Amidst this banter, Emma let out a small moan.

“Oh my!” Sophie exclaimed. “She’s coming around.”

“Who is she, anyway?” Charlie suddenly demanded. “And why did she jump on top of me?”

Sophie’s mouth fell open. “I cannot believe you just said that. You, dear boy, were almost run over by a hack. If this nice lady hadn’t saved you, you might’ve been trampled!”

Charlie’s little mouth formed a large o. “I thought maybe she was just a little crazy.”

“What?” Sophie shrieked. “You mean you didn’t even see the carriage? You’re going to have to learn to be more careful.”

Sophie’s loud voice made Emma’s head pound even harder. She moaned again, wishing that these people would give her just a few minutes of silence.

“Hush, Sophie,” Alex admonished. “Your shrieking is obviously bothering her. She needs a bit of quiet before her head stops hurting enough for her to open her eyes.”

Emma sighed. Obviously there was at least one person in the carriage with common sense.

“I know, I know. I’m trying. I am. It’s just—”

“Look, Soph,” Alex interrupted. “Why don’t you go to a market and get some eggs to replace the ones she dropped? There’s a terrible mess over there. It looks as if nearly all of them are broken.”

“You want me to get eggs?” Sophie’s brows furrowed together as she contemplated such an improbable act.

“It can’t be that difficult to purchase eggs, Sophie. I understand that people do it every day. I saw a market a few blocks back. Take my coachman with you. He’ll carry them back.”

“I don’t know if it’s proper for you to be alone in this carriage with her.”

“Sophie,” Alex ground out between his teeth. “She’s just a kitchen maid. Nobody is going to demand that I marry her for a few minutes alone in a carriage. For God’s sake, just go and get the blasted eggs!”

Sophie drew back. She knew better than to push her older brother’s temper too far. “Oh, all right.” She turned around and daintily stepped out of the carriage.

“Take the boy with you!” Alex called out. “And keep your eye on him this time!”

Sophie stuck her tongue out at him and took Charlie’s hand. “Now, Charlie,” she scolded. “You must always look both ways before you cross a street. Just watch me.” She made a great show of craning her neck in all directions. Charlie laughed loudly and jumped up and down.

Alex smiled and turned back to the maid, who was stretched out along the cushioned seat of his coach. He couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw her race across the street and knock Charlie out of the way of the hack. Bravery was not something he was accustomed to seeing in women, yet this mysterious young maid had just displayed a great deal of that quality. He was drawn to her—he had to admit that. And he wasn’t sure why. She certainly wasn’t his usual type. Well, he didn’t really have much of a “type” when it came to women, but if he did, he was fairly sure this little red-haired thing wouldn’t be it. But still, he could tell that she wasn’t anything like the women with whom he usually consorted. He certainly couldn’t imagine the young ladies of the ton his mother was constantly throwing his way risking their lives to save Charlie. And the same held true for the more mature women with whom he spent his evenings. He was intrigued by this uncommon female.

And now she was unconscious, having hit her head with a sickening thud when she and Charlie landed on the cobbles. Alex gazed down at her as he brushed a lock of soft auburn hair away from her eyes. She moaned again, and Alex decided he’d never heard such a soft, sweet sound.

Damn it all, what was wrong with him? He knew better than to get romantic over some serving girl. Alex groaned, thoroughly disgusted by the primitive emotions coursing through him. He couldn’t deny that the young woman had somehow affected him deeply. His heart had started pounding wildly the moment he’d seen her lying lifeless in the street, and he hadn’t calmed down until he’d assured himself that she was not seriously injured. After checking for broken bones, he’d picked her up and carried her gently back to the carriage. She was small and light, fitting perfectly against his large frame.

Sophie, of course, had wailed the entire time. Thank the Lord he’d been able to get his sister to fetch some more eggs. Her sobs were driving him crazy, but more importantly, he wanted to be alone with the maid when she woke up.

Alex kneeled on the floor beside her. “Come on, my sweet,” he coaxed, gently pressing his lips against her temple. “It’s time to open your eyes. I’m dying to see what color they are.”

Emma moaned again as she felt a large hand gently stroke her cheek. The throbbing pain in her head began to subside, and she sighed with relief. Her eyelids slowly fluttered open, and she was momentarily blinded by the bright sunlight that streamed through the carriage windows.

“Aaaah,” she groaned, squeezing her eyes shut.

“Does the light bother you?” Alex was on his feet instantly, pulling the drapes over the windows. He returned immediately to her side.

Emma let out a long breath and opened her eyes ever so slightly. Then she opened them even wider. A man was peering intently at her, his tanned face a scant few inches from her own. A thick lock of midnight black hair fell rakishly over his forehead. Emma longed to reach up and see if it felt as soft as it looked. Then he touched her cheek again. “You gave us quite a scare, you know. You’ve been unconscious for nearly ten minutes.”