Taming The Bride (Brides of Mayfair 2) by Michelle McMaster Page B

with ’er extra earnings. I’m allowed to visit ’er once a week, the man said. Every Sunday. That’s only a few more days!” The girl’s face beamed.
    “But surely, this is not good news for you, Lizzie,” Prudence said. “Won’t it be difficult coming out here every night by yourself?”
    Lizzie’s chin rose with defiance. “Yeah. But I’ll manage.”
    “Will you, Lizzie?” Prudence asked. “Have you had any customers tonight?”
    The girl remained silent, scowling slightly.
    “And when did you eat last?” she inquired. “Yesterday? The day before?”
    Prudence saw tears well up in the girl’s eyes—angry tears which trickled down her dirty face. Lizzie wiped them away and stared at Prudence with a grim frown.
    “It don’t matter—’cuz I ain’t hungry!”
    Prudence felt her heart near to breaking at Lizzie’s misfortune.
    “My poor dear,” she whispered, reaching out her hand. “Let me help you. Please, Lizzie. I can help you, if you’ll let me.”
    “Why should you?” Lizzie demanded. “Why should you ’elp the likes o’ me?”
    Prudence put her arm around the girl’s shoulders. “Because, my dear, it’s what I do.”
    At that, Lizzie choked back a sob and buried her face against Prudence’s shoulder.
    “It’s alright, Lizzie,” Prudence said gently. “I’m going to take you home now. To the Atwater School. There, you’ll meet many other girls who were just like you. You’ll be fed and cared for. You’ll acquire an education. And one day, you’ll take your place in society. I think you’ll be very happy there. We’ll try to get your sister to attend the school, too. You’ll be together again, as you should be.”
    “Thank you, Miss—?” Lizzie said, snuffling.
    “Miss Atwater.”
    Lizzie managed a smile. “Thank you, Miss Atwater .”
    “Let’s get you home, now,” Prudence said. “I just have to call Mungo to bring the coach—oh, here he is now.”
    Prudence saw a black coach hurtling toward them. That was strange—it looked like a different driver on top. The door swung open, and Prudence stepped toward the coach.
    “Mungo, I’d like you to meet—”
    But it wasn’t Mungo stepping out of the cab.
    It was the thin-faced man who had chased Prudence down the alley.
    Before the thought had fully registered in her brain, the man grabbed her arm.
    “Come on now,” the thin man growled. “Settle down— Ow! Little she-cat!” He wiped his hand across where Prudence had scratched his rat-like face.
    “Unhand me, ruffian!” Prudence yelled. “Mungo! Help!”
    The man pinned Prudence’s arms to her sides and lifted her off the ground. She flailed and kicked her feet as hard as she could, hearing him groan in pain as the heel of her boot struck his shin.
    If only she could reach her dagger.
    “You’ll pay for that later!” he spat.
    “The only person who’ll be paying tonight is you ,” a deep voice said from behind them.
    Prudence turned, recognizing the voice, but still astonished to see Alfred lunging for the man who held her, as Mungo went after the giant who held Lizzie.
    Prudence stumbled as she was abruptly released, then regained her balance and turned to see Alfred duck a punch. Swift as a cat, he bounced back up and landed a fist in his opponent’s gut.
    The thin man doubled over, but managed to recover, and swung again at Alfred. But Alfred’s training at Mr. Jackson’s boxing salon gave him the advantage. He seemed to effortlessly avoid the man’s fists, while landing a few well-placed punches of his own.
    Mungo seemed to have a more equal opponent in the giant, and the two of them bellowed and lunged at each other like mad bulls.
    Lizzie stood off to the side, immobilized with fright. Prudence quickly pulled her away from the brawling men and retreated to a safe distance.
    Just then, Mungo’s opponent landed a crushing blow to his jaw that sent her trusted bodyguard reeling.
    “Mungo!” Prudence cried.
    He tried to get up, but was