Lady Vixen by Shirlee Busbee Read Free Book Online

against
the wall, he turned his face toward the open doorway, straining to see inside
the room.
    Two
shadowy figures seemed to detach themselves from the gloom of the darkened
room. A foul expletive broke from one of them as he bent over Peg's still form.
"It's the bloody barmaid! Where's the man?"
    They
both whirled quickly and ran out into the hall just as Saber, knife in hand,
stepped out from his place of concealment. Startled, the two hesitated, then
rushed him, but he jumped agilely from their path, and with a well-placed kick
sent one man sprawling into the other, causing both men to tumble down the
narrow staircase. Then leaping down the steps he was on top of them before they
had time to recover. He restrained himself from killing them both only when he
realized that for him to be found near the courtyard of the inn with two still-warm
corpses would benefit Robert as greatly as his death or disappearance. He
bellowed for the innkeeper, and kept the two ruffians busy avoiding the
murderous aim of his highly polished boots.
    It
was an hour before all was settled, and then not to Saber's satisfaction. Peg
was conscious—but with a throbbing head that would make her think twice about
entering a strange gentleman's room in the future. The two men cried loudly of
their innocence, claiming that they had mistaken the room and hadn't touched the
woman—she must have fallen and hit her head on the floor. Peg quite honestly
couldn't remember and Saber guessed there was little to be gained by pressing
it, so he coldly accepted their false apologies and allowed the innkeeper to
hustle them away. Apparently they were well-known local bullies and the
innkeeper wanted no trouble from them.
    Glumly
Saber surveyed his evening. Dalliance with Peg was out. But more importantly he
knew he wouldn't sleep now, remaining in Beddington's Corner would only give Robert
Saxon another chance at him. He paid his shot and ordered his horse brought
round. Those men
    had not mistaken the room and if, as he had planned originally, he'd drank
himself into a pleasant state of euphoria, they would have easily accomplished
their task—whether it was murder, as he strongly suspected, or merely seeing
him back in the British Navy. He doubted Robert would try that trick again and
felt confident that the plan had been to slit his throat then and there.
Tonight's disruption let him know there was little to be gained by staying, and
that there existed no likelihood he would have access to Simon Saxon—Robert
would see to that!
    The
landlord was understandably unhappy at the outcome, and while Saber waited
impatiently for his horse to be saddled, he attempted to smooth the incident
away. Saber found no comfort from his words and strode away toward the stables,
intent upon finding out what was taking the hostler so confoundedly long. By
the light from one dim lantern he watched the clumsy movements of the sleepy
boy until exasperated, he snapped, "Let it be! Go back to bed, I'll do it
myself."
    The
boy, perfectly agreeable, stumbled away back to his bed in the hay and with
quick, sure motions Saber finished the job. He was on the point of leading the
horse, a deep-chested bay gelding, from the stables when a gruff little voice
halted him.
    "Please,
sir, are you the gentleman from London who is looking for seamen?"
    Startled,
Saber turned on his heel and gazed with astonished amusement at the small
figure before him. In an ill-fitting set of clothes, the boy stared back, his
wide eyes fringed by a set of stubby lashes. From underneath a black, floppy
brimmed hat, short ragged ends of dark hair stuck out, adding to the boy's odd
appearance. He was young, not more than ten, Saber guessed, and smiling kindly
he said, "News travels fast—I did need seamen, but I'm afraid
circumstances are such that I find myself compelled to leave earlier than I had
planned. Were you interested in a life at sea?"
    Her
heart pounding so hard she felt certain he could hear it,