without drink, but that was fine. Watching Kay struggle to get out of the fountain was more refreshing than a long pull of wine.
“What happened?”
“I don’t know! She was fine one moment and then in the water the next.” Grace took one of the cakes and bit into it. Despite what everyone knew about Grace’s past involving swordplay, no one ever looked at her and expected her to be anything but sweet and innocent.
Nathaniel looked at Grace and then at the drenched woman who had managed to get herself out of the fountain. He must have recognized her, because a smile appeared on his face. Kay glared at Grace and balled her fists at her side. “You bitch!”
Grace shrugged and held her hands palms up. “So sorry; it was just an accident. It’s too bad your clothes are ruined.”
Nathaniel hooked his arm with Grace’s. “We best be off.” The situation was funny, but Kay had a temper and everyone knew it. There was no need for a riot in the market.
Hurrying away from the scene with cakes in hand, Nathaniel and Grace left the market. Satisfied that the evening was well spent, Grace asked to be taken home. She bid her escort good-night with a kiss on the cheek and went up to her room.
It would have been hard not to smile with Nathaniel. He said nothing of their disastrous breakfast or her trying to leech information from him; keeping the conversation always on pleasant topics. Grace felt lighter listening to him, but once home her grief flooded back. Pushing Kay into the fountain felt good in the moment, but it didn’t make things any better. At least she had gotten some information out of Kay without having to face Jack again. The thought of him with Kay was unbearable, and there was no one she could really talk to about it.
Ridley would listen and comfort, but Grace couldn’t reveal her secret of the Death Dealer. Jack had been so wrapped up in the Dealer that naturally it was only part of the story. Marcus might have understood, but he was always more preoccupied with his own ventures to offer any help. Thom listened, understood and comforted, but she was so angry with him for not being honest and telling her Jack was in Glenbard again. Grace tossed and turned until she finally drifted into a restless sleep.
Nine
Jack stood outside the Emerald, tapping his pipe against the wall and letting the ashes fall into the dirt. It was too hot to be smoking anyway. There hadn’t been a wind blowing through the streets for days.
He heard the sounds of movement in the alley, so rolling his eyes he said, “I hear you, little urchin. Now come out and try to pick my pocket so I can break your fingers.” To his surprise, Nathaniel Moore stepped out of the shadows. “Ah, here’s a surprise. Evenin’ sergeant, and to you as well, captain.” The captain and sergeant came dressed in their uniforms, and both had their batons out in case of trouble. This was no social call to the Emerald.
Captain Ericson had come with Nathaniel as a means of getting information on the Death Dealer. The men stepped into a ring of light from a heightened torch stuck into the ground. Jack tucked his pipe into his belt. His face was concealed in the dark. That was good. He silently searched the darkened corners around the Emerald for reinforcements.
“Master Anders, we were wondering if we could have a word,” Captain Ericson said; taking the lead. “We understand you helped the Death Dealer last year when there was that little ‘scuffle’ amongst the thieves.” He slipped his baton back into his belt and Nathaniel did the same.
Jack shifted and stepped out of the shadows into the light. Nathaniel saw the man was bemused. It made him want to reach over and him for his smugness.
“I remember hearing that while this Death Dealer aided Marcus, another Dealer was spotted in Escion and another in Actis,” Jack replied airily. His smile widened. “Gentlemen, are you chasing ghosts and children’s tales now?”
“This is not the
“What happened?”
“I don’t know! She was fine one moment and then in the water the next.” Grace took one of the cakes and bit into it. Despite what everyone knew about Grace’s past involving swordplay, no one ever looked at her and expected her to be anything but sweet and innocent.
Nathaniel looked at Grace and then at the drenched woman who had managed to get herself out of the fountain. He must have recognized her, because a smile appeared on his face. Kay glared at Grace and balled her fists at her side. “You bitch!”
Grace shrugged and held her hands palms up. “So sorry; it was just an accident. It’s too bad your clothes are ruined.”
Nathaniel hooked his arm with Grace’s. “We best be off.” The situation was funny, but Kay had a temper and everyone knew it. There was no need for a riot in the market.
Hurrying away from the scene with cakes in hand, Nathaniel and Grace left the market. Satisfied that the evening was well spent, Grace asked to be taken home. She bid her escort good-night with a kiss on the cheek and went up to her room.
It would have been hard not to smile with Nathaniel. He said nothing of their disastrous breakfast or her trying to leech information from him; keeping the conversation always on pleasant topics. Grace felt lighter listening to him, but once home her grief flooded back. Pushing Kay into the fountain felt good in the moment, but it didn’t make things any better. At least she had gotten some information out of Kay without having to face Jack again. The thought of him with Kay was unbearable, and there was no one she could really talk to about it.
Ridley would listen and comfort, but Grace couldn’t reveal her secret of the Death Dealer. Jack had been so wrapped up in the Dealer that naturally it was only part of the story. Marcus might have understood, but he was always more preoccupied with his own ventures to offer any help. Thom listened, understood and comforted, but she was so angry with him for not being honest and telling her Jack was in Glenbard again. Grace tossed and turned until she finally drifted into a restless sleep.
Nine
Jack stood outside the Emerald, tapping his pipe against the wall and letting the ashes fall into the dirt. It was too hot to be smoking anyway. There hadn’t been a wind blowing through the streets for days.
He heard the sounds of movement in the alley, so rolling his eyes he said, “I hear you, little urchin. Now come out and try to pick my pocket so I can break your fingers.” To his surprise, Nathaniel Moore stepped out of the shadows. “Ah, here’s a surprise. Evenin’ sergeant, and to you as well, captain.” The captain and sergeant came dressed in their uniforms, and both had their batons out in case of trouble. This was no social call to the Emerald.
Captain Ericson had come with Nathaniel as a means of getting information on the Death Dealer. The men stepped into a ring of light from a heightened torch stuck into the ground. Jack tucked his pipe into his belt. His face was concealed in the dark. That was good. He silently searched the darkened corners around the Emerald for reinforcements.
“Master Anders, we were wondering if we could have a word,” Captain Ericson said; taking the lead. “We understand you helped the Death Dealer last year when there was that little ‘scuffle’ amongst the thieves.” He slipped his baton back into his belt and Nathaniel did the same.
Jack shifted and stepped out of the shadows into the light. Nathaniel saw the man was bemused. It made him want to reach over and him for his smugness.
“I remember hearing that while this Death Dealer aided Marcus, another Dealer was spotted in Escion and another in Actis,” Jack replied airily. His smile widened. “Gentlemen, are you chasing ghosts and children’s tales now?”
“This is not the
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