His Wicked Heart by Darcy Burke

threatened
Olivia with the magistrate. And then he’d sworn that she’d repay
the debt after insisting she take his money. “Lord Saxton is
ruthless. I wouldn’t take his threats lightly.” Not that Olivia was
following her own advice. Even now, her feet itched to run.
    Mrs. Reddy rubbed her dirty hand across her
forehead. “I suppose. He’ll be here soon anyway. Guess I have to
make up me mind.”
    Olivia’s breath seemed to evaporate right out
of her chest. “Soon? When is he coming?”
    “Noon.”
    Relief nearly collapsed Olivia’s frame
against the door. “He won’t give you a choice. If you refuse his
demand, he’ll take you to prison.”
    “You think he’d do that?”
    “In a trice. Don’t you see you can’t stay
here? He’s taken that option away from you entirely.” From both
of us . Anger burned beneath Olivia’s already heated skin.
    Mrs. Reddy’s thin shoulders slumped. “I don’t
want to work for him.”
    Olivia didn’t blame her, but for Mrs. Reddy
it would be far preferable to her current existence. “It won’t be
bad. I’m sure his lordship is…kind.” She reasoned it was acceptable
to lie in order to better this poor woman’s life.
    “I suppose if I don’t like it, I can
leave.”
    “And it’s not permanent. Once you work off
the debt, you’ll be truly free. Of his lordship and Mr. Reddy.
Maybe you’ll be even be able to help your sister.”
    “Oh, do you think his lordship might give her
a job, too? She’s far more respectable than me. She’s never even
had gin. She’s a good mum to that sweet boy.” Mrs. Reddy sniffed
and swiftly pinched her nose, perhaps to stop a flow of tears. An
uncharacteristic show of emotion, to be sure.
    Olivia had no notion whether Saxton’s
benevolence would extend to Mrs. Reddy’s sister, but if it would
encourage the woman to go, why not agree? Especially when Mrs.
Reddy clearly cared for her sister and nephew. “I’m sure he would.
As I said, he seems kind. He came to your rescue, didn’t he?”
Ruthless, but kind. She’d never met anyone who could be both. Would
it surprise her if he did something for Mrs. Reddy’s sister? Olivia
didn’t want to answer that question. She wanted to get away from
the boarding house as soon as possible. But she also didn’t want to
alert Mrs. Reddy to her departure, which is why she’d left her
belongings in the corner.
    “So you’re decided then?” Olivia asked.
    “I suppose I must be. You’re a good girl,
Livvie.” She reached out and patted Olivia’s sleeve.
    Olivia smiled at the woman, glad this
necessary interview was done—and that she’d achieved the desired
result. Now she could escape. “I’d offer to help you pack, but I
have a few errands I must run. I may be back before you go.”
    Mrs. Reddy winked at Olivia. “I’m sure his
lordship would like that.”
    Olivia was sure he would, too.
    She turned and waited for the door to latch
behind her before she went to the corner and picked up her
belongings.
    Outside, Olivia hurried along the street, the
morning sun finding its way into their little court and heating the
pavement beneath her feet. Tilly stepped into her path. Her gaze
dropped to the valise. “You’re leaving?”
    Olivia clutched her things tighter, perhaps a
reaction to her newfound distrust of Tilly. She’d been a fool to
trust her in the first place. She’d hoped to get away from Coventry
Court without anyone realizing she’d left. “I’m afraid I must. His
lordship was furious. You should’ve told me he’d discovered the
ruse.”
    Tilly crossed her arms. “He said he’d turn me
in to the magistrate. I’m not a good girl like you. I’ve got debts.
I would’ve gone to Newgate for sure.”
    So she’d looked out for herself and ignored
the consequences to Olivia. “You didn’t think about what he might
do to me?”
    Tilly’s eyes widened, and she searched
Olivia’s face. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
    Olivia pulled back at the vehemence