Page 5 of Mad Duke March

Emily blinked, her throat burning as a huge boulder stuck inside it. But she looked down at her torn, dirty gown that had streaks of red paint on it and realized that she was not going to get home on foot. At least, not with her dignity intact.

Dignity?

Emily raised her head and looked at the crowd of onlookers still whispering about, their heads bowed toward each other.

Her dignity was thrown to the ground just as she had been a moment ago. Unlike her, her dignity had also been stomped on. And then cold sweat covered her from head to toe as another realization hit her. She looked at her hands, her breathing growing shallow. “My reticule!”

“Do not worry about the damage done by the paint,” the ginger-haired angel said softly. “We’ll be certain to rectify any damage.”

“No.” Emily shook her head in distress. “My reticule, it’s gone!” And all the money was gone with it.

She looked around the street and studied the paint-caked ground. No use. The reticule was nowhere to be found.

“I can ask my men to comb the entire street,” the ginger-haired stranger offered, concern shining in his eyes.

Emily nodded absently and swallowed the lump in her throat. “Thank you.” She whipped around to see young street boys disappearing around the corner. Pick-pockets. Most likely, her reticule was already in their skillful hands.

“Good.” The gentleman took her hand and, ignoring her protest, placed it in the crook of his arm, letting her lean on him as she half walked-half hopped alongside him.

Emily’s mind reeled as she surveyed the chaos around the street. The red paint was strewn about the road and even adorned some of the buildings. A carriage with no horses steamed at the end of the street, crashed into a pole. A few gentlemen surrounded the constables, shouting and waving their hands.

But she couldn’t care less about any of it as she tried to reconcile with the fact that the money was gone and her clothing was ruined. More importantly, she was ruined!

Cold sweat ran down her back again, and she hid her face from the onlookers. Her cheeks burned in shame and her mind refused to cooperate and think of anything that would help her get out of this situation with her life not in ruins.

Her breaths came out in short gulps, panic screaming in her mind.

“Are you unwell? Miss… Miss?” The words came as if from far away. The angel beside her had stopped and looked into her eyes with a great deal of worry.

“Miss Fitzwilliam,” Emily supplied her name. “Miss Emily Fitzwilliam.”

She clamped her lips shut and looked around the street at the people still ogling her and whispering behind their fans.

She shouldn't have said her name. Someone could have heard. It was the polite thing to do. But now people knew who she was.

Her family could be ruined by this.

Oh, God, Oh, God, Oh, God!

“Breathe,” the ginger-haired stranger said calmly. “Everything will be just fine. Come with me.”

He led her away, and she walked beside him on legs that felt as sturdy as wool, with no other choice but to obey his instructions.

They reached a shiny black-lacquered carriage at that time and a young footman in gorgeous green livery opened the carriage door and lowered the step.

Emily peeked at the plush velvet upholstery, her gaze glassy. “I shall cover the interior with paint,” she said in a defeated voice.

The gentleman beside her nodded to his footman, and he quickly pulled out a worn quilt from under the bench. He spread it over the seat, before helping Emily inside.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, Miss Emily Fitzwilliam.” The gentleman bowed low. “Please, take my card. If there are any unfortunate repercussions for you from this incident, any repercussions whatsoever, please, do not hesitate to contact me.”

He closed the door and only then did Emily realize that he hadn’t even introduced himself. She twirled the card in her fingers before reading his name.

The Earl of Sutton.

Chapter Two

“Do not wince, Em!” Harriet, Emily’s younger sister, pleaded to no avail as Emily’s entire body scrunched up in fear, regret, and sorrow. “I shall cut off more than necessary if you keep doing that!”