Quick, Amanda by With This Ring

Author:With This Ring [Ring, With This]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2010-07-24T02:18:14.822000+00:00

Chapter 11

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The specter hovered there, mouth agape in silent warning. But it was too late for a change of heart.

FROM CHAPTER ELEVEN OF The Ruin BY MRS. AMELIA YORK

The three short knocks came less than fifteen minutes later. Beatrice was not startled. She and Leo had

watched the lanterns of the returning searchers moments earlier.

Pistol in hand, Leo went to the door and opened it. Beatrice shook out her crumpled skirts. She felt as if

she had just been caught up in the vortex of a ferociously exciting storm. She feared that she also looked

that way. She still felt warm and flustered and she knew that her hair was in a dreadful tangle.

Leo, on the other hand, looked the way he always did, casually, effortlessly, elegantly in control. His

clothing did not even appear to be rumpled. It was not at all fair, she thought.

"Whew." Clarinda wrinkled her nose as she walked into the small room. "Thought I'd aired the place out

after my last customer. Sorry, I didn't do a proper job of it. Ye should have opened the window. Oh."

She broke off to give Beatrice's disheveled figure a quick, knowing survey. "Well, now. Looks like the

two of ye found a way to pass the time while I was gone. "

Leo glided smoothly in front of Beatrice, shielding her from Clarinda's view. "What did you learn in the

tavern?"

"Yes, Clarinda." Beatrice stepped out from behind Leo and smiled at the other woman. "Any useful

news?"

"One or two things." Clarinda tossed aside her worn cloak, plopped down on the edge of the bed,

kicked off her shoes, and began to massage one stocking-clad foot. "Ye can rest easy. The hunt is over

for the night. Ginwilly Jack's assistants lost interest once the fog sank into their bones. They're all back in

the tavern, warming themselves with ale and gin."

"Ginwilly Jack?" Leo repeated softly.

"The coachman what tried to nab the two of ye. His friend is called Ned Longtooth. Ned's not too bright,

if ye take my meanin'." Clarinda tapped her head. "He does whatever Ginwilly says."

"Did they go back to the tavern with the others?"

"Ginwilly Jack did. But he sent Ned off to retrieve the coach and team they had to leave in the street

when they followed ye." Clarinda chuckled. "I doubt Ned will find the carriage waitin'. Not in this

neighborhood. Ginwilly Jack will have to steal another one. He won't like havin' to go to the trouble, I

can tell ye."

"This Ginwilly Jack," Leo said slowly. "Do you know where he can be found?"

Beatrice glanced at him sharply but said nothing. Clarinda shrugged. "Don't know where he keeps his

lodgings. But I know where he'll be for the rest of the night." "The tavern?" Leo asked.

"Bloody right. He ain't named Ginwilly for nothing, ye know. After a job, he likes his gin."

"I see." Leo produced a few more banknotes and handed them to Clarinda. "You've been very helpful.

We'll be on our way now."

Clarinda fanned the money. "For what ye've paid me, yer welcome to spend the night.

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