Falling In Love Again (Heroic Rogues Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

the empty room.” Simon motioned his head in the direction. “She’s been there ever since.”
    “Are you feeding her?”
    “Only mere scraps, Sir. Why should we waste our good food on someone we’re just going to kill?”
    Although Marcus wanted to wring the woman’s slender neck for what she’d done, his gut clenched from the thought of her half starved. He didn’t know what kind of punishment to issue. Killing her was out of the question, not without fulfilling his thirst for revenge against her father.
    “Simon, feed her the same thing you’re giving the other prisoners. On second thought, give her more. We need to fatten her up a bit.”
    “But, Captain—”
    “Don’t argue with me. My mind is made up.”
    “Aye, Sir.” Simon turned and walked toward the door.
    “One more thing,” Marcus called out.
    “What?”
    “Send Gabe in as soon as possible.”
    “Aye, Sir.”
    Simon walked out of the cabin and shut the door. Marcus lifted the bowl of broth to his lips and sipped. The broth coated his stomach, making him hungry for more.
    He moved his attention around the room once more. The place was a disaster. Clothes scattered everywhere. Bloodied bandages discarded on the floor in a pile as if whoever put them there didn’t think to dispose of them. Dishes from three days ago still sat on the table. Since his serving boy had died of the fever a year ago, Marcus had hired a twelve-year-old from the orphanage to do the duties of the powder monkey. Now that they were on land, Marcus had the lad help clean rooms. Unfortunately, David, the cook, had Monkey occupied of late. Marcus didn’t have time to find another boy to clean his room. Now he wished he had, only because he didn’t want to have to look at this mess until he was strong enough to clean it himself.
    As the broth filled his empty stomach, ideas consumed his mind. He leaned back against the pillows and grinned. Actually, he did have a cabin boy…or girl. Didn’t matter what her gender, Miss Stanhope would clean his room and take care of him as he recovered. She wouldn’t enjoy it, to be sure, but the punishment fit the crime.
    He’d get to issue commands as if she were one of his crew members. She’d want to lash her vicious tongue at him, but he’d scorn her for that, too. Schemes raced through his head, making him smile wider. The first order of business would be giving him a bath in his hip tub. Hopefully, he’d be strong enough to walk to and from the bath without difficulty.
    The knock on the door brought him out of his daydreams. Gabe walked inside.
    “I must say, Captain, you look remarkably better than you have of late. There’s more color in your face.”
    Marcus nodded. “Simon tells me I almost died.”
    “We thought you had a couple of times. Your physician stayed by your side night and day until he was certain you would live. You lost a lot of blood, and we feared the worst.”
    “Thankfully, I have one of the best physicians in New York.”
    “Indeed you do.” Gabe stepped closer. “Simon said you wanted to see me, Sir.”
    Marcus drank the last of his broth and put the bowl down. “Did you find anything more on the stagecoach?”
    “We went through all the trunks, and found nothing. We stripped every board and cushion off the conveyance, and still nothing. I’m now beginning to wonder if the information we received was false.”
    “I’m starting to wonder the same thing. I think I should threaten the prisoners again. If one of them is keeping this information from me, they may not live to see the next day.”
    “A good idea to be sure.” Gabe nodded. “But wait until you are stronger.”
    “I will.” Marcus carefully rubbed his bandaged wound. “But I know a way to recover from my injury quickly.”
    “Forgive me for asking, but how do you plan on doing that?”
    Marcus grinned wide. “I’ll have a pretty little nursemaid attending me during the remainder of our journey.”
    Gabe gasped. “You must be