His Lady Midnight Read Free Page B

her. He was a big man and strong, and he would have forced anyone who might be thinking of doing something foolish to think again. A single shout would bring him running, but she did not want to tip her hand until absolutely necessary.
    â€œYe’ve been gone so long,” she said. “I got tired of waitin’ on ye.”
    â€œWe ain’t got time for no curtain lecture from yer woman,” growled the sailor. “Told ye what we want.”
    â€œAnd I told ye it was too much. I already offered ye two guineas more than last time. It’ll be the best I can do.”
    â€œNot enough for my mates and me.” He squinted. “’Ow ’bout the lass? She got some gold on ’er?”
    â€œThe missus ain’t got nothin’ worth nothin’.” Jasper edged Phoebe a half step behind him as he added, “Told ye my best offer.”
    â€œAin’t good enough.”
    â€œThen we’ve got nothin’ more to say to ye. If ye don’t want my price, then I shall find someone who will.”
    â€œJasper!” she whispered. “We can’t go without—”
    He scowled at her. “This ain’t yer business, woman.”
    As he turned her to walk away, the sailor shouted, “Wait!”
    â€œAin’t got nothin’ left to say.” Jasper kept walking.
    â€œWait!” called the man.
    â€œJasper,” she whispered, “if they want to negotiate, we have to listen to them.”
    â€œGive it a minute. They’ll be beggin’ us to come back.” He chuckled softly. “Some of the tars are just more stubborn than the others. In a minute, they’ll—”
    Something exploded through the night. Phoebe gasped as Jasper reeled against her, knocking her into some barrels. When he cursed, she pulled him away from the stack as it began to wobble. The barrels toppled to the wharf with a crash that was not as ear shattering as the first explosion.
    Jasper began to run through the swirls of the fog, tugging her after him. She did not hesitate. Gathering up her skirt, she followed. Then she passed him. In amazement, she turned. She had never been able to outrun Jasper, even though she was two years older than him and had been trying to best him since they were children on her father’s estate in Kent.
    â€œJasper, what’s wrong?”
    â€œThey got me.” All hints of his dockside accent vanished, warning her that something was terribly amiss.
    â€œGot you?”
    He pulled her behind a stack of wooden cases and down an alley. When he reached a corner, he peered along it. She had no idea what he hoped to see as the fog grew even thicker. He drew her to the left. He threw open a door, then closed it behind them.
    Phoebe paid no attention to the scent of horses that warned they were in the back of a stable. When Jasper collapsed to the ground, his hand pressed to his right thigh, she knelt beside him. She pushed aside his hand, even though he warned her away.
    Blood glistened in the dim light. Slipping her hand under his leg, she smiled grimly as her bracelet jangled against the stone floor. Damp there, too. That was good, because the ball must have gone clear through the flesh of his leg. Reaching into her bodice, she pulled out a kerchief and pressed it to the wound.
    He groaned, but ordered, “Go! You can’t be seen here.”
    â€œBut you—”
    She was amazed when he grinned. “I’ve come to know these docks better than the river rats do. They have not caught me before this. They won’t catch me tonight.”
    â€œI can’t leave you hurt.”
    â€œI shall be fine. The chap who takes care of the beasts here is a friend.” He muttered something under his breath, something she was sure she should not ask him to repeat more loudly. “If you go right out to the front, the carriage should be just to your left.”
    â€œSo close?”
    â€œAye. Arranged that with