Read Online Whisper To Me of Love by Shirlee Busbee - Free Book Online

side by side, at the table.
    There was an awkward silence as the dimber-damber’s black eye slowly traveled over the three young faces. “Hmm. I can see that Jacko has told you about my plans for you all,” the dimber-damber finally remarked. “And I can see for myself that you are as enthusiastic as your brother.”
    Ben sent him a sullen look. “Don’t tell me you expected us to be pleased?” he said sarcastically.
    The dimber-damber frowned at Ben’s tone of voice and said icily, “It really doesn’t matter to me whether you are pleased or not! What matters is that you do as I say! Is that understood?”
    Three heads nodded resentfully, and the one-eyed man smiled nastily. “Well, I’m glad that we understand each other.” His one eye moved to Pip’s face and wandered over her features. An odd note in his voice, he murmured, “Of course, there is perhaps another way that you could satisfy me... .”
    Everyone knew exactly what he was referring to, and Pip felt her heart skip a beat in her breast. She had known this might happen, but she had not expected it to occur this soon. Her face white, she lifted her chin proudly, and coolly met the stare of that one black eye, silently daring him to make his despicable proposal plain. “I think not!” Jacko growled. “We’ll hang first!”
    â€œYou probably will,” the dimber-damber replied in a bored tone, and then, as if losing interest in that particular subject, went on, “And since you’re not of mind to accommodate me, I suppose we’ll have to talk about today’s plan.”
    â€œWhat about it?” Jacko asked a little uneasily. “I thought it was all settled.”
    â€œHmm, yes, I suppose you did, my dear boy, but there is one little thing that I want you to do for me. There will be several members of the ton attending the match, and it should prove to be a rich day for us, but there is one gentleman in particular that I want to make certain you rob.”
    â€œWhy?” Pip asked, astonished. This was a most unusual request, unless it was well-known that the singled-out individual was carrying something of great worth on his person.
    The dimber-damber smiled coldly. “Let us just say that the gentleman has annoyed me by winning a horse race in which I had wagered against him. As you well know, I dislike losing excessively, and I wish to create a bit of discomfort for him.”
    It didn’t matter to the Fowlers who they robbed or why, and so, after shrugging their shoulders, it was Jacko who asked, “Who is it? How shall we know him?”
    â€œThe gentleman’s name is Royce Manchester. He is a wealthy American and you will be able to identify him both by his accent, which is quite pronounced, and also by his size and coloring. He is a tall man, well over six feet, and quite strongly built. His hair is almost fair, not brown, not blond. He will be accompanied, no doubt, by his cousin, Zachary Seymour, a youth of about twenty, who is just slightly taller than Manchester. Seymour has black hair.” The dimber-damber stopped speaking and cast them a sardonic glance. “Knowing your expertise, I have complete trust that you will find Manchester for me and lift anything of value he may have on him.”
    â€œAnd that will satisfy you?” Pip asked dryly.
    The dimber-damber fixed her with a hard stare. “No, my dear, it will not—but it will afford me a little amusement until something else catches my attention... .”
    Pip looked away, her mouth dry. She’d rob the King himself if it meant escaping from the dimber-damber’s bed, and as for robbing Royce Manchester, what did she care? One plumb pigeon was the same as another as far as she was concerned.

C HAPTER 3
    S killfully driving his pair of chestnut geldings through the thronged streets of London, Royce Manchester was struck by a sudden longing for the