Page 4 of To Dare the Devil

He huffed out a laugh and closed his eyes. Dead, then. The last Earl of Vane, dead in a ditch, the end of his glorious line. Fate had won after all, despite his parent’s little secret. What a grand joke on them both. Well, so be it.

“Oi! Get away from him, you vile little beggars! Clear off before I clout ye good!”

There was a metallic clatter against the cobbles and then different hands tugged at him, forcing him up. Max shook his head, protesting weakly.

“Dying. Dead in a ditch… mongrel…” he murmured, just wishing they’d leave him be. Dying seemed an awful tedious business, and he’d just as soon get it over with.

“You ain’t dead yet, my lad. Come on, now. Christ, but you’re heavy. Pike, run and get Jimmy. Quick smart now, lad.”

More footsteps running away, fast as lightening, but Max didn’t open his eyes. Curiosity was for the living, and he had dying to do.

20th July 1839, The Crown, Great St Andrew’s Street, Covent Garden. Parish of St Giles.

Kathy stood on the unfamiliar street, staring about her with wide eyes. This was not Hatchards. To her horror, she realised the carriage had already driven away, and Hart was striding at his usual impossible pace, rounding a corner. With a gasp of panic, she ran after him.

“Hart!”

He turned just as she barrelled into the back of him, nearly breaking her nose on his elbow.

“Kathy! What in the name of God?”

He gave her a hard shake and did not hold back in his observations of her character and general lack of intelligence.

“You stupid, pig-headed, ignorant, spoiled little brat!”

Kathy’s cheeks burned as her brother railed at her, though she could hardly blame him. It had been rather reckless. She had to admit that now. It had seemed a great lark until she’d seen where they were.

“This is how you repay our parents, is it? You’re so grateful they saved you from the workhouse, you’ve decided to get yourself murdered in the Dials, is that it?”

His eyes burned with such fury that Kathy swallowed. But then that was Hart. He was only angry because she’d frightened him to death. For all his scowling and moody ways, he loved her and was protective of his family, of his annoying little sister.

Kathy folded her arms, quailing inwardly, but determined to stand her ground.

“I didn’t know you were coming here, did I?” she retorted. “I thought you were going to Hatchards like you told Mama, but you lied,” she accused him, narrowing her eyes.

“Of course I lied. She worries when I come here, you little sneak.”

Kathy folded her arms, scowling. “I only wanted a new book. I’ve read all of ours twice.”

Hart snorted and shook his head. “Yes, even the ones you didn’t understand.” His expression softened a degree, which still left him looking fiercer than most people. “Promise me you’ll not do such a daft thing again.”

Kathy considered this as she kicked at a stray pebble.

“You didn’t ought to have to think about it!” he exclaimed, incensed.

“Oh, fine. I promise. But why are you here, Hart?”

Hart sighed. “To call in on Burt.”

“Burt Clump? Your Burt?” Kathy exclaimed eagerly, naming the man who had done his best to keep Hart alive when he’d run away from the workhouse, before their parents had adopted him.

Her brother grinned. “The very same. I couldn’t believe it, but I was meeting a friend here a few nights ago and… there he was.”

“But why didn’t you tell us?”

His expression became troubled, and he rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know, it felt… disloyal somehow. Is that stupid?”

Kathy shook her head, taking her brother’s hand. “No. It sounds like you, trying to protect everyone from being hurt. But they wouldn’t mind, Hart. They’d be pleased. They know how much he meant to you.”