What a Rogue Desires by Caroline Linden Read Free Book Online

He had been watching with his customary glumness. Crum never said much, good or bad. He was a big thick fellow, and only in defense of Alice did he show any animation.
    “That’s not so bad, then,” he said.
    “It’s passing fair,” she said before Flynn could speak. “It’s our best take in a month.”
    His mouth twisted. He didn’t want to admit that, after the way Simon had blundered. Vivian put up her chin and met his glare head-on.
    “We ain’t sold it yet,” he growled. “It might be trouble to sell.” He was rolling the ring in his palm again. She could see he had taken a fancy to it, for all his complaints about the way Simon had gotten it. She felt a whisper of dread. One never knew what Flynn would take into his head, and he was as obstinate as a mule once he set his mind on something.
    “I’ll take it tomorrow,” she said. Best to get rid of the blasted thing as soon as possible. “I’ll take the stage from Wallingford and find a pawn shop. It’ll be just another bit of gold.” She put out her hand for all the jewels. Still glowering, Flynn scooped them up and handed over everything but the ring. She kept her hand out, waiting. For a moment they stared at each other, neither willing to give. Vivian hid her clenched free hand in the folds of her shirt; if Flynn didn’t give over the ring, came the sudden thought, she could take it as a sign that it was time for her to go. She could sell the little things, hand over Flynn’s and Crum’s and Alice’s shares, and then go away with Simon. For the space of a second, she almost hoped he would refuse to hand it over, effectively announcing his lack of trust in her.
    Flynn tossed the ring at her. With a flick of her wrist she caught it, dropping everything else in the process. Flynn barked with laughter as she collected it again, her lips pressed tight together. It was time to go, all right; she hated Flynn worse than ever then, for his mocking laugh and leering looks.
    “We need to move on,” she said abruptly. “This bit of road is too dangerous now.”
    Flynn quit laughing and frowned. “We move on when I say,” he snapped, “not until. You mind your role, girl, I’ll mind mine.”
    She swallowed the protest that leaped to her lips. She forced herself to nod, and hide her thoughts. That was her sign, she thought furiously. They nearly got nabbed by the constables, and Flynn would ignore it out of bullish pride. Because he hadn’t said it first, he would refuse to do what any sensible person would do.
    She put the valuables with her widow’s dress and got her blanket. There was a general shuffling as everyone shook out their blankets and Alice banked the fire for the night. Vivian rolled up in her blanket and lay down next to Simon. Her brother’s frame loomed larger than ever over her, and she felt another pang of worry for him. He would soon be too old to become anything but a hardened thief. In the faint firelight, she saw his crooked grin.
    “Cheer up, Viv,” he whispered. “All will be well.”
    She mustered a smile. “I know.” Somehow, someday, she supposed, it would. She would do her damnedest to make it so—beginning tomorrow, when she headed into London to sell those stolen pieces. Simon knew she was angry at him, and he knew she’d stuck up for him tonight. She couldn’t do it forever, though. Sooner or later she or Flynn would run the other through in a fury, if Flynn’s stupidity didn’t get them killed first. Long after the snores around her indicated everyone else had gone to sleep, Vivian stared at the ceiling.
    She thought about Alice, asleep beside her, lying flat on her back with her mouth open a little. Alice had an unfocused, vague look in her eyes, and Vivian dimly remembered hearing something about her being kicked in the head by a horse. Alice never complained, never protested, never said much of anything. She went about her business with plodding determination, cooking for all of them and darning