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She was right. He didn’t even know why he asked the question, but something compelled him to.

He had a feeling that when she left through the gates, it would be the last time he ever saw her, and that simply didn’t sit well with him.

More than that, she was without the protection of a man, and any woman without protection, be it a woman like Delaina or a lowly servant, was a vulnerable woman.

He would be a poor knight indeed if he let her return to Daventry’s home alone, knowing she was simply going to gather her things and depart.

But perhaps he was being a little too concerned. Perhaps she knew something he didn’t.

“You are correct,” he said after a moment. “It is not. But I will ask you one question, and you will do me the courtesy of answering honestly.”

“What is it?”

“Are you going alone?”

She looked at him as if confused by the question. “Of course I am going alone,” she said. “Lord Daventry is dead. I must go alone.”

“Do you have a place to go?”

“I told you that was none of your—”

He cut her off. “I know what you told me,” he said. “But if you are thinking of traveling alone tonight, that is foolish and dangerous. I do not care where you go, but if you have a place to go and an escort, I will not trouble you any further. Do you—and do you?”

She was becoming increasingly guarded; he could see it. She was clearly debating what to tell him. Suddenly, she was climbing out of the carriage, with her resplendent cloak, and she motioned to him.

“Will you walk with me for a moment, please?” she asked.

Magnus didn’t hesitate. He came alongside her, and they started to walk, off into the manicured bailey where torches burned brightly. There was plenty of light and very few people as she continued to walk.

“Sir Magnus,” she said. “Let us not pretend any longer. You must be aware of who I am. Of what I am. So there will be no mistake, I will be plain.”

So the truth was presented. Magnus admired a woman who would speak so bluntly. She may be petite and fragile-looking, but he suspected there was far more beneath the surface. It was just a feeling he had.

“You are one of the Jewels of London,” he said quietly. “Aye, I know who you are.”

She came to a halt and faced him. “How did you know?”

“Because it is well known that Daventry had a Jewel in his possession,” he said, gazing steadily at her beneath the torchlight. “Men talk, my lady. London itself is a cesspool of rumors and lies. I know you are not Daventry’s wife and he does not have a daughter. I am not as stupid as I must look.”

“You do not look stupid, I assure you,” she said. “But since we are being honest, I will tell you that I must move along tonight. With Daventry dead, there is no reason for me to remain at Haydon Square. In fact… in fact, it is best that I do not.”

“Why not?”

“Because it is.”

“I thought you were being honest with me.”

She frowned. “I am,” she said. “But there are things you need not know. They are not your concern. Suffice it to say that I will leave tonight because I must.”

She was right: her business wasn’t any of his concern, and he was being rather intrusive. He had no idea why. All he knew was that he didn’t like the thought of this gorgeous creature fending for herself now that the man who provided for her was gone.

He scratched his head. “Forgive me for being ignorant, my lady,” he said. “I do not know what the life of a concu… I mean, a… a companion such as yourself is like. I do not know the protocols involved when your lord passes on. Is there somewhere you must go now?”

A smile played on her lips. “You were correct when you called me a concubine,” she said. “The kinder term is courtesan, and if you must know, there is no particular place that I must go, but I must leave Haydon immediately.”

“You cannot stay even the night?”

She sighed sharply, sensing that he wasn’t going to let up on his questions unless she gave him an answer he could understand.

“I could, but I do not wish to,” she said.

“You see, Lord Daventry has a son who has made it plain that when his father passes on, he wishes to take me as his own… companion.”

“And that is undesirable to you?”

“I will slit my own throat and jump into the river before I allow that beast anywhere near me.”

Now the situation was beginning to clear up a little for Magnus. “So you want to leave before he receives word of his father’s death and comes to claim the man’s estate.”

“Exactly.”

“Where is his son?”

She shook her head. “I am not certain, but the last I heard, he was in London,” she said. “So, you see, he is already here, somewhere. And I cannot let him claim me as his father’s property.”

