, silver more than Michael’s calm gray. She could very well see this man working with Bow Street; she could just as easily see him working on the opposite side.

“I’m not sure I feel like answering your questions right now,” Rachel retorted.

“Oh, you’ll answer them.” His mouth was set grimly. “You are dealing with me now, not your lap dog of a husband.”

“How dare you speak of Michael that way?” Rachel fired back. “My husband is worth ten of you!”

That statement seemed to afford him great amusement. “Ah, yes, it is clear that you think him worth a great deal. No doubt that is why you shun his company.”

“I do not shun his company! Michael enjoys the country and—and rural pursuits.”

“While you pursue what in the city?” He raised one eyebrow in a lazy question.