Free Seducing the Ruthless Rogue by Tammy Jo Burns Page A

I just want to…”
    “Not now ,” he ordered.
    Cassie felt a calming hand rest on her knee.   She looked up and met Abby’s eyes.   The woman shook her head and gave her leg a squeeze.   Jemma sat securely between Cassie and Abby.   Cassie watched the little girl curiously study the man across from her in the tight confines of the hackney.
    “Do you need to get anything from your rented rooms, Mrs. Thompson?”
    “No, sir.   I’ve had to sell everything we had just to feed us.   We have nothing left.”
    Mack nodded his head and looked out the window.
    “Where are we going?” Cassie asked.   Mack remained silent.   “I think we have a right to know.”   He turned and met her gaze with a cocked brow.
    “You do?”
    “Yes,” she said, refusing to back down.
    “I am going to seek assistance for Mrs. Thompson and her daughter.”
    “Where?”
    “Cassie, we will find out soon enough,” Abby said softly.
    “He could at least tell us where we are going.”
    “You are lucky that there is a child present, Miss Graham.   Now, if you don’t mind, I would prefer silence for the rest of our trip.”  
    His brogue filled the coach, and Cassie couldn’t help the affect it had on her.   What was it about this man?   He irritated her to no end, but at the same time there were things about him that intrigued her, called to her.   His aloofness was a mystery that she found herself wanting to solve.   Little did she know that the mystery surrounding him was about to grow even more perplexing.
    The hack stopped in front of a large mansion in St. James’s Square.  
    “Wait here,” Mack instructed, as he left the hack.
    “Cassie, please don’t push him any further.   He appears to be a man that one does not poke and prod as you are doing.”
    “He is irritating.”
    “He saved our lives.”
    “Hmph.”
    The carriage door opened and Director McKenzie stood there.   “Please come with me.”
    “All of us?” Cassie asked.
    “Yes.”
    Cassie left the coach and turned to lift Jemma into her arms.   She stepped aside while Mack gently assisted Mrs. Thompson down.   The three followed Mack up to the house.   A raven haired beauty stood in the foyer awaiting their arrival.   They entered and the woman questioned in a low, husky voice, “Abigail?   Abigail Drummond?”  
    “Yes…” she replied hesitantly.   “Wait, Mikala Simmons?   Didn’t we have our coming out the same year?”
    “Yes.”
    “You know one another?” Mack asked.
    “Not very well,” the woman named Mikala answered honestly.   “How long has it been?”
    “Four years.   I married Andrew Thompson, a soldier.   This is my daughter, Jemma.”
    “Hello, Jemma.   I remember Mr. Thompson.   He was a dashing young man,” Mikala said.   “And I married the Duke of Hawkescliffe.”   Mikala laughed as the other woman tried to hide her shock and curtsy at the same time.   “I know.   It is funny how life turns out.   I am sorry for your loss,” she added, sobering instantly.   “Mack told me that you are a widow.”
    “Thank you.”
    “Why did you bring them to the house of a duke?” Cassie demanded.
    “I know that they will take care of Mrs. Thompson and her daughter until a more permanent arrangement can be made.”
    “I’ll do whatever you need me to, Your Grace.   I am a hard worker.”
    “I have enough servants, Abigail.   You are to rest and take care of yourself.   We will work everything else out later.   You two come with me, and I will show you to your rooms.”
    Before she followed the other woman up the stairs, Abby turned to Cassie and hugged her tightly, tears streaming down her face.   “My children and I owe you our lives.   I don’t know how to repay you,” she sobbed.
    “Take care of yourselves, that is all I ask,” Cassie replied, hugging her back.   “I’ll be back to see you in a few days.”  
    “Mack, bring her on Wednesday when you come for your weekly family