Beguiling Birthright by Melissa McShane

Author:Melissa McShane
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Night Harbor Publishing

CHAPTER 18

IN WHICH JENNET’S IDENTITY IS REVEALED IN A MOST DRAMATIC FASHION

The streets of Châlons-sur-Marne curved confusingly, but Falconer guided her without touching her again, merely giving verbal instructions now and then. After a few minutes, they emerged from the street into a wagon-yard attached to a larger than usual building that might be an inn.

“Here is where you must be bold, Graeme,” Falconer said quietly. “Some of these men will wish to cheat a young woman. I will back you up, but the talking must be yours. Understand?”

Jennet nodded. “Who do I speak to?”

Falconer cleared his throat and spat a gob that landed on the hard-packed earth some short distance away. Jennet choked back a laugh. “That direction,” Falconer said. “He will not have anything for sale, but he will direct you to one who does.”

Jennet looked in that direction. The wagoner nearest them did not look the sort who would be helpful. He looked, rather, as if he might tear Jennet to pieces and gnaw on her bones. Jennet swallowed. She reminded herself that she was a young woman, and had resources other than the ones Ned Graeme depended on. Before she could talk herself out of it, she walked across the wagon yard, reflecting gratefully that it was not muddy and full of puddles her silly women’s shoes would not endure.

“Excuse me, sir,” she said in French. “Can you spare a moment to help me?”

The man raised his head from where he had been contemplating his boots. Jennet lowered her eyes modestly, hating herself for trading on her femininity. She clasped her hands in front of her in a way she hoped made her look helpless and hoped he was the sort that liked being manly in front of a girl.

“What do you need, girlie?” he said. His voice was deep and rough and sounded as if he gargled with paving stones.

Jennet tilted her head slightly to one side. “My papa sent me and my brother to buy a new cart, ours having been taken by soldiers last week. You looked to be someone who knows where I might find one.”

The man straightened, and Jennet had to control a flinch; he was well over six feet tall, and that combined with his burly shoulders and hands the size of small hams made her fear being accidentally crushed. “That your brother?” he said, pointing at Falconer.

“It is.”

“Doesn’t look like he’s all there.” The man peered at Falconer, and Jennet realized he was rather near-sighted.

“He’s strong, but you’re right, he’s slow. He can do things if I explain very carefully what’s to be done, and Papa says I’m to watch him closely and make sure he doesn’t stray.” Falconer was gently rocking back and forth in a slow, deliberate way that made the illusion stronger. A sense of longing struck her and vanished almost instantly.

“How big a cart?”

Jennet jerked herself back to the present. “Not too big. It’s not a big farm.”

The man nodded. “Eh, Matthieu!” he shouted. A man just leaving the inn changed his course and walked toward them.

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.