The Vagabond Duchess

Jack closed the distance between them and put his hands on her shoulders. She stood still as he rubbed his hands up and down her back. She was too shaken to protest at his action, and too tall to rest her head on his shoulder and pretend she hadn’t noticed what he was doing. She felt the warmth of his breath against her cheek, the solid strength of his body close to hers.

‘They didn’t hurt me—thanks to you,’ he said, his voice soft and soothing. ‘And I do thank you. You are a true virago of a draper, Mistress Tempest.’

She felt his lips brush her skin, then he kissed her. A real kiss, even though it was on her cheek, not her mouth. Her heart rate accelerated. For a moment she forgot about the disaster overshadowing London. She felt hot, excited, unsure. In the dark of the night she’d imagined him kissing her—even though she hadn’t known if she’d ever see him again. She’d hugged herself, pretending it was his arms around her, wondering what it would feel like if he was really holding her.

She’d been kissed a few times before, but it had always been an awkward, embarrassing experience. She’d been several inches taller than the hopeful suitor who’d pursued her when she was eighteen. The discrepancy in their heights might not have been a problem if he’d been genuinely attracted to her. Unfortunately, it was her inheritance that had appealed to him, and he’d lacked the necessary address to hide his real motivation. Temperance had sent him away without regret.

But Jack was different. In his arms she didn’t feel oversized and unfeminine. He was so graceful and sure of himself that somehow he made her feel more confident in her own appeal. She clutched his coat and lifted her head, instinctively turning her face towards his. His lips slid over her cheek in a hot trail, then his mouth found hers.

Temperance felt the jolt of intimate contact all the way to her toes. Yet it was only his mouth on hers. She held his coat in her clenched fist and his open hands lay on her back, but there was still an inch or two of space between their bodies. The only place where their naked skin touched was mouth to mouth. She was astounded that every novel, delightful sensation rippling through her body was generated by nothing more than the movement of his lips and tongue against hers.

It was too dark in the shop to see clearly, but she closed her eyes the better to lose herself in the experience. It was a wonderment she’d never known before. How could a man’s lips be so firm and soft at the same time? His caresses so delicate yet compelling? His tongue stroked her upper lip, teasing and exploring until her knees felt weak. Hardly aware of what she was doing, her arm slid around his neck as she leant against him for support.

His hold on her tightened. One hand in the small of her back pressed her against him. His other hand lifted to cup her head, holding her firmly in place as his tongue slipped inside her mouth and the gentle kiss became far more potent. Lights exploded behind Temperance’s eyelids. The pleasant feelings rippling through her inexperienced body suddenly became a torrent of hot, elemental sensation. She gasped and pulled back, half-thrilled, half-frightened by the unfamiliar feelings he aroused.

After a second his hold on her relaxed. She felt his chest expand as he drew in a deep, not quite steady breath.

‘I’m sorry,’ he murmured against her hair. ‘I didn’t intend that.’

‘Oh, no?’ Temperance pushed against him, upset by his comment. ‘In the dark did you forget what I look—?’

He silenced her with a brisk, almost impatient kiss.

‘Of course I remember what you look like,’ he said, releasing her. ‘Don’t insult me. Or yourself. Even I, irresponsible reprobate though you think me, occasionally put practical matters ahead of pleasure.’

Temperance caught her breath as a vivid image of the fire filled her mind. How could she have forgotten it, even for a few moments? Before she could speak, she heard feet clattering down the stairs.

‘Mistress, is it you?’ Her housemaid, Sarah, burst into the shop, with Isaac close behind. ‘What are we going to do?’

‘I don’t—’ Temperance began, for once in her life uncertain what to do next.

‘Pack up and be ready to leave,’ Jack said.

‘What?’ She turned to stare at him.

‘The waterwheels beneath the bridge have already been destroyed,’ he said. ‘Burning timbers fell on them from above. I saw the damage myself. No water can be drawn up from the river, even if it were possible to get close enough to the flames to douse them. And people have been smashing open water pipes in an effort to save their own homes. If the wind doesn’t abate, nothing will stop the spread of the fire.’

Temperance pressed her fingers to her mouth. A few moments ago she’d been kissing Jack. Her body was still flushed with the sensations he’d aroused. Now her thoughts turned sickeningly to the disaster that had overtaken the east of the City.

