Our Land of Beyond (Linley & Patrick #3) by Allyson Jeleyne

Author:Allyson Jeleyne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Allyson Jeleyne

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Patrick watched as Ostenberg hauled Linley to her feet. He didn’t like the Count manhandling his wife, but surrounded by soldiers, and down a fighting hand, there wasn’t much he could do. Thankfully, Ostenberg was gentleman enough not to bruise a lady.

Linley jerked her arm free from Ostenberg’s grip, and stiffened her spine as she faced the stranger. His wife had pluck, Patrick had to admit. Even in the face of extreme adversity, the little woman refused to be cowed. When she opened her mouth to address the room, her voice was strong and unwavering.

“We want to see the Emperor.”

The stranger frowned. “You had your chance to amuse His Majesty. He’s grown tired of you.”

Patrick was surprised this man could speak and understand English. Clearly, Linley was, too.

She stepped forward. “Who are you to say?”

“I am called Rakovsky, and am a friend to the King. That is all you need know.”

“You’re not his friend. You’re a warmonger,” Linley spat. “The Emperor is a fool to trust the lot of you. You’re all out for yourselves, and at the expense of his head. He’ll hang for your ambitions.”

Rakovsky shifted from one foot to the other, as if her words hit a bit too close to home. “His Majesty will see you under no circumstances.”

It was Linley’s turn to frown. Patrick could see her mind working, struggling to stay a step ahead of her adversary. Then, she hit upon an idea. “If I cannot speak to the Emperor directly, I hold you responsible for our gross mistreatment. We are British citizens, not captured soldiers or even political prisoners. You cannot deny us food and medical care. My husband is badly injured—”

“From attempting escape, no doubt.”

“No, sir, from attempting to break out of our prison cell so I could use the lavatory,” Linley continued, making it all up as she went along. “I know the Emperor would never condone such beastly treatment of a lady. When he entrusted Ostenberg and Lehár with our care, he’d never believe they’d lock us away without so much as a chamber pot, or even a sentry to escort us to the toilet.”

Rakovsky addressed Count Ostenberg, and the two men spoke back and forth in hasty German. Patrick knew the man believed Linley’s lie—chaps will believe anything a pretty lady tells them—and Ostenberg was getting an earful. If his hand didn’t hurt like hell, he would have laughed.

Patrick must have made some pained, grunting sound, because Linley looked down at him as he lay on the floor. Her gaze flickered over him for an instant before shooting daggers at Rakovsky.

“My husband needs a doctor. Surely with a pregnant Empress, there is one on board.”

The man hesitated. He studied Patrick, taking note of his hand’s soggy, seeping dressing. After a tense moment, he nodded. “Your husband may see our doctor, Lady Kyre, but you must go with Ostenberg.” When Linley started to argue, Rokovsky stopped her. “This time he will see to your needs personally, so there will be no more claims of inhumane treatment.

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.