By Grace Alone (The Death Dealer Book 2) by Katie Roman Read Free Book Online Page B

their direction, whispering excitedly to the other guards. “I suddenly feel very ill here.” The Lane may have accepted her, but obviously this was new territory.
    The sergeant’s face fell. “Grace, please don’t let him ruin the evening.”
    “Sergeant Moore, I said I feel ill. I would like to go home.”
    Grace got up and the patrons of the King’s Beard watched her walk to the exit. They pretended to carry on with their conversations, but everyone was interested in the goings of the fallen noblewoman. They all knew her by name and it was akin to having a princess in their tavern. A real noblewoman had eaten there! Disgraced though she may be, she was born higher than every single one of them. The gossip her mere presence caused would go on for weeks.
    The sun was completely gone when she went out. The lamplighters had already come around to light the streets and the pale lamplight cast everything in eerie shadows. She was bathed in the glow of the streetlamps now, but most of her walk home would be in darkness. She turned herself toward home and began to walk; looking forward to getting in a little sleep before going to the Emerald Rose.
    “Grace! Wait!” Sergeant Moore hurried up to her.
    Grace didn’t stop her stride; rather she picked it up, though she refused to run. People outside the Angel never looked at her without seeing a noble. She was never just Grace . Now an entirely different tavern on the other side of town saw only the same.
    “Wait!” From the sound of his voice Moore was further behind, not giving too much chase.
    “Stupid,” she cursed herself under her breath. When he first mentioned dining with ‘Glenbard’s noblewoman’ she should have turned him down, maybe even slapped him. She just wanted to go home and sleep this embarrassment off.
    Grace walked a few more blocks before turning to look behind her. The King’s Beard and Moore were nowhere to be seen. Grace lessened her pace and continued on home.
    ~*~*~
    Nathaniel turned back around when it became clear Grace wouldn’t stop for anyone. Returning to the King’s Beard, he was greeted with an array of cheers and jokes. He strode up to Trenton, eyes flashing, where the constable was seated with his mates.
    “Your father is a drunk who sleeps in the reek,” Nathaniel said crossly.
    “Something wrong?” Trenton asked innocently; putting his mug on the table and rising.
    “How do you feel about public embarrassment? I didn’t bring some common wench into this tavern! A fine lady deserves respect, and it’s impolite to bring up such unpleasant topics.”
    A serving girl of considerable height and swaying hips grumbled at him, “Common wench, indeed.” She grabbed the empty mugs from the tables around Trenton, his mates, and Nathaniel.
    “Apologies, Janice,” Nathaniel replied contritely.
    Janice bobbed a mock curtsey. “I’m sorry I can’t be a fancy noblewoman with a slender stick body, hips made for birthing more nobles, and no dirt under my nails.”
    “Look – the sergeant’s gone and made poor Janice mad!” Trenton teased.
    “I’m sorry, Janice,” Nathaniel repeated.
    Janice poked him in the chest with her finger. “She’s not so grand, you know! She’s as fallen as any of us ‘common wenches’ are. Everyone knows that prim little noblewoman used to gallivant around town with Jack Anders. Oh! Not so deserving of your respect now, is she?” she sneered when his frown deepened.
    “Anders?” Constable Trenton asked, and cocked his head to one side in thought. “He’s the one who gave you that, right?” The constable pointed to Nathaniel’s scar.
    “Could have been anyone in that brawl,” Nathaniel replied, running a finger over the scar.
    Nathaniel thought back to that night long ago. Jack Anders had been working with Nathaniel to break up a brawl in the Emerald that night. Plenty of sharp instruments had appeared, which everyone grabbed and used to fight everyone else. Nathaniel nearly lost an eye