phantom knights 04 - deceit in delaware Read Online Free PDF

to finish the parlor, and then he smiled as he came up the stairs and took my hand. He wanted to see what weapons we had found.
    The bed, chest, and dressing table were covered with guns, knives, daggers, hair clasps that were really knives, rings with knife points, poison rings, a few iron rods like mine, and a dozen dart guns. There was a collection of jewelry; necklaces, bracelets, earbobs, rings, jeweled shoe buckles, and a selection of hat pins.
    The muskets that Leo had carried up were in a row on the floor along with some swords.
    The selection of lorgnettes, quizzing glasses, and a few pairs of spectacles drew Jack to them. He picked up a pair of spectacles and raised his brows.
    Rose smiled as she showed him how they worked. The frame came apart from the lens. One side had a pick and the other had a small needle on the end. When she put them back together you could not tell how dangerous they could be. One of the lorgnettes had a knife in the handle. A few of the others had handles that were like a bottle for poison.
    Rose said Abe and William had been making special weapons for the last few years.
    Jack was impressed with the collection, and said Sam would have more tucked away at his house. He asked us to pack everything up and then have Leo carry the trunks down to the foyer to await transport.
    Jack went to speak Leo while Rose and I began packing the weapons in trunks in silence.
    When the last of the jewelry, glass, and pistols were packed, I rose to leave the chamber, but my sister halted me.
    “I do not wish to fight with you, Constance. Can we not put aside our differing pasts and act as sisters once again?”
    A piece of my heart squeezed in response. “I cannot promise that we will never disagree.”
    Rose laughed. “We are sisters. Disagreeing is as natural as breathing, but we do love each other. We can put aside our disagreements, can we not?”
    “For queen and country?” I asked, with a raised brow as I faced my sister.
    “Let us say rather, for Phantoms and freedom.”
    “Yes. I believe that is best.”
    Rose smiled at me and we left the chamber to go in search of Jack.
    In the foyer, Jack and Leo were stacking trunks.
    “Dudley sent word about a suspicious group of men staying at the Pirates House. We are going to inspect it.” Jack came over to me and kissed my cheek. “We will not be long. Remain here.”
    Rose closed the door behind them when they departed and bolted it. “What was that about? I thought we were having tea with the Stantons.”
    Shaking my head, I walked into the parlor. At the window, I watched Jack mounting his horse.
    “I believe he wanted me to remain here to protect you.”
    Rose scoffed. “He does not know me at all.”
    “No one knows you, Arabella,” I said, calling her by her true name, “and that is your mystery.”
    “Does he not trust us to be able to protect ourselves as far as across the square?”
    “I believe that my husband knows us only too well. Enough that he does not trust us. Though I cannot blame him for his distrust. That rests entirely with me.” The feelings of grief and regret were greatly pressing against me. I had lied and deceived Jack to the point where he no longer trusted me.
    “Do not be hard upon yourself. What we are doing is best for everyone. Jack will forgive you. Consider the lengths he has gone to marry you.”
    Turning away from the window, my sister was seated leisurely on the sofa. “How do you know so much about love? You thwart it every chance that you get.”
    Rose’s grin fell as her brows came down low over her eyes. She never showed her anger to anyone but me. It was a part of being a twin. Only I could drag such emotions from her.
    “I know what love looks like even if I do not embrace it.”
    Mrs. Short, the housekeeper, entered the parlor carrying a tray for tea. She poured tea for Rose and then me. When she was gone, Rose and I sat quietly for half of an hour, with no sound but the ticking of the