Lady Rogue Read Free Page A

together in a "V" as he questioned the feminine newcomer in their midst.  Dawn answered every inquiry with a truthful reply, pouring out the entire story in her need for comfort. 
    "Orphans ye be?"  The mouth beneath th e mustache twisted into a grimace.  "Wi' no plaice to go.  Such a pity." 
    Dawn saw the wink he gave the others but didn't grasp its meaning.  All she knew was that suddenly she and Robbie were being welcomed into the little band.  There was no retribution, only generosity.  He gave them food--carrots and ham—and told them to make themselves comfortable.  His was the first measure of kindness they had been granted since before their father's death.  Was it any wonder they capitulated to his churlish charm?
    "Ye 'ave an 'ome wi' us fer as long as ye loike.  All that I ask is that ye do as I want.  Cooperate wi' me, ye might saiy.  We're all one big family 'ere, ain't we, Tweezer?"  The ga p-toothed boy nodded his head.
    "Family..."  The word sounded wonderful to Dawn.  To belo ng once again, she and Robbie.
    "Would ye loike to stay?"  A grin slashed its way across Black John Dunn's face as he asked the question.
    "Yes.  Oh, yes."  How could she say otherwise?  Searchingly she looked over at Ro bbie, relieved when he agreed.
    "Good.  Good. Now there's a little matter of yer schooling .  Just 'ow much do yer know?"
    "Robbie and I know how to read and write.  How to do our sums."  A chorus of giggles answered Dawn's statement but she was undaunted.  Making a face at the youth called "Tweezer" she continued on.  "Mama taught us how to do the latest dances, so that we would know them when we got older."  Again the laughter.  Only by biting her lip did Dawn control her temper.  What boorishly rude oafs these boys were—these urchins .  Her mother had been right about them.
    "'At's all very fine."  Black John silenced the guffaws with an upraised hand.  "I 'ave it in mind ter teach ye about othe r things, 'owever," he said.  "Skills, 'at will 'elp yer to survive.  Lessons 'at will 'elp yer cheat the 'angman."
    Dawn and Robbie didn't understand the full import of the robber-chief's words then , but in the coming days they would come to understand.  By then it was too late.  Those who Black John Dunn took under his wing he never let go.  True to his word he schooled them in the art of thievery.  The children became part of the underworld, losing their innocence forever.
     
     
     
     

PART ONE :  A Thief’s Angel
    London - 1810
     
    “He that prigs what isn’t his’n,
    When he’s cotched’ll go to prison……..”
    --“Happy” Webb
    (quoted by Lord William Lennox)
     
     
     

Chapter One
     
    Rays of brilliant sunlight danced down upon London’s church spires and  rooftops, giving promise of a scorching July day. Even so, Dawn Leighton kept her white mob-cap  pulled down tightly over her dark brown curls.  Blending in with the servants, workmen and day-people  of the city, she assessed the pickings of the day.  From the corner of her eye she watched her brother Robbie merge into the crowd, moving  cautiously, yet effortlessly so as not to attract attention.
    "Dust-ho!  Dust-ho!"  Ringing a bell , the dust-man called out as he tried his best to clean the streets of litter and grime.  Coughing and choking on the powdery dirt stirred up by his broom, Dawn rubbed at her eyes, narrowly escaping being run down by the rumbling wheels of a market cart as it clattered over the rough cobblestones of the street.  Forgetting herself, in her anger she raised her fists, giving vent to a curse that inspired an ostler's stare.  Much to her dismay, the man fell into step a few paces behind her.  Pretending not to notice, she strolled along, feigning interest in the shops as she walked untill she outdistanced him.
    "Pancakes !" cried out a shrill voice.
    "Dumplins!  Dumplins!  Diddle, diddle, dumplins ho!" called  another, vying for her trade.  The city never slept.