Page 106 of The Bastard's Iberian Bride
Oh yes, she was at a prime age to take charge of those who crossed her path. Or who crossed her.
She frowned, bent for the weapons, and retrieved her coins. Except for those very few, who would see through the game she played? There were two such inthisgroup of the girl’s pursuers. In the other group—bah, Agruen was a snake in his own adder pit. His retainers had no loyalty. One only had to find the key and the right way to twist it. Money usually, or sometimes a swiving. She had little of the first and would not give away the latter, but she would think of something.
She considered moving the man into the brush and decided against it. Let them find him splattered along the road. His presence would be yet one more distraction.
She dragged the saddle that had fallen from the cart bed. The mare eyed her and ducked her head twice.
“Ah, this is what you like, clever girl.” She stroked the long nose. “If I could I would take you home with me.”
The horse pranced and shook, accepting the saddle, and allowing herself to be led into a thicket, where Mrs. Nichols stripped out of her gown, tied on a neck cloth and mounted.
Paulette strode confidentlynext to Bink, balancing their gear at both sides, goggling like the rustic she was pretending to be.
She’d never seen so many people in one place at one time. Bink had insisted it would be like this until well into the wee hours, and then had told her to shut up, quite rudely, because they’d been passing some men on the street, and it was his way of making her duck her head.
Along the way he’d explained the geography—Hampstead, and Mayfair, the East End, and the City, just as though he was talking to an ignorant servant boy.
The City was where they would go tomorrow to visit Mr. Tellingford, the solicitor who held her trust. Her trustees were no longer part of her mission. She was married now, and the trust was ended. Their marriage had been recorded at Gretna, and Bink had the proof stored away in a pocket. That much she knew.
She caught the eye of a well-dressed young lady no older than herself and quickly dropped her eyes and her shoulders.
He’d explained she must slump and act servile. That was why he’d saddled her with carrying the small satchels that weren’t truly heavy yet were making her arms ache.
“How much further, master?” She pitched her voice lower. They’d walked for miles, it seemed, since checking their horses in at a stable.
“Shush, boy.”
They turned a corner. Bink stopped abruptly and entered a store. It was a gentleman’s store, thank the Lord. Had it been one of the ladies’ shops they’d passed, she would have been taxed beyond all ability to not ooh and ah.
The shop clerk approached and asked if he could help them.
“My Lord’s arrival from the country is imminent, and he wants his manservants in new livery.”
She’d heard Bink adopt this clipped aristocratic accent before, but never with so long a nose, as if he was his Lordship himself. He’d wiped the haughty look right off the clerk’s face, and explained the hideous coating of road dust they both bore, all in one sentence. For all his dislike of spies, perhaps he’d done some spying himself. She must ask him.
“I’ve hired a tailor for the coats and the trousers, but the other garments—”
“Certainly, we can help you. And this will be for Lord…”
Bink studied a display of linens. “How quickly can you deliver?”
Perspiration dotted the man’s brow. “We have the largest stock in London and tailors at the ready. I could fit out your boy here tonight. Er, how many servants are we speaking about?”
“Four footmen, two houseboys, six grooms, and the butler of course.”
“You are not the butler?”
The gaze he leveled the man would wither the bark off a tree. “I am his Lordship’s steward.”
The man took a step back and bowed. “Of course, of course. Er, which lord is it?”
“You will know that when I return, tomorrow or the next day.” Bink handed him a coin. “For your trouble. Now show us your back exit.”
The man blinked twice.
Bink handed him another coin. “I shall give you the sale when I return. I shall ask for you.”
What passed just then, Paulette wasn’t sure, but the man’s face went blank and he beckoned them to follow him.
