Page 3 of Beguiled
2
Pearl
My prisoner washandsome.I don’t know why that fact stood out to me, but it did nonetheless. Strands of his shoulder-length fair hair were plaited into small braids on one side of his face. The scruffy layer of stubble on his jaw and chin was slightly darker in coloring, making the blue of his eyes all the brighter and more alluring. The rest of his features—his nose, mouth, cheekbones—were flawless, almost regal.
While spying, Toad had heard the eye-patch man calling his companion Mikkel and ordering him around. In return, Mikkel had addressed the eye-patch man as Sir Gregor. Toad hadn’t been exaggerating when he said Mikkel didn’t belong on the island and that he carried himself with the bearing of a lord.
One well-placed word on my part had confirmed the truth: Mikkel was not a servant.
He bucked against me so sharply and suddenly my hold upon his hands wavered. He took advantage of my inattention by rolling away from my boots and blade. An instant later he was on his feet, a spear in his hand aimed at me.
Not only was he noble and handsome, but he was well trained.
Fortunately, I was also well trained after living on the island for the past year and spending every spare moment learning all I could about weaponry and fighting. Before he could make another move, I had my bow up and an arrow pointed at him.
“Go ahead and throw your spear... if you wish to die today.”
With a sweeping glance, he took in the boat behind me with three of my companions inside, all wielding weapons at the ready. Then his gaze rested upon me. Wearing a man’s tunic, breeches, and boots, I made a dismal picture, though his narrowed eyes revealed naught, not even the repugnance I was certain he must be feeling at seeing a woman attired as a man. He was surely also wondering what deformity I was covering with my veil.
Irontooth and Felicity were the only two who knew the truth about my veil and why I was hiding behind it. Once I’d revealed my identity to them, they’d agreed I would be safer if no one else knew. Never in all the months since then had I felt the urge to show myself. Until this moment...
For a reason I couldn’t explain, I wished I could give this fine-looking stranger a glimpse of my face and earn his appreciation, not his disdain.
Slowly, he lowered his spear. “I have no wish to meet my Maker this day... my lady.” His blue eyes challenged me to deny his use of the title. In some ways he was right. I was nobility. But I was also so much more. Or was I? When I ran away from Warwick last summer, I left behind my title, power, and rights. And when my mother had proclaimed the news of the hunting accident and my death, perhaps Princess Pearl truly died after all.
Perhaps Veil was all who remained.
“Want us to tie ’em up, Veil?” Toad asked from where he stood with his knife pressed against Gregor.
“Yes. Start with Mikkel and Gregor. We shall bind Fowler last.” I didn’t take my attention from Mikkel and took pleasure when his eyes widened again at the use of their given names.
“I regret that you know more about us than we do about you, my lady.” He didn’t resist as Humphrey disarmed him and jerked his hands behind his back.
“’Tis not enough for Irontooth. In fact, ’twill not be enough until he has wrung the truth from you. One way or another.”
“I shall be more than willing to speak with Irontooth.” Mikkel showed confidence and none of the fear I’d wanted to instill. “I’ve been hoping to have an audience with him. And now, I shall have my chance.”
Several of our band had been captured last week by Blade’s outcasts, and Irontooth had decided to abduct these newest recruits in retaliation. Of course, I’d offered to lead the expedition, since I needed all the practice in kidnapping I could get. Then when I returned to the palace in Kensington, I’d be able to spirit Ruby away without the queen’s knowledge.
Just the merest thought of my younger sister twisted a knot inside, the one that had formed the day I’d been forced to leave her behind.
The day the queen had set out to murder me.
As it was, I hadn’t known anything until it was too late, and I had barely escaped with my life.
During my long days of hiding and running, I’d sobbed many silent tears for the sweet child who would be devastated when she received the news of my death. I’d contemplated sending her a note and letting her know I was alive.
However, every time I started to pen a letter, I stopped. At twelve, Ruby was still too young to keep a secret from the queen, and communication would put us both in more peril.
I’d only been able to pray for her these long months we’d been apart, that God would give her strength in her grief. At least Ruby had her friendship with the nuns who lived in the abbey connected with Kensington Cathedral. Since Father’s death, she’d requested visits from them almost daily, beseeching them for prayer and comfort. Now in my absence, I was trusting the dear women to do whatever they could to take care of my sister.
And I lived with the hope that soon—very soon—I’d be able to escape with Ruby from Warwick to a new place where we could start over and never again have to worry about the manipulations of our mother.
A shiver raced up my backbone, one filled with the chill of not only all I’d left behind in my old life but also of approaching danger. I peered into the mist, searching for shadows and listening for the sounds of a vessel. Though I heard nothing, the trepidation remained.
“Time to go,” I said quietly.
Toad and Humphrey finished binding the prisoners, and then after dividing them between the two boats, we hunkered down and rowed around the island. The fog was no barrier to us, since we were accustomed to maneuvering in all conditions. Our prisoners remained silent and cooperative, clearly sensing we were not the only enemies they must worry about.
