Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
At least with the sharp wind biting at her skin she had some other discomfort to focus on than her fear of this man and his stench.
“Want to say goodbye to your family?”
“No.” She walked away from all there and strode outside to the waiting carriage. A rented one but nice. Her brother opened the door and helped her inside. Then he swung up, settling across from her.
“Just where do you think yer going?” A low, dangerous masculine voice split the morning.
The growled, menacing question chilled her. Sharing an unsure look with her brother, she reached for the curtain only to have him push her back against the seat with a glower.
“Get out of the carriage,” the unknown male ordered.
Unsure of what was going on, she obeyed and found her father at the top of the steps, the same confused expression on his face as she had. Stepping away from the carriage, she held onto her coat a bit more as she angled to see around the back of the hack, eyes squinting from the sting of the wind.
Four large men on horses sat there. And she recognized them all. Mac’s.
They were thugs. Thieves.
Seamus himself leaned forward in the saddle and glared at the man who’d paid for her so he could torture her and possibly put her into sexual situations she definitely didn’t want to be in. The count gulped and rattled something off in Italian.
With a cluck of his tongue, the burly Irishman waved a pistol in his direction. “Not many people think they can get away from me in my city owing me money. I don’t like people who don’t settle their accounts with me.”
“Who are you and what do you think you’re doing with the count?” Bradford demanded, moving down the steps. “You need to leave. You can’t just come in here and wave a gun.”
Seamus glanced over everyone there and sent her a wink. Rosamunde gasped and stepped back. As quick as he’d winked at her, he put his attention back on the count. “I want the money you owe me. And I want it now.”
“All I have is the money for her.”
“That’s mine,” her father protested.
Of course. Not concerned about her, just the blunt.
“Oh, it’s most definitely mine, Lord Barberton. That and more.” Seamus held his gaze. “I’m here to collect my markers from you too.” A beat of silence. “All of them.”
Her father paled. “I can’t pay you right now, and how dare you do this in front of my family.”
“You’ve ignored my summons for over a month. I run a business and clients like you aren’t good for it. You shouldn’t come into my establishment, buying drinks and women and gambling, if you can’t back it up.” Seamus nudged his horse closer to her, the large beast blocking some of the wind.
There was a moment, a few seconds at least, where she was grateful for that.
He bent and tipped up her chin. “But perhaps we can yet reach an agreement.”
“Don’t make me kill you, Jimmy.”
Bryn had arrived. Her shame was complete.
Bryn saw red the second Jimmy Mac touched Rosamunde. He hated the fear in her expression and the shame. But she never once hung her head. No, not his lioness. She didn’t cower.
He could do for Jimmy to move away from her though.
“What is going on here?”
Harriet Fletcher walked to stand by her husband.
“Yer husband, my lady, owes me a bunch of money for all the gambling, drinking and whoring he’s been doing at my fine establishment, and I’ve come for payment. He’s late.”
“Whoring? Again!”
“Give me my money for my daughter, count. When I have that, Mr. MacGuire, I’ll pay you back with interest.”
“The count owes me money as well, so what are you paying me with when I take what he has for you?” He scratched at his neck. “See, he was at my gaming hell last night and racked up quite the tab. When I heard he was skipping town to head back to Italy today, I figured I’d drop by for a chat.”
The Irish in Jimmy’s tone thickened and Bryn knew the man was furious. He nudged his ride closer. The men who had his back followed his move.
Jimmy looked at Bryn then again to Rosamunde. A smirk flashed before he turned his attention up to Bradford.
“I’ll settle your debt, Barberton, for your daughter.” He leaned forward in the saddle. “You tell me she’s mine and your slate is wiped clean.”
“Done.”
Fury lit Bryn. “I’ll pay it off.”
Rosamunde gasped and shook her head.
“Look at ye, lass. Three men wanting to pay for you.”
Her lips flattened as she held Jimmy’s gaze. “I always wanted to be purchased like a whore.”
Jimmy laughed. “Spicy. I like you.”
Bryn nudged his mount between them, forcing Jimmy back. “Don’t make me forget we’re friends, Jimmy. Stay out of this.”