A Lady's Revenge Read Online Free Page B

mite dies in there,” the smaller but no less sturdy silhouette muttered.
    Guy and Danforth halted.
    Little mite? Cora’s brother mouthed to Guy.
    A memory flashed so swiftly through Guy’s mind that he couldn’t latch on. It hovered teasingly out of his reach.
    He frowned and motioned to Danforth for them to move closer.
    “Stop your blathering, woman,” the other silhouette grumbled. “The two gents will take care of them toad-eaters, if Miss Cora hasn’t already.”
    Guy eyed the two until recognition dawned. The hard knot of tension eased from his shoulders, and a smile danced across his lips. Danforth stared at the silhouettes, shaking his head in disgust or amazement; Guy couldn’t be sure which.
    He and Danforth stood less than five feet behind the bickering couple. Near enough to lunge forward and dispatch them with a single slice of their blades. His blood beat in thick waves at how close they had come to eliminating Cora’s beloved servants.
    They put away their weapons. The rush of energy that always prepared him for a kill took much longer to sheath.
    An amused smile cut across Danforth’s face. “Listen to him, Dinks.”
    The maid yelped and lost her balance. She would have landed on her bum had it not been for her companion’s quick reaction.
    “Unhand me, you old goat,” Dinks sputtered, righting her tangled cloak.
    “Bah,” Bingham said. “Next time I won’t save your contrary woman’s pride.”
    “Quiet,” Guy warned, his gaze skimming their surroundings.
    Dinks crossed her arms over her broad chest and carried on in a lower voice, “As if you’ve never been caught unawares.”
    The coachman shuffled from foot to foot, eyeing his counterpart with anger and a hint of chagrin. “Ye just won’t let it go, will ye?”
    Guy shook his head. The servants’ familiar squabbling—something he hadn’t heard in a long time—washed over him and tightened his chest.
    “Never mind about that.” Dinks sent the coachman a dismissive wave and rushed toward Guy, urgency lacing her words. “Did you find Miss Cora, my lord?”
    “We have her, Dinks,” Danforth interjected. “We stashed her in the woods when we heard your whispering.” He looked to Guy. “I’ll get her.”
    Guy nodded, his attention fixed on Cora’s servants. Something about this entire situation left a hollow feeling in his gut as if someone had removed a vital organ and failed to tell him.
    “Would either of you care to explain why I found your mistress in Valère’s dungeon?”
    “Dungeon?” Dinks whispered, her face crumpling.
    Bingham slipped a massive arm around the maid’s hunched shoulders.
    Guy steeled himself against their distress. “Yes. I overheard Valère’s man asking her for information. Did he find out she had been feeding society intelligence to Somerton?”
    Bingham’s lips disappeared inside his mouth, and Dinks averted her watery gaze.
    Their refusal to answer his question reminded him of their unfailing loyalty toward their mistress. It had always been thus, even when their role was more caretaker than protector.
    Guy had always found their devotion endearing. Until now.
    “Never mind,” Guy said. “Why don’t you tell me what the two of you are doing here? Is Jack with you?” Guy peered into the gloom, looking for Cora’s lanky footman.
    “Jack went for help. We kept watch,” Bingham said.
    Dinks sniffed and straightened her shoulders, forcing Bingham’s supportive arm to fall.
    The coachman scowled.
    “It took us a few days to pick up that Frenchie’s trail,” Dinks said. “Once we knew where he’d taken Miss Cora, we sent word to Lord Somerton straight away.”
    Bingham scowled. “Didn’t I just say that?”
    Before Guy could question Dinks further, Danforth emerged from the dense undergrowth, carrying Cora in his arms.
    Dinks ran forward. “Miss Cora!” she exclaimed in a rough whisper.
    Cora’s head lolled against Danforth’s shoulder. Her dry, cracked lips turned up in a