Perfect Bride Read Free Page A

from the cloak. And it was on her belly that his gaze lingered.
    But not in the way she hoped.
    “Oh, I can see,” Freddie said with a wink. “And we be glad to see ye like the laddies, eh, Harry?”
    Harry bowed to her with a great flourish. “Indeed, Freddie.”
    Freddie’s narrow lips twisted in a smile. He gave a nod. “What’s that ye have there in yer pocket?”
    Devon paled. Too late she realized she had done the one thing in the world she should never have done. Her hands had plunged protectively into the pockets of her gown. Her mind sprang to the knife tucked away in her boot. Drat, but they were so close! They would be upon her before she could reach it!
    She dragged her hands out so they could see. “Nothing,” she said quickly. “Now leave me be!”
    “Let’s just ’ave a look, shall we?”
    This was a feat with which they were familiar and quite accomplished. Harry’s nimble fingers found the pouch with her precious stash of coins in one pocket. With a hoot Freddie snatched her necklace from the other.
    Something exploded inside her.
    “No!” she cried. They could steal her coin, beat her senseless, but they would not take her necklace! The only way she would see it gone was if they left her dead on the street. Heedless of the danger, she re acted without thinking, darting after Freddie. Harry had already disappeared into the murky depths of the alley, but Devon paid no mind. Throwing out a hand, she managed to grab a fistful of Freddie’s coat.
    It was enough to topple him. Together they tum bled heavily to the ground. But all at once he had her by the throat. “Bitch!” He squeezed; she could feel the ragged edge of his nails biting into the soft flesh just below her jaw.
    She struggled to breathe. A faint, choking sound emerged...it bore no resemblance to a scream. She raked at his face, but it was no use. Then she remem bered...
    The knife tucked at the side of her boot.
    Freddie squeezed. Devon clawed at him desper ately, certain her neck would snap with the pressure of his bony fingers. A grating laugh seared the air.
    The world blackened. Desperately she fought against it. Her fingertips closed about the knife’s handle. Gritting her teeth, she drove upward with all her might, then wrenched it back.
    Air rushed back into her lungs. Through the mea ger light she saw Freddie’s eyes bulge, as if they would pop from their sockets. Little did she realize the surprise on his face mirrored hers, for it was then she realized the blade had reached its mark.
    “Ye...ye’ve killed me!” he said faintly.
    Devon waited no longer. With a cry she shoved at his shoulders. Weak, stunned, Devon rolled away. As she pushed herself to her knees, she saw the knife, still in her hand. Blood dripped from the blade onto the cobblestones. In horror she let it fall from her hand.
    It was then she chanced to see her necklace, just beyond her knees. With a frantic cry of relief, she snatched it up and clasped it to her breasts.
    Behind her, there was a groan. Her heart gave a great bound. It was Freddie!
    Run! chanted a voice in her mind. You must run!
    Too late. He’d seized hold of her dagger. She twisted, even as a tremendous force hit her from be hind. She pitched forward, skidding headlong across damp, slippery stone. Searing fire burned through her, like a red-hot poker, at the place where her shoulder blade curved into her side. A scream shrilled in her ears...her own, she realized.
    In the swirling mist of her vision, she was aware of Freddie staggering to his feet and shuffling toward the alley where Harry had disappeared.
    Freddie’s dragging footsteps faded. Devon’s mind hazed. The world seemed to dangle. She felt dizzy and sick. And she’d fallen in a puddle, she realized hazily. Beneath her cheek, the cobblestones were rough and wet; she could feel the dampness seeping through her gown. Her teeth began to chatter. She had been cold before, but not like this, for this was like a numbing, icy