Free Danger's Kiss by Glynnis Campbell Page A

scanning the square.  “It shouldn’t take too long.  I saw the constable a moment ago.”
    Desirée turned to the men, imploring them, “Tell him.  Tell him you were willing participants.”
    The master of the mews only stared at her, confused.
    “Of course,” Nicholas continued, “you two will have to stay to give the constable a full report and — ”
    “What?”  Bardolph’s eyes widened.  “Oh, nay, nay, nay, nay, nay,” he said in a rush.  “We wouldn’t want to delay our progress home.”  He kicked his cohort.
    “Oh!”  The master of the mews suddenly realized their humiliating predicament.  If Lady Philomena discovered they’d been dawdling at the gaming table...  “And we wouldn’t want to...trouble our mistress with such trivial matters.”
    “You’re sure?” Nicholas asked.
    They both nodded enthusiastically.
    Nicholas forced her hand over, and she was too stunned to resist when he collected the coins from her and handed them to the master of the mews.
    She was still reeling when the men hastened away from the table.  When she could catch her breath, she looked up at the lawman, incredulous.  “Sweet Mary, you would’ve flogged me for a penny?”

    “I just put a lad in the stocks for stealing a loaf of bread, wench!”
    Nicholas had answered her with more venom than he’d intended, startling even the passersby with his harsh words.  But he was still shaken by the sight of Desirée engaging in unlawful wagering in plain view of the citizens of Canterbury.  If anyone else had chanced to notice the way she’d slipped that weighted die onto the table...
    Shite!  He should never have let her leave his cottage.  He should have realized she’d end up resorting to crime.  It was likely all she knew.
    Calming himself, he tapped on the barrel top.  “Is this all the coin you have?”
    She pursed her lips defensively.  “I would have had more if you hadn’t interfered.”
    “Oh, aye.  You could have used it to purchase a fresh whip for your flogging.”
    She irritably collected her meager belongings from the top of the barrel and stuffed them back into her purse.  “I’ve been doing this since I was a child.  No one’s ever troubled me about it before.”
    “Well, your luck is about to change.  Where are your things?”
    “What things?”
    “Your clothing, your bedding, your...things.”
    “You’re looking at all I own,” she sneered.  “I had to sell everything to keep Hubert fed in your stinking gaol.”
    That made up his mind.
    Nicholas had thought long and hard about Desirée as he’d searched the streets of Canterbury.  Punishing a poor, desperate lad without enough to eat had convinced him he couldn’t let the lass suffer a similar fate.  So he’d come to a decision.  If the damsel didn’t have a decent occupation, if she hadn’t found herself a position or a husband by now, he’d take matters into his own hands.
    It wouldn’t be a permanent arrangement, of course.  But hopefully, it wouldn’t take too long to set the wayward wench on a more virtuous path.
    He took her elbow and dragged her forward.
    She instantly tried to pull out of his grip.  “What do you think you’re doing?”
    “I’m retiring you from your life of crime.”  He tugged her away from the barrel.
    She tugged back.  “You can’t tell me what to do!”
    “Whether you like it or not, I’m responsible for you.  I made a promise.”
    “To hell with your promise!”
    They were drawing the attention of passersby, who were doubtless intrigued by the sight of someone actually daring to defy the formidable Nicholas Grimshaw.  It was just the sort of spectacle he didn’t need.
    He lowered his voice.  “I have a proposition for you.”
    She arched a skeptical brow.  “What kind of proposition?”
    Perhaps one day Desirée would recognize him as her savior and be grateful.  But today wasn’t that day.
    “You’ll come work for me, and I won’t haul you in for