Dark Sapphire by Lisa Jackson

Author:Lisa Jackson [Jackson, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, historical romance
Publisher: Lisa Jackson
Published: 2011-07-06T22:36:43+00:00

Chapter Nine

“Tell us where the woman is,” Manning demanded as he pulled off a glove. In the dirt by his feet, coiled like a snake ready to strike, was a whip. “Or, my friend, I assure you, you’ll regret it.”

“I know not.” Wart was sweating, stretched between two men in the clearing, where the fire burned low and the first hint of morning light was visible above the lacy branches. They had been at this for hours—accusations from the dark knight, denials from Wart.

“Ach, you be a fool.” Manning picked up the whip and shook the sinister loops free. “Peter here says he knows you as Warren of Halliwell, that you be his cousin, isn’t that right?”

“Aye,” Peter said, his eyes narrowing on Wart. “And a thief he be, though I be ashamed to admit it. Robbed everyone in town including the baron, stole horses from him and then poached in the forest. Some say he was even a spy. Warren, he be the rotten apple in the family, fer sure. Caused his parents, nothing but shame, he did. His old father, he disowned him.”

Manning smoothed the whip with his fingers. “Then he’s a wanted man with a price upon his head.”

“Aye, the Lord of Halliwell would pay well for his return.”

“What have ye to say to these charges?” Manning asked.

“Peter’s me cousin, aye, and he be a liar. From the time he was a lad he couldna tell the truth.” Wart spat out the words though fingers of fear were clutching his heart, making it difficult to breathe. He’d been flogged before, knew the bite of a whip against his back and hated it.

Manning fingered the whip thoughtfully. “It matters not what ye be running from, but ‘tis important that you tell me about the lady, Sheena of Tardiff. I know she boarded the Dark Sapphire, ye see. I have men posted at all the ports, and one saw her climb the gangplank, so all I want from you is the name of the ship’s next port.”

“I know not. I told ye I was not aboard any ship.”

Manning sighed impatiently, deep grooves visible around his mouth. “Several of my men disagree. They saw you in the tavern the night we chased the lady into the town, and later one man witnessed that you boarded the ship.”

“’Twas not me.”

“Liar,” Peter accused. High overhead, hidden in the branches a crow let out a throaty caw. “I saw ye with mine own eyes, though I could not believe it.”

“So, tell me,” Manning said, obviously straining to keep his patience under rein, “Where is the Dark Sapphire going to dock? We know her route was northward, we’ve checked along the seacoast in the towns where she stopped. I’ve spies at each village so I will find out the truth, but ‘twould be easier and less painful for you if you were to give up that information now.”

Wart snorted. “And then ye would let me go free?”

“You would stay on, as my guest, of course… until we locate the lady.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.