Magnus thought on that for a moment, rubbing his hands together and cracking his knuckles, something he always did when he was tense or pensive or even bored. It helped him think.

“I understand,” he said. “Then you do not have anywhere to go so much as you are simply fleeing for your own sake.”

“Aye,” she said. “Not knowing where Jerome de Staverton is making me… nervous.”

Magnus could see that. “Can you return home, then?” he said. “Surely your parents would readily—”

She cut him off softly. “I have no parents,” she said.

“Even if I did, I would not return to them. I would not shame them so. Sir Magnus, you must understand that a woman in my position cannot simply go… home . I have prepared for this moment, at least as much as I can, and I have decided on a course of action.”

“What will that be?”

“I keep telling you that none of this—”

“I know, it is none of my affair,” he said. “But I am asking out of concern.”

“Why?”

“Because if you did something desperate, I would feel responsible.”

She sighed heavily, eyeing him as she debated what to tell him. But she quickly gave up, perhaps suspecting he wouldn’t let the subject drop if he felt she might endanger herself.

“Very well,” she said impatiently. “If you must know, I intend to join the cloisters.”

He frowned. “You would become a nun?”

“I would rather belong to God than to one more man.”

That was such a brutal but truthful way of putting it, and he could hardly dispute her.

In fact, he felt a good deal of pity for her, an emotion that usually wasn’t part of his repertoire.

He had compassion when it was suitable, but pity…

that was altogether different. He could feel himself slipping into behavior that was unplanned and probably unwelcome.

“My lady,” he said quietly. “I cannot pretend to know how it feels to lead the life that you do, but I will tell you this: I have two sisters, young women whom I adore, and I would kill for them without hesitation. I would defend them to my last breath. Part of a knight’s oath is to defend the weak, and, at this moment, you seem fairly weak to me.

You seem quite alone, and when I look at you, I can imagine my sisters, should they be weak and defenseless, as you are.

Because of this, I would like to offer my services.

Let me escort you back to Haydon Square, where you may gather your things, and then I will take you anywhere you wish to go for the night so that you may arrive safely.

Will you at least allow me to show some chivalry to you? ”

Delaina was looking at him in shock. “You want to… to escort me?” she said. “But I am not your responsibility.”

“Every woman’s safety is a noble knight’s responsibility, my lady.”

She looked at him as if trying to figure out just how earnest he was. Perhaps he was trying to trick her somehow. But in the end, she simply shook her head.

“You are kind and generous, Sir Magnus,” she said, perhaps a hint of sorrow in her tone. “But I will again say that I am not your responsibility. I will do this alone, but I thank you for your offer.”

“You do not have to do it alone.”

“Oh?” she said. “And how shall I pay you for this gracious offer? If you expect me to warm your bed, I will not do it. You may as well know now.”

He took great offense but fought it. “I expect no payment,” he said. “Payment was never suggested in any form. I am sorry that you are suspicious, my lady, but I suppose I do not blame you.”

Delaina could see that he was insulted, and her firm stance wavered a little. “In my experience, men always want something,” she said quietly. “My apologies if your offer was without reciprocation.”

“It was and it is.”

Her gaze lingered on him for a moment, and he swore he saw her weakening. It was in her expression, in her eyes, but just as quickly, he could see her stiffen. She is not accustomed to someone who wants nothing from her, he thought. She’s protecting herself.

“Come,” he said, indicating her carriage several yards away.

“Return to Haydon Square with Lord Daventry. Should you decide to take me up on my offer, send word to me before you leave and I shall come to you. I will not insist, my lady. If you want my assistance, you may have it. If not, then I wish you well. I truly do.”

She let him lead her back toward the carriage, all the while wondering if this was the right thing to do, if she shouldn’t take him up on his offer.

Since the moment of their acquaintance, Magnus had been nothing but kind and chivalrous, even when he knew who, and what, she was.

She’d never gotten the sense that he was judging her in any way. In fact, quite the opposite.