"Jack is still off at Medlenham trying to charm the Lady March out of her panniers. It is a good place for him, too. Ever since that idiot Sir Mandelay bragged to the ton that the minuscule scar on his cheekbone was the mark of Gentleman Jack, half the knaves in London have been haunting the highroads, trying to get their own scar to impress the ladies. It's most annoying. Of course, I suppose I could come up with a mark of my own. Or perhaps I should put a ring in my victims' noses."
"This isn't a jest, Beau, or some grand adventure. I can't bear the thought of you riding again on my account. I'm not eight years old anymore. I'm not a green country girl adrift in London. I have to take care of myself now, and you can't keep charging in, trying to rescue me."
"Why not? If I choose to—"
"I don't choose to let you hang for me, Beau—no, nor Owen either."
"Ah, she'll not be hangin' girl," a wheezing voice cut in. "It will be a far worse end the spiteful hoyden will come to."
They both turned toward the doorway, and Beau sensed Molly's sick dread as Nell Rooligan shuffled into the room.
The old woman's pale eyes peered out from pouches of sagging flesh. A net of wrinkles quilted her jowls despite the cork plumpers she used to attempt to hide her sunken cheeks. Liberal swipes of rouge had been swabbed with a haresfoot over lead-painted skin, and a preposterous-looking wig perched askew upon her low brow.
Yet despite her ridiculous appearance Nell Rooligan was seldom dismissed as a pathetic crone. She seemed to wear a mantle of mysticism about her hunched shoulders, a mysticism incongruously mingled with stark practicality.
It was as if she could see to the core of one's soul, and jeered at the vulnerabilities within.
Most people who crossed the aged lightskirt's path sought her favor with near-desperation, but Beau had always regarded the old woman with contempt. This emotion was returned tenfold by the whore-mistress who would never forgive the fiery, beautiful girl for escaping the lucrative calling Nell had planned for her.
Nell lumbered forward, a pewter tray heavy with meat pasties held in her fists. She set it down upon the trestle with a thud, smacking her lips as she eyed Beau. "You’re goin' to ride and take that worthless Owen with you."
Beau started at the old woman's words. She never told anyone but Molly when she took to the road, and as for her plan to bring Owen along—she'd certainly never betrayed that. Despite the smile she forced to her lips, Beau couldn't help the stirring of unease that crept through her.
"Listening at walls again, Nell?" Beau asked, sauntering over to the tray and helping herself to a rich meat pie.
"I need not stoop to so common a trick. I have other ways of knowing... of seeing..." Nell's tongue curled about the words, her tone intended to unsettle. "And I have seen far more than just your foolish plots, Isabeau DeBurgh. Something be afoot this night—something deadly evil. I heard the night a-whisperin'."
"Save your Banbury tales to scare the babes by the fire."
"A Banbury tale, is it?" Nell cackled, and the fine hairs at Beau's nape prickled. "Dismiss it as such if you be a blind fool. I warned Lily Tymmes that evil was lurking before she disappeared, but she'd not heed my warning either. An' they swooped her off—the hauntin's did, just like I said they would."
Molly's gasp made Beau quell her own unease.
"The only thing that swooped Lil off was some handsome soldier," Beau said breezily. "The chit was always slavering after anything in regimentals. Even now she's most likely ensconced in her lover's room, being petted and spoiled with fans and silks and such frippery."
"Nay, she be deep in the cold earth, a-rotting. Whatever's left of her. Remember that I warned you, when they be feastin' upon you."
"They? Who in thunder are they? Dragons in the forest? Flesh-eating monsters?" Beau let her voice drop to a mocking, eerie tone. "Ooooo... Beware, little girl, or the harpies will feast on you."
"It won't be harpies, my fine miss. It'll be something more sinister still. And you'll run afoul of it this night, mark my words. It is dangerous upon the road."
"Ah, my eternal thanks, oh sage and wondrous sorceress! Your revelation rivals those of the prophets! It is dangerous upon the road!" Beau struck her palm to her brow with all the drama of a Drury Lane actress. "I had no idea those knaves were firing real pistol balls at me these many months!"
The crone's face remained enigmatic. Her expression gave Beau the strange sensation of teetering upon the brink of some unseen chasm.
