Texas Killers Read Online Free PDF Page B

“walking-out day dress” she had on conceal the eye-catching, voluptuous curves. Not that it was intended to do so. Despite being more decorous in lines, the tight cream jacket-bodice—its long basque forming an overskirt—displayed the mound of her bosom and slender mid-section as effectively as a ball gown with an extreme décolleté. The primrose-yellow waistcoat-front’s V-neckline had no chemisette to form a high ruffle collar. Fitting snugly at the elbows, the three-quarter-length sleeves opened out to end in large frilled cuffs and long suede gloves emerged from them. Caught up at the sides, the long-trained overskirt had its front falls taken into pleated draperies. Worn low over the forehead in a frizzy fringe, her brunette hair was brushed back into a chignon which left her ears uncovered. Thestraw hat perched on it had a wide, brim and small crown with ribbon trimmings which passed beneath the chignon and formed a shawl-shape around her neck. Lying on the table were her folded primrose and blue parasol and a large matching fan.
    Apart from his attire being civilian and the scars on his cheeks forming a slightly different pattern, von Farlenheim’s physical appearance was almost identical to that of his cousin Fritz—two years his senior—who was accompanying Crown Prince Rudolph. A white straw “planter’s” hat, bought in Brownsville as being better suited to the local climate, was on the table in front of him. He had on a tight-fitting, waist-long brown jacket, frilly bosomed white silk shirt and a dark blue cravat of the same material. Figure-hugging, his tan-colored riding breeches disappeared into well-polished black Hessian boots. His weapon belt was of the Bosgravnian Army’s pattern, carrying a Colt Cavalry Peacemaker in its holster, but without a saber attached to its slings. All in all, his garments emphasized a masculine virility as effectively as the Comtesse ’s costume proclaimed her feminine pulchritude. Like her, he made use of his physical attributes as a means of attaining his ends with members of the opposite sex.
    â€œIt would be advisable to keep your voice down, Alex,” Charlene suggested, forcing herself to speak in something milder than the tone she wished to employ. Her German was fluent, but with a noticeable French accent. “Somebody might be able to understand you. I would have consulted you if there had been time, although the Council have given me their authority to act as I see best for our Cause. But when ‘Breakast’ told me that the man ‘Clint’ would accept no other terms, I had to agree to make sure that we secured his services.”
    â€œWhy do we need him?” von Farlenheim demanded, but in a much lower voice.
    Sitting ramrod straight in his chair, the young Bosgravnian showed little sign of having been mollified by the Comtesse ’s explanation. To one of his upbringing and mentality, the suggestion that a member of the “weaker sex” should be other than subservient and in a subordinate capacity was practically heresy. So he had never been enamored of the knowledge that, as she had just reminded him, to all intents and purposes their fellow conspirators had appointed her—a Frenchwoman —as his superior in the attempt to assassinate their country’s hereditary ruler. He was aware that she had not hesitated to make major decisions without consulting him in the past. Furthermore, he suspected that on this occasion she had deliberately delayed contacting him until after she had made her arrangements with the man they knew as “Gustav Breakast.”
    Up until the matter which had elicited von Farlenheim’s indignant comment, despite neither of them having any liking for the other, his first meeting with Charlene since his arrival in Corpus Christie had been progressing amicably. Nor had the condition been brought about entirely by a mutual remembrance that they