Read Online Her Reluctant Viscount (Rakes and Rogues) by Aliyah Burke - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Aliyah Burke
Tags: Historical Romance
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as well as the Marquess of Glassdrow. It will be slow and painful.”
He would not ask how she knew about Jack. No he would not. She was just that good.
Holding her gaze, Trystan lightly cupped her shoulders. “I will find her, Najja. I swear to you, I will find her and I will keep her safe.”
“She is my family, Trystan.” Again, she spoke in her native tongue.
He knew that. The same as he knew she would kill to keep her family safe. “I know. Trust me I know.”
“Get your hands off my wife.” Colin’s voice snapped the bubble surrounding the two of them.
Releasing her, Trystan stepped back. “Do you know where she would go? I am assuming she is not at her townhouse.” Najja would not have left her there alone. She shook her head. Damn! “Will you now tell me who he is?” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder.
Najja glanced around him to where the settee was with the feet sticking out. She sniffed and headed to the door. “He was a spy. Paid to report on you.”
He scowled. “Report to whom?”
“Someone called The Apothecary.”
“What?” He felt the thrum of anger grow in him again. The right hand to The Alchemist.
“You heard me.”
“When will he wake?”
“Never.”
He shoved back mounting frustration. “You killed him? Why?”
She paused at the door and glanced at him over her shoulder. Her gaze straightforward and matter of fact. “He was spying on you with orders to kill after he found who else you talked to. Colin can tell you what else he said.” Her expression softened the teensiest bit briefly before hardening again. “I told you, Trystan. I protect my family.” She slipped out the door closing it quietly behind her.
Her calling him family humbled him.
Chapter Four
Clara and I went to a museum today. Peculiar, but I thought this man to be following us. He was not. A shame really, it would have made the day more exciting. Mama always accused me of having a wild imagination. Lord Collins surprised me there. Unfortunately I am aware he is following me. He refuses to accept I will never be his.
~From the private journal of Josephine Adrys
Jo waited for Clara by the post coach. She would much rather be on horseback but knew it was excessively dangerous for two women to be riding alone. Especially at night. Therefore, they had purchased seats and travelled this way.
They would be departing in five minutes. Two more days. That’s all and she would be at the place Clara had. Her body was beginning to protest her lack of activity. She rolled her shoulders and took a deep breath, enjoying the clean country air. The further she got from London the more relaxed she became.
“Jo!”
Turning at the sound of her friend’s voice, Jo stepped toward her at the stricken expression on Clara’s face. Panic filled her. I never should have let her come along. I am a danger.
“What is it, Clara? You look as if you have seen a ghost.”
Her rounder face slightly flushed as she halted. “He is on his way up the road.”
Panic grew like a massive flock of birds taking to the sky. He. He who? The person who wanted her dead? No, do not be foolish, Clara would not know said person’s appearance.
Swallowing hard she wiped her hands down her skirts. “Who?”
“Captain Bottomley.”
“Royce?” Shite. He would make her return with him. “I have to hide.”
“No, go. I will keep him occupied until the post leaves.”
“What about you?”
A kind smile. “I got part of the way. See who I said, he will help you. Write me so I know you are safe and there.” Clara urged her inside and squeezed her hand. “Be safe, Jo.”
Jo tightened her own in response. “Thank you, Clara. For everything.”
One final squeeze before Clara hurried back inside and the carriage headed off. Even at the next stop, Jo worried about Clara.
“Miss.”
She
He would not ask how she knew about Jack. No he would not. She was just that good.
Holding her gaze, Trystan lightly cupped her shoulders. “I will find her, Najja. I swear to you, I will find her and I will keep her safe.”
“She is my family, Trystan.” Again, she spoke in her native tongue.
He knew that. The same as he knew she would kill to keep her family safe. “I know. Trust me I know.”
“Get your hands off my wife.” Colin’s voice snapped the bubble surrounding the two of them.
Releasing her, Trystan stepped back. “Do you know where she would go? I am assuming she is not at her townhouse.” Najja would not have left her there alone. She shook her head. Damn! “Will you now tell me who he is?” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder.
Najja glanced around him to where the settee was with the feet sticking out. She sniffed and headed to the door. “He was a spy. Paid to report on you.”
He scowled. “Report to whom?”
“Someone called The Apothecary.”
“What?” He felt the thrum of anger grow in him again. The right hand to The Alchemist.
“You heard me.”
“When will he wake?”
“Never.”
He shoved back mounting frustration. “You killed him? Why?”
She paused at the door and glanced at him over her shoulder. Her gaze straightforward and matter of fact. “He was spying on you with orders to kill after he found who else you talked to. Colin can tell you what else he said.” Her expression softened the teensiest bit briefly before hardening again. “I told you, Trystan. I protect my family.” She slipped out the door closing it quietly behind her.
Her calling him family humbled him.
Chapter Four
Clara and I went to a museum today. Peculiar, but I thought this man to be following us. He was not. A shame really, it would have made the day more exciting. Mama always accused me of having a wild imagination. Lord Collins surprised me there. Unfortunately I am aware he is following me. He refuses to accept I will never be his.
~From the private journal of Josephine Adrys
Jo waited for Clara by the post coach. She would much rather be on horseback but knew it was excessively dangerous for two women to be riding alone. Especially at night. Therefore, they had purchased seats and travelled this way.
They would be departing in five minutes. Two more days. That’s all and she would be at the place Clara had. Her body was beginning to protest her lack of activity. She rolled her shoulders and took a deep breath, enjoying the clean country air. The further she got from London the more relaxed she became.
“Jo!”
Turning at the sound of her friend’s voice, Jo stepped toward her at the stricken expression on Clara’s face. Panic filled her. I never should have let her come along. I am a danger.
“What is it, Clara? You look as if you have seen a ghost.”
Her rounder face slightly flushed as she halted. “He is on his way up the road.”
Panic grew like a massive flock of birds taking to the sky. He. He who? The person who wanted her dead? No, do not be foolish, Clara would not know said person’s appearance.
Swallowing hard she wiped her hands down her skirts. “Who?”
“Captain Bottomley.”
“Royce?” Shite. He would make her return with him. “I have to hide.”
“No, go. I will keep him occupied until the post leaves.”
“What about you?”
A kind smile. “I got part of the way. See who I said, he will help you. Write me so I know you are safe and there.” Clara urged her inside and squeezed her hand. “Be safe, Jo.”
Jo tightened her own in response. “Thank you, Clara. For everything.”
One final squeeze before Clara hurried back inside and the carriage headed off. Even at the next stop, Jo worried about Clara.
“Miss.”
She
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