Read Online The Night Angel by T. Davis Bunn - Free Book Online Page A

as Nathan Baring, her father gave a perfunctory bow and said, “You must forgive us, sir, but now is not at all a good time. We have urgent matters to discuss with Falconer.”
    Falconer inspected each face in turn. “You’ve heard, then.”
    “Heard?”
    “About the legate’s new threat.”
    Alessandro sank down into a chair. “How . . .”
    Nathan Baring held his dark hat with the black silk stripe in both hands. “You will not remember me, sir, but I was in attendance at the legate’s court last Saturday.”
    Her father’s gaze tightened. “I don’t understand. You are a courtier?”
    “Diplomat, sir,” Baring corrected. “My present duties require that I attend the legate on occasion.”
    “Nathan has friends in court,” Falconer added.
    “Allies,” Baring said. “I would hardly call them friends.”
    “You mean spies,” Alessandro interpreted.
    Baring’s only response was to twist the rim of his hat in his hands.
    Serafina offered, “Mary gave us the warning.”
    Falconer noticed the young woman’s nervousness in this company. He gestured Nathan into a chair, then pulled another near Mary. He slipped off his coat and pulled in close. “I’d be most grateful if you’d tell me what you heard.”
    “I already told them everything I know, sir.”
    “I’m not a sir, lass. You know that full well, don’t you? I’m just a man trying to do his duty to the Gavis and to God, just as you.” His gentle tone and his sheer presence shut out the others in the room. “It would help me a great deal if I could hear it straight from you.”
    Gerald Rivens patted the young woman’s arm. “Go on, Mary. We’re among friends here.”
    “Well, sir. I made friends belowstairs at the legate’s. Not many, mind. Just two. One works in the kitchen. The other is maid to the princess.”
    “She and the legate do not see much of one another,” Falconer commented.
    “That they do not, sir. It was an arranged marriage, so it was. And the legate, well, he’s not what you might call a gentleman.” She blushed and twisted her fingers together.
    Falconer nodded encouragement. “So you heard something from the upstairs maid.”
    “She attends the same church as us, sir. She came to me today with the most dreadful news.” She cast a nervous glance at Nathan Baring.
    Falconer understood perfectly. “I trust this gentleman, Mary. I suggest you do the same. He will not say a word that might endanger anyone.”
    “I will speak of this to no one,” Nathan promised.
    “Well, sir. She told me of a conversation. One the princess heard. Between the legate and another man. The prince, sir, he has a man on his staff. A man the others don’t care to talk about. He chills the blood, so they say.”
    “His name?”
    “My friend doesn’t know, sir. I asked her the very same thing. She said it was best not to know too much about this man.”
    “So the legate has a frightening man who does his bidding,” Falconer repeated, his voice low and very assuring. “This is most helpful, Mary. I am ever so grateful to you for this information. Did your friend happen to say anything about the man’s appearance?”
    “Tall, he is. Tall and slender. He wears a hooded dark cloak when he comes. And he only comes at night. That’s all she said.”
    “He’s a mercenary,” Gerald Rivens put in. “His name is Vladimir.”
    Mary shivered at the way Gerald said the name.
    “You’ve seen him?” Falconer asked.
    “Never had the chance,” Gerald replied. “Never sought one either.”
    Gerald Rivens was so spare Serafina would not have imagined it possible for his features to tighten further. But she observed his face become even more taut and pale. Serafina was struck by the impression that these two men, Falconer and Rivens, held a common quality. It was not in physical appearance, for Rivens was as slight as Falconer was massive. Yet they understood each other so well a subtle communication passed between the two men at a level