The Dollar Prince's Wife Read Online Free PDF

his physical and sartorial splendours. The man who was busy bandaging the tart’s wounds, and the two young women who were looking after the tea were as bemused by him as the down and outs whom they were tending.
    For the moment he kept the child hidden beneath his cloak.
    â€˜I am told that you save souls—and bodies—here,’ he drawled, looking around him. ‘I need your help and I see that I was told aright.’
    â€˜That is true,’ said the Captain, walking forward. A middle-aged man of undistinguished face and figure, he had been seated at a desk at the back of the hall, writing in aledger. ‘What may we do for you? We are always ready to help a soul in need.’
    â€˜Oh, your help is not required for me, sir. At least, not this time. In fact I fear that I may be unsaveable at any time. But I do need advice of the most delicate nature, and if there is a room where we may speak privately, I should be grateful if we might retire there.’
    The Captain looked at Cobie, at his easy air of authority, his aura of wealth and power. What advice could he possibly be in need of?
    â€˜Very well. Come this way, please.’ So saying, he led the way into a small room off the main hall.
    â€˜Now, what may I do for you?’
    Cobie smiled—and unfurled his cloak.
    â€˜I repeat, not for me, sir. It is this poor child for whom I need your assistance. You understand that there are few places where I may take her without suspicion falling on me.’
    By now the little girl in her tawdry and unsuitable finery was fully revealed. She slid gratefully down Cobie’s long length to sit on the floor.
    â€˜Coo-er, mister, that were hard work, that were.’
    â€˜You see now why I asked for somewhere a little more private, Captain,’ Cobie said. ‘This is not a pretty story, and neither of us would welcome publicity—even though it is a mission of mercy on which we are engaged.’
    The Captain nodded. He offered the little girl a chair, but he and Cobie remained standing.
    â€˜Now,’ he said, ‘Tell me your story—although I think that I can imagine the gist of it.’
    â€˜The trade in children being neither new nor rare, I am sure that you can. I believe that some years ago the Salvation Army found itself in trouble when it tried to reveal the facts to a disbelieving world.’
    â€˜That is so,’ agreed the Captain, surprised a little by the knowledge of the arrogant and handsome young man before him—even more surprised to find that he had seen fit to rescue a child from the slums. ‘You are referring to the Stead case, I take it, sir, when those who were trying to save exploited children were sent to prison and those who exploited them escaped punishment. You are saying that you have knowledge of something similar?’
    â€˜Oh, come.’ Cobie’s voice was as satiric as he could make it. ‘You are not about to pretend that, living and working where you do, near to the Haymarket, you are unaware of what goes on—’
    He was rudely interrupted by the little girl standing up and tugging at his hand, ‘I’m hungry, mister.’
    To the Captain’s further surprise the young dandy before him went down on one knee, took a large handkerchief from an inner pocket of his immaculately cut jacket, and carefully began to clean the child’s face.
    â€˜So you must be,’ he told her gently. ‘Do you think we could ask this gentleman to find you something to eat while he and I talk about what to do with you?’
    She nodded, and then suddenly grasped his hand again. She kissed it, gasping, ‘Oh, Gawd, mister, you won’t send me back, will you? Let me eat in here. I feel safe wiv you.’
    â€˜No, I won’t send you back, I promise. I’ll find somewhere safe for you to go.’
    He stood up again, and thought, My God, and now the rage is making me rescue slum children, when all I