No Place for a Lady by Jade Lee Read Free Book Online Page B

boy, now reassured that his father still lived, found his courage again. Stepping before the door to block their way, he merely smiled at them. "Me father's men will stick ye as soon as ye step through that door."
    Marcus sighed, his anger still simmering. "I will not be murdered in this hellhole," he said flatly. "It would kill my mother."
    Fantine glanced at him, her expression unreadable, but her attention returned to the boy. "They cain't kill us if ye stop them. Tell them yer father is drunk. They'll believe that right enough."
    The boy smirked back, his expression mimicking his father's earlier one. "An' why would I do that?"
    "Because if you get us out safely, I swear t' see ye into Harrow."
    Marcus stiffened. Good Lord, she could not be bringing that up again? Not when he thought he had just managed a narrow escape with Ballast. "Absolutely not!" he began, only to be cut off by the boy.
    "'E won't do it," said Sprat, jerking his head toward Marcus.
    "'E'll do it," returned Fantine. "Trust me." Then she crouched down far enough to look at the boy eye to eye. "It be your only chance, Sprat. Do you want to live like your father? Getting piss-eyed drunk every night and grabbing at anything what moves 'cause your life is too damned empty for anything else?"
    Sprat paled at her bald assessment of Ballast, and Marcus feared she'd overplayed her hand. But the boy had intelligence. His gaze slipped to his father's slumped form, taking in the spittle that dribbled on the man's chin.
    "Once in Harrow," Fantine continued, "you can create your own life. Become friends with the elite, learn what you need to know. Maybe one of them has a sister—"
    "Do not even think it!" exploded Marcus. Then Sprat's gaze slipped to Marcus. He suddenly felt uncomfortable under the boy's scrutiny. Why, the lad was judging him, weighing his character! Yet, there was nothing he could do except hope he passed the test, because he had the feeling their very lives depended on it.
    He failed.
    Sprat spat at his feet. "'E won't do it."
    "He will," returned Fantine. "If you cannot trust him, then trust me. I have never lied to you."
    "Ye ain't never had to afore."
    Marcus swallowed. Both Sprat and Fantine were staring at each other, measuring each other's worth in infinitesimal detail. Marcus himself had already been dismissed as unimportant, a mere detail in this game. He would have been insulted had it not been abundantly clear that he had no clue how to function in this dockside world. He could watch, readying himself for anything, but Fantine and this small boy were the true players.
    Marcus almost smiled at the thought. Finally! A new game to learn!
    And at that moment, Sprat made his decision.
    "Best cover up," he said as he jerked his head at Fantine's clothing. "Less'n ye want everybody to know ye're a girl."
    Fantine gasped as she glanced down at her clothing. Though her breasts were not exposed, they were handsomely apparent. She would not be able to repair that, Marcus realized. The damage was too extensive. So, rather than give in to temptation and watch her wiggling movements as she struggled with the torn fabric, he yanked the shirt off one of the unconscious thugs.
    "Wear this. It will cover up most everything. With luck, people will only see what they want to see."
    "They want to see a half-naked girl," muttered Fantine. But she did as he suggested. Within moments, she had tucked the overly large shirt into what was left of her breeches. There was nothing to do about the cut seam on her leg, but at least she looked vaguely like a boy.
    "Let's get to it," said the boy. But before they could do more than take a deep breath, the boy pinned his steely gaze on Fantine. "Cross me an' I'll kill you."
    Fantine nodded, her manner equally serious. "I know."
    Apparently satisfied, Sprat raised his voice enough to carry though the door to any listeners. "Come on, ye buggers," he bellowed as he pushed open the door.
    Marcus was just crossing the