A Trio of Keys by Lee M.A

Author:Lee, M.A.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Writers Ink Books
Published: 2020-08-06T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10 ~ Repercussions

Javier collected the goblets then faded once more into the background.

“You come, I suppose, to learn how to manage the estate.”

Nico bowed his agreement. “I would learn from the master himself.”

Her cousin’s words, so like flattery, were still truth. He drew a chair closer to the bed, placing it almost exactly where Miri had sat her vigil so many nights ago. She moved to the open window to let Nico have this time with Grandfather without interference from her.

After fearing he brought a shock for their grandfather, Miri admitted this news seemed to lift a burden from the old man. She was the one in shock. Her cousin had secured his future, and she stared into years she had never before seriously contemplated.

She leaned against the iron jamb of the window. White lilies bloomed in the gardens, and jacarandas offered their blossoms to the bees. The lawn, green with spring rains, rolled down the long slope to the road that climbed up from the valley floor. Something moved on the road at its farthest distance. Did her great-aunt return from Brittesca? No, that dark movement was too small for a carriage, too large for a single rider.

“Condesa?”

The hissed word startled her as much as Nico’s appearance had. Only one man called her by that title: Jesus. Why had he not come to the door?

Miri glanced at the men, but they had heard nothing. She stepped onto the wide porch.

Jesus stood against one of the arching columns that supported the balconies of the upper floors. He had doffed his hat, and his hair plastered wetly to his head. His gaze refused to lift to hers. His scowl warned that she would not like his news.

Or she might. She’d been wrong about Nico.

“Condesa.” He bowed, the very deepness of his bend increasing her worry.

“Jesus, you could have come to the door.”

“Not like this.”

She saw then the dust covering him, the sweat plastering his dark shirt to his torso, and darker splotches on the fabric—darker splotches that looked like—. She crossed to him. “Is that blood?” she hissed in her turn.

“Not mine.”

“What has happened?”

His scowl deepened. “I have failed you.”

“That is not possible, Jesus.”

He shook his head. “I have failed you,” he repeated, the words hard as stones. “I discovered a shipment of gold would leave Brittesca this morning.”

“How did—?”

“Please, condesa, let me finish.”

The shade of the porch suddenly deepened. The air felt cold, cold as the ground when the sexton dug deep. Miri shut her mouth and nodded. She folded her arms, hugging herself as she waited.

“I discovered this, and I enlisted a few men to help me stop the coach and steal the gold, just as we did before. I thought it would be easy. Just as it was before.” He ducked his head. His hands crushed the brim of his hat. “Koldo is dead.”

She gasped.

“That is not the worst,” he added hurriedly. “The worst is that the French have taken his body back into Brittesca. I came too late.

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