The thought had no sooner flickered through his mind than another followed it, acknowledging reality rather than trying to reject it.
She would.
Just as when the letter from Mitchell had arrived, Elijah knew it deep in his gut, it was no lad trailing behind him through the Warrens—it was his wife.
Josie
Breathless, Josie grumbled under her breath as Elijah suddenly picked up his pace, turning a corner. She had to hurry to keep up with him.
Following someone was much harder than she had imagined, even in her comfortable breeches, where she did not have to worry about her skirts tangling or getting caught on anything. She thought Elijah might have glimpsed her once or twice, and she could only hope he did not realize she was following him. From the way he moved, his head turning this way and that, she knew he was keeping his promise to keep an eye out for any hint of danger.
The smells of the streets had grown worse as they’d moved along, the people on them rougher. Josie had taken the time to dirty her appearance and her clothing as she moved along, noting her surroundings and the people she was passing, and no one gave her a second glance. Most of them were too busy minding their own business. Their gazes skipped over her as being unremarkable and unthreatening, just the way she wanted it.
Now, she drew a few unwelcome glances as she picked up her pace, people curious why she was rushing. Elijah had turned the corner so quickly, she was worried he was close to his destination, and she did not want to miss it. There were few signs or indications of what was in each of the buildings she passed. Some were small, some huge, and everyone knew where they were going… except her.
Blasted Elijah knew where he was going, and the last thing she needed was him disappearing into some building and having no idea which one. She did not know if she could find her way back to more respectable streets without following him back.
Cursing under her breath, she rounded the corner at a near run and slammed into something both soft and hard. Hands gripped her arms, keeping her from falling over, and her head jerked upwards to stare into the dark, menacing eyes of her extremely displeased husband.
“Oops,” Josie said.
Chapter 29
Elijah
Oops?Oops?!
He was going to throttle her. Of all the hare-brained, ninny-headed, batty-fang, daft—
“My lord?” Mitchell’s smooth tones interrupted Elijah’s glaring, making both him and Josie jerk their heads up at the interruption. He felt Josie sag slightly in his grip—in relief? Ha. If she thought Mitchell’s interruption would save her later…
Mitchell was perturbed, not surprising since he likely did not recognize Josie. Despite his protective rage, Elijah’s brain was working enough to admit Josie had done a passable job with her disguise. Other than the blonde curl peeking out from under her cap, her hair was completely hidden, her face, clothes, and hands appeared grimy, and the bagginess of her shirt hid her curves completely.
Which was why it had takenhimso long to realize she was not what she seemed.
“Do you need me to take care of… this?” The disdain in Mitchell’s voice as he eyed Josie made Elijah realize Mitchell not only thought Josie was a lad but was a threat that needed to be dealt with.
Moving her away from Mitchell and partially behind him, he glared at the other man.
“This is mywife.” The words came out on an unhappy growl, and Mitchell’s eyes widened, taking a step back. As usual, he was dressed to the nines. Though his sartorial splendor could not reach that of Elijah’s, he still looked every inch the proper gentleman. It occurred to Elijah someone who was so meticulous about always appearing his best would not imagine a lady of thetonmight dress up as a boy and dirty herself in disguise. So, he did not feel as bad about his own blind spots.
“Yourwife?” Mitchell’s tone was incredulous as he tried to peer around him, and Elijah could not entirely blame him. He had insisted on seeing Josie as a flibbertigibbet debutante, even when Elijah and Joseph had tried to correct that impression. “What on earth…?”
That was Elijah’s question as well, but he did not like to hear it repeated by Mitchell. It was not Mitchell’s place to question Josie’s actions.
“You will have to excuse me, Mitchell. I need to take my wife home.”
“No!” Mitchell and Josie spoke in unison, both just as vehement.
“My lord, you might miss this opportunity to find the Frenchman if you do,” Mitchell said, frustration coloring his words, but no more than Josie’s did.
“Absolutely not, Elijah. If you think I will not follow you right back out again, you are wrong.”
Casting his eyes heavenward, Elijah gritted his teeth and sent a desperate appeal to the Almighty for patience. He loosened his hold on Josie, his hand itching to turn her over his knee, but this was not the time nor the place. Eventually, her bottom would pay a heavy price for her recklessness.
When he straightened his neck, Josie was glaring at him, and Mitchell was glaring at Josie. Which made Elijah want to punch Mitchell in the face, even if he had the right of it. Shaking his head, he looked around as if seeking inspiration for his next action from the streets around them.
There were a few passersby, but the shadows were deep. He could not send Josie back the way she came on her own. Even with the dirt, she made too pretty a lad, and someone was bound to notice. At this time of night, there would be those looking for entertainment.