The Degotoga
712 Words
The Degotoga~
Nigel Willoughby
Jorendon
Back at the Silver Fox, Nigel led the roan to the stable as Lucinda went inside. He paused at the first empty stall. He hadn’t stabled his own horse in years. He managed to locate some clean hay and filled a water bucket.
“Sorry, girl.” He patted her flank. “Make do until Rafe can settle you properly.”
Lucinda was upstairs washing soot from her face. Her dirty gown already lay crumpled on the rug. His meticulous wife would sooner go n***d than endure the taint against her skin. He helped her unlace a corset that reeked of smoke.
“Deighton meant to intimidate me,” he said. “I mean to turn the threat around. We’re closing the Silver Fox.”
“That is not our decision to make.”
“It’s the only decision. She’ll see that.” Nigel opened the wardrobe and selected a garnet-colored gown he favored on her. “The Silver Fox became a liability tonight. Keeping you here would waste your talent.”
“Are you suggesting I leave Jorendon?” She glanced over her shoulder as he buttoned.
“I’m suggesting your knack for uncovering what our enemies don’t want us to know is of more use in polite society than in a brothel in the wrong part of town. It’s time we reminded them we are a formidable team.”
“What a scandalous idea.” A wicked smile played on her lips. “You would make a proper mistress out of Lord Nigel’s exotic w***e?”
Having her play the role of the Silver Fox’s proprietor all these years still irked him. Lucinda Degotoga was no one’s w***e.
“Not a mistress. A wife. Lady Lucinda Willoughby.”
He waited as she calculated the risks, the same as he had on his anxious ride through the city. She weighed for herself the appeal of renewing their vows and working together. When she laced her fingers behind his neck, he knew she’d come to the same conclusion.
“I will marry you again, Atohi Mico. John Deighton will regret bringing us together.”
A soft knock rapped at the door. “It’s me, ma’am.”
“Come in, Ruby.”
A pretty blonde with a sprinkle of freckles across her nose, Ruby was one of the prostitutes who called the Silver Fox home. She had fled the green hills of Connor in fear for her life. The burn scar across her cheek was the handiwork of her drunken husband. She took a place at the Silver Fox to keep from starving and found a protector in Lucinda. When Ruby’s husband came looking for her, he bled out in an alley.
“Are the girls all back safely?” said Lucinda.
“Most of us. A few wee ones was livin’ at the Mermaid with their mums. Pearl is takin’ ‘em to Providence House.” Her gaze dropped and swept the rug around Nigel’s shoes. “M’lord, there’s a man here askin’ fer ye. Says ye know him.”
Nigel drew back a curtain. His carriage was waiting in the street below.
“Pack a bag, my dear,” he said. “Reinforcements have arrived.”
Nigel took the stairs down to the kitchen. A wary voice was imploring someone to show restraint. Rafe had Jules Brunet backed against a cupboard.
“Stow the knife, Rafe. He’s on our side.”
The Silver Fox’s cook, custodian, and guardian spun the handle of the carving knife in his meaty fist and skewered the wooden countertop.
“Well-timed, my lord.” Jules exhaled. “Rafe is quite zealous in his duties.”
“Don’t critique his cooking, and you might walk away with your life,” said Nigel. “Rafe, I left a fine mare poorly settled in the stable. Will you see to her?”
Rafe grunted unintelligible disdain for coddled nobility and headed for the stable.
“After I left?” Nigel prompted.
“Cleland and Langdon berated him for a while until Tavish got enough. He and his sword escorted His Holiness out. Deighton damned them all to hell and left.” Brunet shrugged. “After that, the party broke up, and everyone went home.”
“And you showed up here with my carriage.”
“You sent me here once. I surmised its purpose.”
“As intended.”
“But you abandoned the game board tonight,” said Brunet. “It wasn’t your c**k that had you racing here. It was your heart.”
Lucinda appeared in the doorway.
“Admitted.” Nigel offered her his arm. “My heart belongs to Lucinda Degotoga. She was reckless enough to marry me twenty-and-four years ago in Tallu.”
“Degotoga. The assassin.” Brunet’s awe was genuine. “You…the Degotoga can’t be a woman. It’s—”
“Impossible?” said Nigel.
“Impossible,” said Lucinda. “Remember that, young man.”
Brunet nodded. “Impossible.”
“From now on, she is Lady Lucinda Willoughby.” Nigel rubbed his forehead. “Which reminds me, I need to find a pastor. What hour is it?”
“Almost three of the morning. But…” Brunet gave his head a shake and tore his attention from Lucinda. “I left Bishop Griffith waiting in the carriage. I thought you might need him.”
“Someday, you are going to tell me how you do it.”
Chapter 49
- Writer
