Read Online Temptress in Training by Susan Gee Heino - Free Book Online Page A

I’ve got something else I need you to do.”
    Miss Sands leaned in close to Sophie’s ear. “Are those the men who were after you and Papa?”
    Sophie nodded. There was just light enough from the candle glow spilling in through the open doorway that she knew the actress could see. Not that it mattered. From what the men said, things were pretty obvious. Miss Sands’s father had been right; Mr. Fitzgelder had been expecting them, and not to simply invite them for tea.
    â€œSo,” the first man said, “you still want us to take care of that other little problem for you?”
    â€œYes. You’ll have to leave now to be sure to meet him along the road. And remember…” Mr. Fitzgelder’s voice nearly sizzled with hatred. “If you botch this and anyone gets wind of my involvement, I’ll personally pry your bollocks off and stuff them down your lifeless throats.”
    The men were understandably silent, and Sophie managed to catch Miss Sands’s wide eyes. The actress shrugged.
    â€œI don’t care how you do it,” Mr. Fitzgelder continued, “but I must remain out of it. Make it an accident on the highway, a tumble off a high building, or a run-in with a jealous husband. I don’t care. When he’s dead and no one comes ’round asking me any questions, you get your money. Got it?”
    Good God! Sophie could hardly take this to mean anything other than the obvious. The two men who had been following them earlier had just been instructed by Mr. Fitzgelder to go commit murder! What in the world had she gotten herself into?
    â€œAye, we got it, sir,” one of the men assured. “I can make it an accident, all right, but are you sure you want this? It’s rather permanent, you know.”
    â€œHell, it had better be permanent,” Mr. Fitzgelder snarled. “My cousin isn’t worth the paper his damn patent comes written on.”
    Miss Sands drew a sudden sharp breath. Sophie slid another glance her way. The woman’s face was distinctly pale in the dim light here behind this cabinet. Sophie could well understand how she felt. She did, however, wish that the actress was not digging her fingernails so sharply into her shoulder where her hand had been resting.
    â€œWell, he won’t be enjoying that lofty title much longer now, will he?” One of the murderers chuckled.
    Mr. Fitzgelder concurred. “He’d better not. Here, can you read?”
    There was the sound of papers shuffling. “I can, some. What’s this?”
    â€œIt’ll give you directions to meet up with him,” Fitzgelder explained. “Now I’ve already helped you by getting things in motion. My cousin’s off at some bloody wedding north of Warwick, but very soon I expect he’ll head for home. I’ve made things, shall we say, difficult for his darling mother and simpering little sister. He’ll no doubt feel the need to come rushing back to them here. That will be your chance. Get him while he’s on the road from Warwick; that’s the easiest.”
    â€œShot by highwaymen?”
    â€œWhatever. Just do it. The only way I want Anthony Rastmoor returned to his family is as a corpse.”
    Miss Sands let out a squeak. Yes, it was indeed disturbing to hear the man speak such horrors, but really, did the actress have to turn to absolute jelly over it? She’d seemed far more formidable than that. Just now it was of the utmost importance they maintain their silent composure. Perhaps the woman needed comforting. Sophie shifted her hand to reach up and touch the actress’s, which was still exerting quite a good deal of pressure on her poor shoulder.
    It was an unwise move. The bundle of her belongings that she had clutched to her shifted and slipped out of her grasp. It thumped to the floor. The precious scissors she had carefully wrapped inside slipped out and clanged against the cabinet. Instinctively her