Page 126 of The Bastard's Iberian Bride
That news sparked a flash in Filomena’s eyes.
Paulette’s blood raced.I got my part of this puzzle from another whore. Filomena De Silva was the other so-called whore.
“Let us start with the letter and we will puzzle this out. You.” He snapped his fingers again at his assistant. “Bring paper and ink, and then untie her. And dear Paulette, if you try anything, your cousin here will suffer.”
Heknew Filomena was her cousin?
They were all spies together, hunting, beating, or blackmailing each other. But he was English, so if he was being blackmailed, that meant he must have betrayed his country, and perhaps her father had evidence of it. Perhaps there was no treasure after all, but only a blackmailer’s tool. She would gladly exchange it for her life. England had done nothing for her, after all, except to steal her father’s life and leave her husband with a legacy of guilt.
She looked briefly at the sharpened point of the quill. Agruen saw and smiled evilly. She shrugged and paused over the inkpot.
My love, I am safe for now, being held in a foul garret I’m guessing to be in the East End since I saw more sailors on the streets and I did not pass that way in the morning. Fil has been beaten savagely but still smirks and snarls. You must bring the letter and then you must kill him because he threatens to rape and kill me anyway.
“Get on with it,” Agruen growled.
She could not write that of course. “I am framing my words.”
Dear Mr. Gibson
No. She set her pen to the paper.
DearMr GibsonHusband,
I live. Agruen wants my father’s letter to my mother.
“What instructions do you wish me to add?”
“Write ‘The person delivering this missive will provide instructions.’”
The pen scratched as she wrote.
Agruen went on, “‘If he does not return within one hour alone with the letter…’” her hand trembled during the pause. The script would be hard to read. “‘Lord Agruen will personally deliver one of the fingers I used to hold the quill for this letter.’”
She swallowed hard and the tip of the pen broke on the evil man’s name.
“Drat.” She dipped the spoiled tip and scrawled
threatens more evil.
love, P
Agruen took the paper. “You do not follow orders well.”
She gripped the pen tightly, her rage building within her and warring with her fear. Take her finger would he? “It will suffice.” When she spoke, her voice grated like she’d swallowed sharp stones. “I should like my mother’s ring back. It is of no use to you.”
He smiled. Laughed. “She makes demands, Fil. She is so like you.” He gripped Paulette’s chin. “Do not think to use that flimsy quill. My knife will be quicker, and then I’ll send Shaldon’s by-blow a hand instead of merely a finger.” He slammed her ear to the table, and the shock clattered through her. “Bind her again, and then come with me.”
Bink grippedthe edge of the table he sat upon, taking each sharp stab of the surgeon’s needle without whimper. If his pain could spare hers, please God let it be done.
“Hurry up, man,” he said through clenched teeth. She’d been gone for more than an hour. It had taken mere minutes for the surgeon to arrive at this so called solicitor’s office, another few minutes to strip him and probe, and another hour to pull all the pieces of linen and wool from what was merely a long, wicked flesh wound.
Bakeley sat in a chair watching the surgeon’s work. His guard, he was, but as soon as the leech was done Bink would be out the door. His brother was welcome to come. He did, after all, have their brother Charley to play the next Lord Shaldon.
“Sit still, brother. That wound is deep.”
“I’ve had worse from French sabres.”
His Lordship stood and started pacing.
