Page 81 of The Swordmaster's Daughter

“I hear you know about the Sisters?”

“I do indeed.”

“Father, please forgive me,” she started.

“Nothing to forgive.” He took both of her hands with his one strong and whole hand. “I was cross with you for defying me, but, on balance, I am proud of what you have done. You uncovered the man who committed these dreadful crimes. Not only did you find him, you fought him, and you won.”

“Only because of how well you taught me.”

“Which brings me to confess. I was right to stop you dressing as a man and trying to pretend to be my son, but I was wrong to stop you keeping up your fighting skills. “

“All the time I was trying to be a boy, I was only trying to please you. I thought you wished it was Lucian who had survived and wanted a son to carry on your work.”

He pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head. “You are carrying on my work with this Sisterhood of yours. Women should know how to defend themselves, a sad truth in this day and age. I see that now, with all that has occurred, but you could not be more wrong if you think I would love you more if you were my son. I love you for the wonderful daughter that you are.”

You will make me cry,” Lucinda sputtered.

“As it was when you were a child. Nary a tear if I spanked or disciplined you, but if I told you how much I valued you, it would end in a flood. That is my excuse for not telling you it oft enough. Will you forgive me?”

She used his own words back at him. “Truly, there is nothing to forgive.” He wrapped his arms around her, though they could no longer meet given the absence of his lower arm. She filled in the gap with her own forearm, thus making the circle complete.

In the aftermath of the Corvacho business, Moll had gone to ground. No one had seen her since she brought the message to Whitefriars. No one had heard from her. Both “Mal” and Moll had completely disappeared, so no one was more surprised than Lucinda when she turned up a week later at the next meeting of the Sisters of the Sword, minus her pipe and wearing a dress.

Lucinda drew her aside out of hearing of the others. “What happened to you?”

“I could ask the same of you. McCrae sent me to deliver a message, and when I came back to Corvacho’s room, there were men with swords guarding the door. What happened to the treacherous beast?”

“I am afraid I am not permitted to say, and we must never mention his name.”

Moll stood with her hands on her hips, lips compressed, shaking her head. “If I didn’t know you better, I’d think they bought your silence.”

“Of course not—”

“Threatened you then?”

“No. No. Nothing like that.” Lucinda tugged at the end of her sleeve doing her best to infuse her voice with conviction but with limited success. “I was questioned of course and then sworn to secrecy.”

“For the sake of that scum?”

“A lot more is at stake. But what of you? Why did you disappear?”

“I had good reason to make myself scarce.” Moll had planted her backside on an upright barrel, legs sprawled apart as if she was still wearing breeches. “I knew they would try and pin it on me if the bastard died. Did he die? Please tell me he died, or there will be a queue to finish the job.”

“Honestly, I do not know. All I know is that we must never mention it, or there will be terrible consequences. Please trust me on this.”

“We have to tell the others something.”

“We cannot. I have promised.”

“You may have promised but I have not.”

Before Lucinda could stop her, Moll gathered the other Sisters together and announced that according to her sources, the rapist had been caught and dealt with.

“What do you mean by dealt with?” Annie asked.

Moll held up her hands to signal she had nothing more to add. “That’s all I know and don’t put the screws on Lucinda for more information. She is in enough trouble for what happened here.”

“What happened here?” they all said in unison.

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