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Your humble servant
S
The silence was deadly, then a shout in the hall caused us all to jump.
The sound of heavy footfall on the stairs and then a bleeding Jude, dragging an urchin, barrelled into the room.
Polly gave out an aborted cry and clutched the mantle.
“No thanks to the scamp, but I’m alive.” Jude growled. “They set upon us… I don’t know how they could have known unless…” he took a moment to collect himself. “Beatrice… as I am sure you know… I am sorry. Polly—”
My sister-in-law’s jaw ticked, and she refused to look at her bodyguard. Instead, her attention was focused on the little boy, who was scowling at Jude who’d yet to release him.
“Begging your pardon but as I was the one who saved your life a bit more, respect ain’t out of the question.” The child was small and dark headed with a toothy grin. “Ain’t that right? A body—”
“Your name,” Polly barked, her eyes riveted on the dirty face. “Age.”
“Tod,” he grinned. “Name’s Thadeus, but everyone calls me Tod. And I’m ten.”
Her eyes flashed and then a lost, almost dreamy look came over her face. A smile, unlike any I’d seen, stretched her lips. “Prog!”
The beta came in a scowl on his face. “How may I be of service, majesty? Birds are quiet so far…”
“Never mind that. Take this one to the house. He’s not to leave. Stick him in a bath. Feed him. Tell Sarah she’s to mind him until I return.”
“Sarah is gone,” I reminded her. Polly’s eyes blazed mirrored gold in the candle light before, with a deep breath, she gathered herself with a quick nod.
“Take care of it, Prog.”
“Yes, Majesty.”
Only then did her attention return to Jude. Jude, who held the freshest information beside the letter as to Beatrice’s whereabouts.
“Speak.”
“Polly—”
“I do not need to know my own name. What happened?”
The large beta bit back a growl. “Everything was well. Then the carriage was set upon. I told her to stay put. Got out and was clubbed over the head the minute my feet hit the ground. Damned stupid of me and I don’t need you to tell me. I hate myself enough. The imp woke me… According to him he saw what happened.”
“Do you see them? How many?” Jack pushed through and asked. “What happened next?”
“Five men. Rough.” The child pushed his way into the conversation. “They dragged the lady out, hit her over the head and into another carriage.”
“And no one raised an alarm?” I asked. “What—”
“We were on the Heath. Dead is what it was.” Thadeus sneered as if we were idiots.
“We go to Drexler,” Polly said. “You, Jude, go back—”
“I’m not leaving you... Not if you are going to Drexler’s.”
“It’s an order. I’ll be with my sister’s mates.”
Jude crowded her against the wall. Their size difference was great, but they stared at each other as equals. “You will go home. Or, if you prefer, go to the house and look after the boy.”
Jude pushed away from her. “You want—”