"Come now, Nell." Beau was stunned at the cajoling tones in her own voice. "Even demons wouldn't dare draw fire from these pistols. Of course, I could strap on one of Jack's swords for good measure, but considering what a clumsy oaf I am with a blade, it would only give my foes unfair advantage."
The old woman straightened, and Beau felt another twinge of foreboding. Nell drew nearer, her breath reeking of garlic and onion as it blew hot on Beau's face.
"Go ahead, Isabeau De Burgh," Nell said. "Laugh at my demons. But the haunts that are winging about tonight will not fall beneath your pistol fire, nay, nor Jack's blade. You'll see. Aye, as Rebecca Mathers did. And Lily, when she failed to heed my warning."
Beau tucked her pistol in her sash, the weapon suddenly feeling too heavy to hold. The tiny inn room rippled away like her reflection in a pond, everything melting into a blur as Beau's eyes locked with those of Nell Rooligan.
Never before had Beau dreaded the darkness in the thick woods, or what lay within any man's soul.
Yet for an instant, just an instant, bold Isabeau DeBurgh tasted fear.
Buy the book: To Catch a Flame
THE RAIDER SERIES
The Raider's Bride
The Raider's Daughter
To Catch a Flame
To Chase the Storm
Thank you!
Thank you so much for reading THE RAIDER’S DAUGHTER. If you enjoyed reading this book, please consider giving a review or star rating to help other readers make a choice. It’s one way to support authors and is much appreciated!
If you'd like to stay in touch, I'd love to have you join my newsletter, where I feature giveaways, information about new releases coming up, special sales on my books-- and books I'm looking forward to reading myself! I'll post about other fun goings on as well-- like my latest adventures in the kitchen and my favorite recipes. You can sign up here: www.KimberlyCatesBooks.com
It's so much fun to connect with readers. If you 'like' my Kimberly Cates Facebook Author Page. I’ll be posting "Behind the Book" tidbits, interesting insights into history and some posts about the 'real me'-- adventures about moving to a new state for the first time in my life, discovering the beauty of California, my efforts to make space ships out of cardboard boxes for my grandchildren, finding the perfect yarn store and how I juggle multiple pseudonyms and time periods without (at least so far) losing my mind.
I’d love to have you visit me on Pinterest, where I have Pinterest boards for each of my books, featuring historical artifacts, images and fun things that pertain to each novel.
Also, if you are in the mood for an historical novel, I’d love for you to check out my Ella March Chase titles!
As always, I send my kind regards and appreciation to you, my readers. Thank you for your support and encouragement! May your world be filled with “happily ever afters!”
Kimberly
About the Author
Kimberly Cates
When Kimberly Cates was in third grade she informed her teacher that she didn't need to learn multiplication tables. She was going to be a writer when she grew up. Kimberly filled countless spiral notebooks with stories until, at age twenty-five, she received a birthday gift that changed her life: an electric typewriter. Kimberly wrote her first historical romance, sold it to Berkley Jove, and embarked on a thirty-year career as an author. Called “a master of the genre” by Romantic Times, her thirty-three bestselling, award-winning novels are noted for their endearing characters, emotional impact and their ability to
transport the reader to the mists and magic of the British Isles.
Kimberly has also penned historical romances as Kimberleigh Caitlin and contemporary romances under the pseudonyms Kimberly Cates and Kim Cates.
Also by Kimberly Cates
ROGUES, RAKEHELLS AND REDEMPTION:
Culloden's Fire Series
Gather the Stars
Angel's Fall
Crown of Dreams
Crown of Mist
Morning Song
Saving Galahad (Coming Soon)
Celtic Rogues Series
Black Falcon's Lady
The Black Falcon's Christmas
Her Magic Touch
Briar Rose
Stealing Heaven
Lily Fair
The Raider Series
The Raider's Bride
The Raider's Daughter
To Catch a Flame
To Chase the Storm
AMERICAN WEST
Only Forever
FUTURE RELEASES:
Restless is the Wind
Contemporary Romance:
Fly Away Home
Historical Fiction:
The Queen’s Dwarf by Ella March Chase
The Virgin Queen’s Daughter by Ella March Chase
Three Maids for a Crown, a story of the Grey sisters by Ella March Chase
The Raider’s Daughter Page 36
