Page 132 of The Rogue's Last Scandal
“It’s all right, Charley.” She shook her head and blinked. “No, but they are sailors or lumpers, someone from the docks, I’d say.”
“Yes. This adds a new wrinkle.” Charley’s father beckoned a man. “We shall see if that one is able to talk. Get a bucket of water.”
A child’s piercing shriek came from the house.Dios, while she sniffled and cried, her baby was terrified.
“Go,” Charley released her, eyes burning.
She grabbed his arm. “You come, too. You always calm her.”
“It’s you she needs now. I’m going to see what this one says.”
She glanced at her captor. He didn’t move.
The other one, the one who’d taken Reina, was shaking off water and stirring.
Another wail split the twilight and tore into her heart. She dropped a kiss on his cheek and left, vaguely aware of a footman shadowing her. She’d be guarded everywhere she went, and Reina also. She’d have no freedom now at all.
Llewellyn would pay for this.
Inside, Reina sprawled on the kitchen floor kicking, crying, holding her breath, a circle of women around her.
Graciela pushed her way through them and dropped to her knees.
Outside, Charley stood with his father, watching their men help the footman to his feet, as well as the villain he’d coshed. The other…
“Damn it, Father, I don’t want her out there tonight.”
“I know. Yet she’llwantrevenge.”
“Aye,” Kincaid said, joining them. “She truly is a colonial girl. That was a poke right to the kidney. Captain Kingsley taught her well.” He clapped Charley on the shoulder. “Ye’ve got yourself a brave lass.”
“Braver than either of you could ever imagine,” Charley said.
Father cast him a curious look, but held his questions. Not that Charley would share Graciela’s secrets.
And…did she have more?I’ll go to him, she’d said to that bastard.
He shook off his doubts. She’d been bluffing, buying time until help arrived.
Behind them, the man Charley had coshed groaned.
“Ah, very good,” Kincaid said. “Let’s get this one to spill his guts.”
By the timethey’d reached the nursery, Reina had slipped into a hiccupping whimper. Settling her into sleep required a hot meal, a posset, and a good deal of rocking, but she finally slipped off.
With Lady Perry and Lady Jane standing watch, a nursery maid on duty, and a footman in the corridor outside, Graciela went to change out of her bloodied gown.
On the walk to her bedchamber, Francisca said nothing. When the door closed on them, she silently pulled Graciela into her arms, pressing her tight to her thin breast.
“Thanks be to God,” the maid said.
Her dark eyes shone with tears. Graciela hadn’t seen this much emotion since Francisca returned to Veracruz and learned that her mother had died.
She took the maid’s hand. “Do not worry, we will get our revenge.”
Francisca’s mouth firmed and she nodded, and then quickly turned Graciela and began undressing her. She helped her into one of her simple, modest, colonial gowns and was lacing her up when Charley came in.
“How is Reina?” He kissed her.
