Page 83 of A Cinderella to Redeem the Earl

‘Will you be wanting the canopy raised, My Lord?’ the coachman asked.

He had not bothered purchasing a town coach, since he did not plan to remain in London for more than a year and the barouche had come with the house.

The day was fair, if a little chilly. They weren’t going far and he preferred not to be shut up inside unless it was pouring rain. ‘Leave the front down, but put a couple of extra blankets in, please.’ He could always change his mind if it was too cold.

With the carriage ready to go, Damien returned to the house to get his hat and coat.

Pamela was on her way down the stairs when he reached the front door.

Her coat today was of a bright peacock blue and the way her bonnet framed her pretty face made him want to kiss her. And perhaps forget the trip to Covent Garden.

Instead, he took her arm and walked her out of the house and across the pavement to the waiting coach. ‘I hope you don’t mind Oddy’s company. He refused to be left behind.’

‘Not at all. He can serve as our protection.’

Damian chuckled as he handed her up. ‘I am all the protection you need.’

‘I was not thinking about me.’

He laughed. ‘I assure you, I am quite capable of defending both of us. However, Oddy has been known to show his teeth at people he doesn’t like the look of upon occasion, so perhaps he will serve a purpose.’

Pamela beamed. ‘Good boy.’ She patted Oddy’s head and the animal grinned at her.

Damian gave the coachman the go ahead and soon they were wending their way through the city traffic.

Covent Garden during daylight hours was a very different prospect than Covent Garden at night when the streets milled with the carriages of those attending the theatre and rubbing shoulders with those who hoped to take advantage of them.

During the day, the square behind the Church of St Paul was abuzz with a whole different sort of trade and person.

The predominant goods on offer were, of course, fruits, vegetables and flowers. Many of the flower girls one found selling their wares on street corners came here to buy the blooms for the posies they sold. But at this time of year there was not much on offer.

They left the carriage with the coachman and he and Oddy followed Pamela to the far end of the market.

‘You have been here before,’ he said, seeing that she knew exactly where she was headed.

‘Only once.’

A rough-looking fellow edged closer.

Damien gave him a hard look and a grim smile. The fellow shrugged and walked off. But he wasn’t the sort Damian was most worried about. It was the small lads who dodged in and around the stalls who caused him the most concern. Boys who were not unlike what he had been at that age. Boys with quick fingers and bad intentions. Though they also seemed to be giving them a wide berth.

He glanced down at Oddy whose hackles were up and whose ears were pricked. Ha! Here was the reason no one had attempted to pick his pocket or cut Pamela’s purse. And he hadn’t had to raise a fist or grab a collar.

While he did not relax his vigilance, he did welcome the reinforcements. At last, the dog was earning its keep.

Later, he was going to have a long talk with Pamela about coming to a place like this with only her maid for company.

A youngish woman with dark hair neatly pinned under her cap and a bit of sacking for an apron tied around her waist rose from the upturned bucket she was using for a seat to greet them.

On her stall, she had twigs of holly with berries and mistletoe sprigs tied in little bundles ready for hanging and a pile of evergreen boughs.

Relief shone in her smile. ‘I hoped you would come today.’

‘Good morning,’ Pamela said. ‘I promised I would, did I not?’

‘Well, you did. But not all keeps their promise.’

‘Were you able to obtain any?’