Read Online Wild Bells to the Wild Sky by Laurie McBain - Free Book Online
Authors: Laurie McBain
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incomprehensible to the Englishmen.
Lily continued to stand nearby, staring at the strangers in growing curiosity.
"¡ Vàyase! ¡Vàyase!" Don Pedro told her, those green eyes making him uneasy even if she couldn't understand what was being said. “ ¡Vàyase!" he repeated again, never thinking twice about the fact that she immediately walked away, a hurt expression in those green eyes, for she had indeed understood his Spanish
"Don Pedro." One of the nervous Englishmen now drew his attention, but spoke to the priest, who interpreted for him. "As you so timely brought to our attention, that woman was Geoffrey Christian's wife. She would remember my friend and, perhaps, me. What do we do now? What did she say? Do you not think it would be wise if we left before we have yet another encounter, and this time with Geoffrey Christian himself? Our cause may be lost, but at least we are still alive. And I have no desire to cross swords with Geoffrey Christian."
"You nee d n't worry about that. He is not in Santo Domingo. But you are mistaken. Our cause is not lost. Doña Magdalena did not notice you, but I do not intend to give her another chance to see you. Come, we will leave through the back passage."
"I don't suppose you would find us lodgings in town. I dread the thought of going back on board," the Englishman with the one blue and one brown eye said. "I've come to abhor the smell of the sea. I dare say I'll not eat fish again."
Don Pedro eyed the elegantly dressed Englishman with a look of distaste. Had the man not been on board the Estrella D'Alba at His Majesty’s order, Don Pedro would have sent the man overboard long ago. "Come. You will at least be safe there. And getting you back to England without incident, señor , is far more important to me than your immediate comfort. I am surprised I need remind you of the imp ortance of your task," Don Pedr o told him.
"What of the child? She saw us."
"What of her? Did you speak to her?"
"No, but she spoke to us in English. She must have known we were not Spaniards."
"That was Geoffrey Christian's brat. Of course she would speak to you in English. Besides, you look English," Don Pedro added, for one of the Englishmen had silvery blond hair and very pale skin.
"She may say something about seeing us," the other Englishman said, speaking for the first time.
"And if she does?" Don Pedro said with a shrug of dismissal. "She saw two gentlemen and a priest. Guests of Don Rodrigo, nothing more. Does she know you are Englishmen? Do not concern yourself with her. She is but a child and can do no harm to you or to the ultimate success of our mission. Now, come before all is lost. We have delayed long enough."
The Englishman who had held Lily's rapt attention glanced around uneasily. "I wish I had your peace of mind, but as you may have noticed, I am a man not easily forgotten. I hope to God the brat doesn't speak of me"
Don Pedro tried not to catch the man's eyes, for they were indeed unnatural. He resisted the impulse to cross himself as he walked past the man. "I will hear of it if she should, and I will take the necessary steps to ensure your anonymity."
As they disappeared through the narrow passageway leading toward the back entrance to Casa del Montevares, Sir Basil Whitelaw moved for the first time since the two gentlemen and the priest had rushed into the courtyard.
He shook his head in disbelief, for he had recognized one of the gentlemen. Unfortunately, the other man had kept his face averted, and the brim of his hat had hidden his features. He had also seemed of a more cautious nature than the other gentleman, preferring to stand in the shadows. B ut his style of dress marked hi m as an Englishman. The man who had entered last, a Spaniard, Sir Basil hadn't known, but there was no doubting the profession of the robed figure, the heavy cross dangling from his neck and glinting in the sun.
Sir Basil frowned, wondering why two Englishmen, a priest, and a Spaniard
Lily continued to stand nearby, staring at the strangers in growing curiosity.
"¡ Vàyase! ¡Vàyase!" Don Pedro told her, those green eyes making him uneasy even if she couldn't understand what was being said. “ ¡Vàyase!" he repeated again, never thinking twice about the fact that she immediately walked away, a hurt expression in those green eyes, for she had indeed understood his Spanish
"Don Pedro." One of the nervous Englishmen now drew his attention, but spoke to the priest, who interpreted for him. "As you so timely brought to our attention, that woman was Geoffrey Christian's wife. She would remember my friend and, perhaps, me. What do we do now? What did she say? Do you not think it would be wise if we left before we have yet another encounter, and this time with Geoffrey Christian himself? Our cause may be lost, but at least we are still alive. And I have no desire to cross swords with Geoffrey Christian."
"You nee d n't worry about that. He is not in Santo Domingo. But you are mistaken. Our cause is not lost. Doña Magdalena did not notice you, but I do not intend to give her another chance to see you. Come, we will leave through the back passage."
"I don't suppose you would find us lodgings in town. I dread the thought of going back on board," the Englishman with the one blue and one brown eye said. "I've come to abhor the smell of the sea. I dare say I'll not eat fish again."
Don Pedro eyed the elegantly dressed Englishman with a look of distaste. Had the man not been on board the Estrella D'Alba at His Majesty’s order, Don Pedro would have sent the man overboard long ago. "Come. You will at least be safe there. And getting you back to England without incident, señor , is far more important to me than your immediate comfort. I am surprised I need remind you of the imp ortance of your task," Don Pedr o told him.
"What of the child? She saw us."
"What of her? Did you speak to her?"
"No, but she spoke to us in English. She must have known we were not Spaniards."
"That was Geoffrey Christian's brat. Of course she would speak to you in English. Besides, you look English," Don Pedro added, for one of the Englishmen had silvery blond hair and very pale skin.
"She may say something about seeing us," the other Englishman said, speaking for the first time.
"And if she does?" Don Pedro said with a shrug of dismissal. "She saw two gentlemen and a priest. Guests of Don Rodrigo, nothing more. Does she know you are Englishmen? Do not concern yourself with her. She is but a child and can do no harm to you or to the ultimate success of our mission. Now, come before all is lost. We have delayed long enough."
The Englishman who had held Lily's rapt attention glanced around uneasily. "I wish I had your peace of mind, but as you may have noticed, I am a man not easily forgotten. I hope to God the brat doesn't speak of me"
Don Pedro tried not to catch the man's eyes, for they were indeed unnatural. He resisted the impulse to cross himself as he walked past the man. "I will hear of it if she should, and I will take the necessary steps to ensure your anonymity."
As they disappeared through the narrow passageway leading toward the back entrance to Casa del Montevares, Sir Basil Whitelaw moved for the first time since the two gentlemen and the priest had rushed into the courtyard.
He shook his head in disbelief, for he had recognized one of the gentlemen. Unfortunately, the other man had kept his face averted, and the brim of his hat had hidden his features. He had also seemed of a more cautious nature than the other gentleman, preferring to stand in the shadows. B ut his style of dress marked hi m as an Englishman. The man who had entered last, a Spaniard, Sir Basil hadn't known, but there was no doubting the profession of the robed figure, the heavy cross dangling from his neck and glinting in the sun.
Sir Basil frowned, wondering why two Englishmen, a priest, and a Spaniard
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