One of the men, the father of a baby who’d lived for only six days under Ellen’s care, nodded to her as he backed the belligerent man out of the room.
The door slammed shut, O’Malley and the St. Giles men on the other side. Everyone heard raised voices, the men coaxing O’Malley away while he argued to go teach the toff a lesson about real men.
Ellen let out a breath.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” Amelia said in a low voice. “You shouldn’t have taken his attention off me.”
Ellen patted her friend’s hand on her shoulder shakily. “I may have gotten carried away. But he deserved it.”
“He may have deserved it, but that was dangerous, Ellen.” Mark scowled at her, brown eyes hard and dark.
Ellen raised her chin. “He was drunk. He’ll not come back again, and if he does the neighborhood will protect me.” She looked past Mark around the room, to the patients awkwardly either watching them or pretending to make their own conversations.
“He was drunk and he tried to hit you, Ellen.” He didn’tmove toward her, but Ellen felt his focus like an electric bolt to her body.
“He was drunk,” Ellen agreed. “He won’t try that sober.”
Amelia stepped away, giving Mark a long, searching look. Then she ordered the waiting room back into organization and took her next patient. “Show’s over. Step lively, now.”
Mrs. Daugherty stepped beside Ellen. “Thank goodness the children were upstairs for all of that.” She looked between Mark and Ellen. “I think it’s best Ellen goes home for today.”
Mark nodded. “Come on, Ellen.” He reached a hand out, and Ellen took it as she walked around the edge of the counter to join him. It was hard to believe his hand, so warm and comforting, had threatened such violence to O’Malley just moments before. He didn’t let go of her as they walked to the door. Ellen reached for the knob, but Mark held her back. “Let me go first.”
Ellen was touched at his concern, but also impatient. Still, she let him walk out the door, then gesture for her to follow. Once in the cold winter air, Mark wrapped an arm around her shoulders, tucking her close. They hurried up to New Oxford Street, and he hailed a cab. Ellen didn’t even realize she was shaking until he had her sitting in the hansom and was wrapping her cloak more tightly around her.
“There, there,” he murmured. “I shan’t let him hurt you. I promise it.”
Ellen looked at him. “He doesn’t scare me. He’s a coward.” Her fingernails cut crescents into the palm of her hand despite her words.
“He should,” Mark growled. “Even cowards can injure people. While drunk he was angry enough to punch you in the presence of a dozen witnesses. What do you think he’ll be willing to do when he’s sober?”
Ellen went cold. “I didn’t think of it like that.” She leaned into Mark, and he put his arm around her, resting his chin on her cloak-covered hair. “I was thinking of the children.”
“And Tina,” Mark said, and she felt the rumble in his chest.
“How did you know about it?” Ellen asked.
“As soon as I sat on the bench I overheard what had happened. I recognized the name.”
Ellen shuddered in his arms. “She was dead, Mark. Just lying there, cold as ice.”
His arms tightened around her, and she listened to the steady thumping of his heart. “I’m so sorry.”
A tear trickled down her cheek and fell on his greatcoat. “I’ve seen death before, far too often. Usually I see death come to a person surrounded by loved ones. There is sorrow because there is also love. But this...she died in the middle of the night while her children slept beside her. And the children were too traumatized or numb to even react to her death. She was...stiff and cold.”
“What can I do for you?” Mark murmured into her hair.
“Hold me. Just hold me.” Another tear escaped, splashing on one of his buttons.
When the horse clopped to a stop in front of their home, Mark paid the driver and then carried Ellen out of the cab. She wasn’t sure how he managed it. He carried her up the steps slick with sleet and only set her down long enough for Gaye to take her outerwear.
“Tell Cook we’ll have a small tray in Mrs. Glenfall’s rooms,” he called over his shoulder as he swept her up again and made for the stairs.
Ellen’s heart squeezed in affection. She felt coddled and protected from the harshness of the world in that moment, and she clutched the lapel of his coat and buried her face into his waistcoat.
I think I love you,she thought.Please don’t break my heart again.
Chapter Fifteen