An unfriendly encounter
From The Winter Bride on sale until 9 March for $1.99.
Freddy, having escorted Damaris to her place of work, has an encounter with her employer . . .
“Oi, you!” It was a harsh, female voice. The woman he’d seen earlier was marching across the yard toward him; a small, aggressive barrel of a female, intent, apparently, on conversing with him.
“Madam?” He raised his hat politely.
“Don’t you ‘madam’ me, you randy rake!” snapped the barrel.
Freddy blinked.
“And don’t you come sniffin’ around Damaris no more, if you know what’s good for you.”
“I am not sniffing—” he began indignantly, but the woman stormed on.
“She’s a respectable girl, is Damaris—a good girl, and she don’t want nuffin’ to do wiv fancy gents who ain’t got a moral to their name!”
“My good woman—” Freddy began.
“And I ain’t your good woman, neither!” she retorted, planting her hands on her considerable hips in a belligerent stance that made Freddy quite glad the gates between them were firmly shut. He didn’t mind brawling with men, but women were another matter altogether. And this one barely reached his waist.
“I assure you, mad—er, missus—that—”
She swept on. “I dunno what the world’s coming to, rakes an’ reprobates sniffin’ around the skirts of hardworkin’ respectable girls in broad daylight!—oh, yes, you can poker up all you like and look down your nose at me like I’m dirt under your boots, but I know all about rakes and what you do to innocent girls!—and our Damaris is not for the likes of you—understand?”
“I am standing in place of her guardian,” Freddy said coldly. He’d never corrupted an innocent girl in his life! “And I did not look at you as if you were dir—”
The woman made a rude noise. “Guardian? Pfft! Is that what they’re callin’ it these days?” She snorted. “I saw the way you looked at her. I know a lust-sodden lecher when I see one! Now go on, get out o’ here, and if I see you hanging around her again, my lads’ll give you the thrashing you deserve, gentleman or not!”
There was clearly no reasoning with the woman. Freddy shrugged. “You are mistaken as to my motives, but clearly you have no interest in the truth, so I will bid good day to you, madam.” He turned to leave the scene with dignity, ignoring the extremely vulgar noise the woman made to his back.
Then a thought occurred to him. Damaris should not be walking these streets unescorted at any time of the day. He turned back. “What time does Damaris finish work?”
The woman swelled with visible indignation. “The cheek of you! I just told you to stay away from her. Asking for a beating, you are.”
“No,” Freddy said coolly. “Simply asking what time she finishes work. I shall escort her home.”
“Down the Road to Roon is the only place you’d likely escort her,” the woman declared. “My lads will walk Damaris home, right to ’er very door. So how d’you like that, Sir Rake?” she said with an air of triumph.