‘It’s still a quarter of a mile away at least,’ she whispered. ‘Surely…’

‘Pray for the wind to drop and a rainstorm to equal the deluge,’ said Jack almost brutally. ‘Perhaps the fire won’t spread this far—but it is better to be safe than burnt.’

In the silence following his words, Sarah began to cry. Temperance swallowed and tried to gather her wits. She looked around the shop. She’d lived here all her life. Through every crisis that had visited London during her lifetime she’d known at least her home was secure.

‘Go where?’ she asked. ‘How far? Everyone I know lives within a few streets of here.’

‘In the first instance, to Bundle’s Coffeehouse in Covent Garden,’ said Jack. ‘Bundle’s an old friend of mine. It’s nearly one and a half miles from the heart of the fire. God willing, it won’t spread—’

He broke off at the sound of running footsteps. A second later Temperance saw a woman in the doorway.

‘Is my Katie here?’ Nellie Carpenter half-sobbed her desperate question.

‘Katie? No. Nellie, what—?’

‘Oh, dear God!’ Nellie spun around. She was almost out of the door before Temperance managed to catch her arm.

‘Is Katie lost?’

‘I went out to hear the latest news.’ Nellie heaved in a shuddering breath. ‘She was by my side, I swear. I told her not to leave my side. But the next time I looked she was gone.’ Tears streamed unheeded down Nellie’s cheeks. ‘I’ve got to find her.’ She tried to pull out of Temperance’s grip.

‘Who is Katie?’ Jack was right beside Temperance.

‘Her daughter. She’s five,’ Temperance said. ‘I’ll help, Nellie—’

‘We’ll all help,’ said Jack. ‘Nellie, show us where you were standing the last time you saw her. And you two…’ he glanced over at Isaac and Sarah ‘…do you know what Katie looks like? Good, come with us.’

They spent the rest of the day searching the streets for the lost child, while ash fell on them continuously and the fire crept closer to Cheapside. By nightfall Nellie was almost collapsing from despair and terror.

‘We have to keep looking!’ she insisted, her voice harsh with desperation. ‘We have to—’

‘We will,’ said Jack, his voice as firm and confident as it had been that morning. ‘We won’t give up until she is found. I won’t give up until she is found.’

Tears filled Temperance’s eyes when she heard his avowal. Yesterday she’d almost decided he was a scoundrel without a conscience—today he was steadfastly looking for a child he didn’t know. It was true that, unlike many of the other searchers, he didn’t have a business to save, but it was still the act of a generous, compassionate man.

After dark, Jack insisted Temperance and Isaac stay together, but otherwise the search continued as before. Finally, well past midnight, Isaac spotted Katie huddled in a doorway. She was almost hidden behind a pile of rubbish. Temperance hadn’t seen her. She thanked God for Isaac’s quick eyes as she lifted the frightened child into her arms.

A few minutes later Nellie snatched Katie into her own embrace, scolding and crying over her restored daughter.

Jack took the key from her and opened the shop door, lifting the lanthorn he held high to provide light for the others as they stumbled inside.

‘Now we eat,’ he said. ‘What have you got in your larder?’

‘Eat?’ Temperance rubbed her face, smearing tears and ash across her cheek. ‘I don’t know. There’s some bread. Bacon. Cheese, I think…’

‘Now there’s a feast for a hungry man. Will you give me a share, even though I can’t play for it?’ he asked, a hint of his former teasing manner in his voice.

‘Of course.’ Temperance was too worried to reply in kind. How was she going to save her goods now? All the previous day she’d seen tradesmen packing their wares and household belongings into carts and barrows. They’d found Katie, and she’d never regret the hours they’d spent looking for her, but would there still be time to salvage her belongings?

Fear compelled her up the stairs, past the kitchen and on to the attic. Horror stopped her breath as she stared towards the fire. In the daylight it had been bad enough, in the dark it was a terrifying sight. The flames lit up the sky almost as bright as day. They were closer now, leaping over rooftops, dancing like obscene devils over church spires.

She gazed, transfixed, by the nightmarish spectacle. Jack came to stand by her side.

‘You’re right,’ she said, her voice harsh with anxiety. ‘We have to pack up and leave.’

‘After we’ve eaten,’ he replied.

‘There’s no time—’