Read Online Maid of Deception by Jennifer McGowan - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jennifer McGowan
Ads: Link
to the vendor, waving off the man’s offer to count it. “I merely thought you must be fatigued at having your future so effectively ruined. I wish to help revive you.”
“My future is not ruined.” Other than being dragged around by you. But I allowed Alasdair to pull me to the edge of the market, where benches had been set up in a loose group. He hooked a bench with one of his long legs and sat down upon it, patting the space beside him.
“Eat something, wench,” he said, breaking off a piece of steaming pastry. “You’re skinny enough to see through.”
“I am not—” I opened my mouth to protest, and he shoved the bit of pie in, as neatly as if I were his truculent niece. “Oof!” I managed, my eyes watering.
He uncorked the wine and handed me the open bottle. “It’s hot. Drink this.”
And thus was I in the middle of the teeming rabble of theLower Ward, drinking wine straight from a bottle like any common Street Sally.
Lo, had my fortunes changed.
Still, I had my part to play, and by God I was going to play it. I handed the bottle back to Alasdair, noting his satisfaction as he stared at my wine-stained lips. Forcing myself to keep from snatching a handkerchief out of my pouch, I licked my lips instead. His eyes darkened, and I plunged forward.
“I will tell you plain, I think the Queen’s decision had less to do with me and more with your countrymen.” I sighed, canting my head to the right in a way I knew presented the curve of my jaw to best effect.
It served its purpose. Alasdair went very still, watching me. “My countrymen?” he asked. “What role do they play in this?”
“Elizabeth is just so nervous about all of you.” I fluttered my hand vaguely to the north, as if in one gesture I could encompass the whole of the Scottish kingdom. “She sees the rebellion gathering steam, but also the violent and prolonged opposition from the Catholics. And with more Scots now in Windsor than we’ve had in an age, she is ill at ease, wondering who is her friend and who her foe.”
“The Scots are here for one thing alone, and that is English arms and support,” Alasdair said flatly. I almost caught my breath, and it was all I could do to not betray the quickening of my heart. Would it really be so easy as this? I could tell Cecil—Walsingham—the Queen. I could be done with all of this and married within the fortnight. I stared into his eyes, willing him to spill all of his secrets likeso much cheap wine. “Our intentions are not so cloaked as those of you Englishers,” Alasdair continued. “If you wish to know something for your Queen, m’lady, you have but to ask.”
Then his smile turned into more of a leer, and he leaned forward to speak words that only I could hear. “But I’ll tell you plain. There will be a price for the information.”
Despite myself, I jerked back. “What sort of price?” I asked, trying and failing this time to mask my reaction. “You cannot mean, sir—”
When his grin just deepened, I felt the outrage spill out of me.
“No!” I hissed, forgetting myself entirely and placing my hands squarely on his broad chest, shoving him back. “Sir, you go too far! I refuse to be treated like some wayward tavern girl and have you disrespect me as if I were the rushes beneath your feet. I will not have it!”
Alasdair tilted back his head and howled with laughter, the sound loud enough to draw the eyes of even the most raucous of the market day rabble. I jumped up from the bench, blind with anger, but no sooner had I turned away than he was right there with me, turning me back to him as tears fairly streamed down his face, his body shaking with mirth.
“Well done, well done!” he managed, his voice low and resonant. “You’ve met my only condition, my lady. I will tell you all you wish.”
That caught me up short. “What do you mean?” I demanded. “I will not be trifled with, good sir.” Not this day, and certainly not by you.
“I do not
“My future is not ruined.” Other than being dragged around by you. But I allowed Alasdair to pull me to the edge of the market, where benches had been set up in a loose group. He hooked a bench with one of his long legs and sat down upon it, patting the space beside him.
“Eat something, wench,” he said, breaking off a piece of steaming pastry. “You’re skinny enough to see through.”
“I am not—” I opened my mouth to protest, and he shoved the bit of pie in, as neatly as if I were his truculent niece. “Oof!” I managed, my eyes watering.
He uncorked the wine and handed me the open bottle. “It’s hot. Drink this.”
And thus was I in the middle of the teeming rabble of theLower Ward, drinking wine straight from a bottle like any common Street Sally.
Lo, had my fortunes changed.
Still, I had my part to play, and by God I was going to play it. I handed the bottle back to Alasdair, noting his satisfaction as he stared at my wine-stained lips. Forcing myself to keep from snatching a handkerchief out of my pouch, I licked my lips instead. His eyes darkened, and I plunged forward.
“I will tell you plain, I think the Queen’s decision had less to do with me and more with your countrymen.” I sighed, canting my head to the right in a way I knew presented the curve of my jaw to best effect.
It served its purpose. Alasdair went very still, watching me. “My countrymen?” he asked. “What role do they play in this?”
“Elizabeth is just so nervous about all of you.” I fluttered my hand vaguely to the north, as if in one gesture I could encompass the whole of the Scottish kingdom. “She sees the rebellion gathering steam, but also the violent and prolonged opposition from the Catholics. And with more Scots now in Windsor than we’ve had in an age, she is ill at ease, wondering who is her friend and who her foe.”
“The Scots are here for one thing alone, and that is English arms and support,” Alasdair said flatly. I almost caught my breath, and it was all I could do to not betray the quickening of my heart. Would it really be so easy as this? I could tell Cecil—Walsingham—the Queen. I could be done with all of this and married within the fortnight. I stared into his eyes, willing him to spill all of his secrets likeso much cheap wine. “Our intentions are not so cloaked as those of you Englishers,” Alasdair continued. “If you wish to know something for your Queen, m’lady, you have but to ask.”
Then his smile turned into more of a leer, and he leaned forward to speak words that only I could hear. “But I’ll tell you plain. There will be a price for the information.”
Despite myself, I jerked back. “What sort of price?” I asked, trying and failing this time to mask my reaction. “You cannot mean, sir—”
When his grin just deepened, I felt the outrage spill out of me.
“No!” I hissed, forgetting myself entirely and placing my hands squarely on his broad chest, shoving him back. “Sir, you go too far! I refuse to be treated like some wayward tavern girl and have you disrespect me as if I were the rushes beneath your feet. I will not have it!”
Alasdair tilted back his head and howled with laughter, the sound loud enough to draw the eyes of even the most raucous of the market day rabble. I jumped up from the bench, blind with anger, but no sooner had I turned away than he was right there with me, turning me back to him as tears fairly streamed down his face, his body shaking with mirth.
“Well done, well done!” he managed, his voice low and resonant. “You’ve met my only condition, my lady. I will tell you all you wish.”
That caught me up short. “What do you mean?” I demanded. “I will not be trifled with, good sir.” Not this day, and certainly not by you.
“I do not
Similar Books
