The Ballad of Gregoire Darcy Read Online Free PDF

her pocket.Wet from the splashing of the waves against the rocks and the sea breeze, Nadezhda toweled off Georgiana’s hair. Her own was protected by her headdress.
    â€œCan I braid your hair?”
    â€œTonight,” Nadezhda said. “Not now. Someone might come along and see us.”
    â€œBut they can see my hair.”
    â€œYou are not married and you are not from Transylvania,” her aunt responded. Georgiana had shot up in the past six months. She was still quite short, but Nadezhda did not have to kneel to be at her level. “My hair is for my husband, not other men.”
    â€œDid you let him see it before you married him?”
    â€œI did not. He was most curious about it,” she said with a smile as they collected their things and made their way back to the path that would take them up to their coach. “If you hide something, it makes people curious. If you show it all the time, they get bored. Men, especially. I cover it and it becomes special, something only for him.” Among other things, she added silently. “And you. But if your brother asked, I would not let him.”
    â€œWhat about Uncle Maddox?” Georgie said, referring to her proper uncle, the doctor.

    â€œOnly if I had a scalp wound.”
    â€œWhat about Papa?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWhat about the King of England?”
    Nadezhda smiled and looked down at Georgie. “It would never come up, but no. Not even for the King of England. For my husband only.”
    The sun was setting when they returned to their inn. From the room, they could see the water and hear the waves. Despite the beauty of it all, Georgie was noticeably melancholy as she watched the skyline turn red and then a deepening blue.
    Nadezhda put a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll be home soon.”
    Georgie nodded.
    â€œYou miss your father?”
    She nodded again.
    â€œI miss my husband,” Nadezhda said, taking Georgiana into her arms. “But they’ll be home soon.”
    â€œDo you think they’re all right?”
    â€œI’m sure that Brian will take good care of your father.”

    â€œIt says what? ” Brian said. He hadn’t heard the first time over the din of the crowds, who were cheering as the wushu master on the platform defeated yet another opponent by pushing him off the stage.
    Mugin, who could speak Chinese but not read it, had to have it read to him by the man offering the sheet of rice paper. “It is a death contract. In case the challenger dies in the fight, it is legal.”
    â€œWe’ve not seen a single person die in one of these fights,” Bingley said, his eyes still on the champion.
    â€œWe’ve witnessed only limbs broken and heads bashed. Nothing serious, ” Brian said to Bingley.
    â€œI still want to do it.”
    â€œOf all the stupid things I’ve let you do on this trip—“
    â€œI told you, I did not know the word meant ‘prostitute’! I
thought I was saying that she was a dancer! How good do you expect my Punjabi to be the first time I hear it spoken?”
    â€œFor God’s sake, man, you put your head in a tiger’s mouth before I could stop you!”
    â€œThe handler said it was safe,” Bingley shouted. “And I emerged with my head intact.”
    â€œBecause I saved you!”
    â€œArguable. Other times, you definitely saved me. But that one is up for debate.” Bingley turned to Mugin. “Is it safe? The contest?”
    â€œYou can’t win, Binguri-chan.”
    â€œOf course not. I just want to try it.”
    Brian growled. “Will you please find things to try that don’t involve wild animals, compromising situations, or experts in martial combat?”
    â€œOh, Brian Maddox has never done anything daring or outright insane.”
    â€œNot while I was guarding a relative, no.” He paused. “Well, yes, but not this time. ”
    â€œI will take care of