“That will do, Talbot,” Lord Sinclair said. “I believe Miss Wilson is doing good deeds, and while I think coming here alone was rash, it was because her heart is kind.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
His smile was lovely. She’d heard the rumors about these Sinclairs and Ravens and the kind of people they were. Good people, most said. Odd people, others said.
“Come along, Cam. We shall make haste to find Essie, as I see no trouble around them,” Lord Sinclair said. “Do either of you like the color turquoise?”
“Why would you ask us that?” Ambrose asked, staring at the peer.
“Curiosity, as it is the color of both you and Miss Wilson,” Lord Sinclair said. “Good day to you both, and if you should need us again, please send word.”
She thought that an exceedingly odd statement but didn’t say so.
The two men left, and she was grateful Leo was here and she was not alone with the angry Lord Talbot.
“I am Lord Seddon, and along with these two, we are going to help you, Ruby. I hope you don’t mind me calling you that?”
Wide-eyed, Ruby shook her head.
“Well then, let’s go, as I think we have drawn enough attention,” Ambrose declared.
He looked a little savage with the sluggish bleeding of his lip and bruises already forming on his face. He was no longer the refined, elegant gentleman she saw at society events. Tilly thought it best she didn’t provoke him further right now, which wasn’t entirely her fault. The man just had to open his mouth and he irritated her sometimes.
The two men put Ruby between them.
“You lead the way, Tilly.”
She picked up Ruby’s box of belongings and started walking.
“Barnaby,” Ruby said.
“He’s following,” Tilly said. “Come along, Barnaby. You can walk with me.”
She heard a loud sigh and then watched as Ambrose removed his necktie. After wrapping it around the dog’s neck, he handed the end to Tilly without a word. She took it and resumed walking.
People watched, but no one approached. They showed special interest in Ambrose and had undoubtedly seen him fighting Dill, but they only looked.
Finally, they reached his carriage, and his driver didn’t comment as he studied them, which showed remarkable restraint considering the odd party they must present.
Leo opened the door, and they helped Ruby inside. Barnaby leaped in after her.
Tilly could do nothing to stop her squeak of surprise as hands lifted both her and the box and tossed them onto a carriage seat. She only just managed not to hurl the entire contents around the carriage by clutching the box close.
“Was there any need to do that?” she demanded when she’d righted herself.
“Believe me, there was every need,” Ambrose replied.
“Well then,” Leo said, climbing in to take the seat across from Tilly and Ruby.
Ambrose joined him.
“How about you elaborate on what is going on, as I feel there is more to everything and that what you are not telling me is in some way connected to the Solomon Seal.”
Ambrose told him, slowly and concisely, with Tilly chiming in when he missed something.
Ruby kept her hand on Barnaby’s head as the carriage rolled through London. The buildings changed from slums to grander properties, and then they were stopping outside The Iris.
Leo opened the door and turned to help Ruby down with Ambrose’s help. Barnaby followed next.