Page 138 of The Rogue's Last Scandal
“Open the door, Juan.”
The voice was Llewellyn’s. Lips trembling, Graciela nodded and Juan slid back the bolt, retreating to stand with her and Francisca.
Two other men followed the Captain. She recognized one as his first mate.
She let out a huff that she hoped sounded like relief. “Captain. You came.” Her insides were shaking, and the tear she managed was real enough.
Charley was here. Farnsworth and Shaldon were in the next room, and other men, also. She was not all alone with this monster.
But she must play out her part. “I didn’t know what to do. When your note came I…I didn’t know what to do. We…Where is Reina?” She peered around him. “Did you bring her?”
“She is safe.” He glanced at Juan and Francisca, and jabbed his thumb toward the door. “Out,” he said.
Tension poured from Juan, and Francisca’s skirts rustled against hers.
“Out.” It was the voice of command, the one that made stout men of any nationality or language jump.
Juan flinched and still didn’t move.
Blood rose in her cheeks, and her lungs tightened. “My servants stay. You did say they could accompany me. And where is my child? Where have you put her? I told you to bring her.”
“There now, my dear.” Those words flowed like grease off a boiling pig hock. “Do not fret, I’m here now, and your servants must leave. And we’ll see to the child later.”
She stepped in front of Juan. “Youtoldme they could come. Without their help I would not have been able to leave Shaldon House and find these lodgings. They are family to me. I won’t leave them here. What would they do? Where would they go?”
“There now. They’ll find other work here.”
He signaled and his first mate stepped forward. A clattering of boots on the stairs and gruff voices brought the man to a halt.
The door burst open again and a shove sent Thomas flying into the room. The boy’s dark frown glittered, and he spat out a string of curses in a cant so thick she could barely understand. One of Llewellyn’s men cuffed the boy.
“’Ere now. I’ll need more blunt if ah’m to be beat on,” Thomas said gamely.
“Shut up boy.” A woman had entered, waving a pistol, another man behind her.
“La bruja,” Francisca muttered.
The witch.She was here. Graciela’s heart raced.Dios.Llewellynhadbeen setting a trap for her. Hewasa traitor.
“What on…” She took in a breath. She didn’t have to pretend this anger. “What on earth isthat cowdoing here, Captain Llewellyn? I agreed to meetyou.Get her out of here.”
He cast Lady Kingsley a look that said he was as disturbed as Graciela at her appearance, and then he spotted her valise and signaled his man to look through it.
“What…what are you doing? Stop going through my things. Captain, stop your man, andget that woman out of here. I will speak with you privately once the witch leaves.”
The lady chuckled. “Leave? Why, we are all leaving at the same time, Grace.”
“I told you to wait at the inn, Blanche.” He turned back to Graciela. “Say your farewells. Your servants are leaving.”
“Don’t see a book,” his henchman said.
“Where is your book?” he asked, all softness gone from his voice.
“What book?”
Lady Kingsley went to the discarded traveling case. “Surely you brought your little book.” She set down her pistol and riffled through the contents, pulling out clothing and meager toiletries. “It’s not here.”
“I left my prayer book at Kingsley House.”
