Free Wedded in Sin by Jade Lee

should see your evil solicitor first, then afterward when we go to report his terrible crimes to the constable, I can add in the assault on my person. Two birds with one stone, so to speak. Or two crimes with one visit.”
    “He will think you the most unlucky of gentlemen.”
    “Well, then he would be wrong. Also, sadly, not an uncommon occurrence with the constable.”
    She had no answer to that. He was clearly back to his normal odd self. Only an hour in his company, and she was already well versed in the unusual rhythms of his conversation. But she liked him, she admitted to herself. And she was very glad of his company.
    “Well, then, Miss Shoemaker. Shall we go straight to the solicitor’s? Or stop by the dress shop first?”
    “The dress shop. I’m afraid things were somewhat in disarray there. And my guess is that you want to ask Irene more about her mysterious boy.”
    “I shall ask, I assure you, but I doubt she knows anything. She thought she was being followed by a whistling stable hand. But I do wonder why someone would pay a child to spy on her.”
    Penny nodded, her mind too cluttered to sort that out. What possible threat could Irene be to anyone? “Penny.”
    Mr. Morrison frowned at her and no wonder. She hadn’t intended to say her name out loud. “What?” he asked.
    “Penny,” she repeated. “My Christian name is Penny, and…and I, um, give you leave to use it.”
    His smile was slow in coming, but no less charming once it filled his face. “And you may call me Samuel.” He managed somehow to grab hold of her hand and perform an elaborate bow over it. Then he kissed her knuckles while stroking her palm with his index finger. It was quite the grandiose gesture—and a surprisingly intimate one—and once again her cheeks heated in a hot blush.
    He noticed. He was a man who noticed everything, but he didn’t comment on it. When he straightened, he merely held out his arm to her. She took it as she had seen countless highborn ladies do. And together they walked back to the shop as if they were a lord and lady out for a stroll.
    It was the most marvelous thing that happened that day. Or that week. Or most likely for her entire life. Sadly, the interlude didn’t last. Eventually they made it to the shop, where Tabby was standing in the doorway and pointing at them. Wendy stepped up a moment later, narrowing her eyes as she peered down the street. Eventually her eyes widened, and her face relaxed as she saw them. Then her keen eyes must have picked out the lump on Samuel’s forehead. She gasped and immediately ordered water and a cloth while Penny marveled at how easily Mr. Morrison had become Samuel in her mind. She had only known the man for an hour or so, and yet she felt as if he might be a friend. The concept was odd, to say the least. Certainly she had friends. Women, mostly, and there had been some male playmates when she was little, plus a couple men who had come calling later. No one who stayed, of course, but that was the way with things.
    What made Samuel different was that he was a toff. He didn’t have a title in front of his name, but he was a gent nonetheless. He wore a gentleman’s clothes, talked like a gentleman ought, and knew the kind of people gentlemen knew. Those men, as a rule, did not talk to her except to order her to do something. Or ask to get beneath her skirts. Never had they approached anything like friendship with her.
    Except for this man, and the thought was unbelievably exciting. She, Miss Penny Shoemaker, friends with a toff. An odd one, to be sure, but friends nonetheless. She patted his arm as she gestured to the shop. “I believe you are about to be coddled and fussed over.”
    He gave a mock shudder. “Heavens. Lovely women fussing over me. I shall insist everyone stop immediately after a day. Maybe two.”
    Penny chuckled as he had intended. Obviously he had not been fussed over much in his life. But even the nicest women could be irritating after an