Page 62 of Rogue’s Holiday

He nodded again.

“Give me their destination,” he demanded.

Neither man spoke a word. Without turning, Robbie said to Jack, “It appears they want a display of your skills with a blade.”

Jack threw his knife, pinning the wounded man’s hat to the wall. “I can come closer, you know, much closer. Neither of you would miss an eye or an ear.”

“We don’t rightly know where the guvnor is,” blurted out the redhead’s companion whose eyes looked a bit crazed. “We’re to meet at The Prospect in a week’s time. That were the place he hired us.”

“The tavern on the London riverfront?” Robbie knew it well as it was a favorite haunt of the crews of his family’s ships.

The man nodded. “Aye, that one.”

“And between now and then?” said Jack, a second knife glinting in his hand.

The wounded redhead cringed away from the knife. “He never told us the one he’s takin’ her to.”

Robbie frowned, his teeth grinding in frustration. “What do you mean ‘the one’—the one what? Spit it out.”

The man had the audacity to smile. “Which nunnery in London, yer lordship. All we knows is that it were a fancy one.”

Dead silence filled the room as Robbie considered what they were saying. He had expected them to hold Chastity for ransom but this he had not imagined. “He is taking an innocent to a London brothel?”

“Aye,” said the redhead, blood dripping down his wrist. “The guvnor knew ye were soft on the chit.” He added with a snigger, “He knew ye wouldn’t like it. O’course, he wants ye dead, too.”

Robbie’s eyes narrowed on the sniveling creature. “I want his name.”

“Ings is all we know,” said the other man.

The leader, this man “Ings” had planned well, not trusting his hired men to know his whereabouts or his precise destination. Robbie hated to ask but he needed to know to be prepared for what he might find. “Did any of you touch her?”

The two men exchanged a look. The unwounded man stuck out his chest. “Oh, she’s a rare plucked ’un, she is, but I had her singin’ a song…”

Robbie crossed the room in one stride and struck the man with his pistol. The man recoiled. “Now, here, there ain’t no cause fer that.”

“There is,” Robbie said, pointing the pistol at the man’s head. “I’d as soon as blow your head off as listen to your blathering. Now give me a straight answer!”

The pathetic creature’s eyes grew large and he whimpered, pleading for his life. “No, no, we never touched her. The guvnor wouldn’t allow it. Said she’s worth more unsullied. He said a drab house can sell fresh baggage for a pretty penny.”

Robbie’s gut twisted. He was sorely tempted to end their sorry lives here. “How many are taking her to London?”

“Two.”

Robbie could not wait for the meeting at the tavern. He must find Chastity now before her innocence was taken and she was terrorized. Turning to the king’s guards, he said, “I leave these two to you and the king’s justice. I must go to London. Except for the king, tell no one what you have heard.” He might yet be able to save Chastity from a terrible fate.

The king’s men agreed and prodded the two brigands down the stairs.

Jack pulled his knife from the wall, hiding it on his person.

“Before we leave,” said Robbie, “let’s search the place. We might find a clue as to the name of the brothel.”

The search was a short one as they found only clothes, the makings of disguise and food. There was no paper of any kind, save an old newspaper. He doubted the two men he had met could read but the leader would have. He had obviously been the one to write the threatening message to Robbie.

“We were lucky,” said Jack as they hastily retraced their steps to the Pavilion. “Now we just have to find her before a brothel’s customer does.”

“I pray we do,” said Robbie. “We can change while the curricle is readied. If we are to be calling upon the best brothels in London, we had best dress the part.”

“We wouldn’t get far dressed as we are.” They still had on the remnants of their costumes.

“We must hurry. She’s alone and frightened and at their mercy.” Robbie dared not think of the danger Chastity faced. “I will kill anyone who touches her.” He knew then that no matter her condition, as long as she lived, he would claim her as his.