The Raider Read Online Free PDF

back to their work. The wind echoed with the words “Poor Sayer” and “But his brothers are such men!”
    Within a few minutes, there were only four of them on the dock: Jessica, enjoying it all enormously because she’d always told everyone that Alex was no good, a frowning Eleanor, a bewildered Alexander, and the big man in a dirty shirt.
    Jessica just stood there with a triumphant grin on her face while Alex’s eyes began to clear and he turned to look at her. “This is all your fault,” Alex whispered.
    Jess’s smile grew broader. “Oh, no, Alexander, this is your fault for at last showing your true self. You had them all fooled for years, but not me. You must tell me who your tailor is.” She turned to her sister. “Wouldn’t you love to have a petticoat that color?”
    Eleanor squinted her eyes at her younger sister. “You’ve said enough, Jessica.”
    Jess widened her eyes innocently. “I have no idea what you mean. I was merely admiring his clothing—and his wig. No one in Warbrooke has worn a wig for years.” She smiled her sweetest smile at Alexander. “But here I am keeping you and you must be hungry.” She looked pointedly at his enormous belly. “Something like that must take constant work.”
    Alexander made a lunge for her throat, but Nick caught him.
    â€œMy goodness,” Jessica mocked. “The piglet has claws.”
    â€œI’ll get you for this, Jessica Taggert,” Alexander said beneath his breath.
    â€œWith what? Cream cakes?”
    Eleanor stepped in before Alex could say another word. “All right, Alexander, let’s get you home. You there,” she said to Nicholas, “get his baggage and bring it. You can take care of your master in his home. And you, Jessica, we need something to eat for dinner. Go fetch it.”
    â€œYes, ma’am,” Jess said. “I’m just grateful I’m not part of the Montgomery family. I can feed half a dozen kids, but that…” She looked at Alex’s big belly.
    â€œGo!” Eleanor ordered and Jessica left the dock, whistling happily and talking about the pies Eleanor owed her. Eleanor took Alex’s arm, not saying a word about the fact that he was obviously too drunk to walk by himself. The man she thought was Alex’s servant stayed behind on the dock.
    â€œWhat’s his name?” Eleanor asked Alex.
    â€œNicholas,” Alex said through clenched teeth, his anger making his face red and his eyes black.
    Eleanor stopped, still holding Alex’s arm. “Nicholas, you are to do what I say. Get your master’s belongings and come with me. And I mean for you to do it now.”
    Nick stood where he was for a moment, then gave Eleanor a lusty look up and down. He smiled just slightly and turned away to get the small bag of clothing that he’d borrowed from his cousin for Alex’s use. “Yes ma’am,” he said softly when he joined them, and walked behind them, watching the sway of Eleanor’s skirts.
    *   *   *
    â€œTwo hundred and fifty pounds if he’s an ounce,” Jessica was laughing. She was sitting at one end of the Taggert table, Eleanor at the other end. In between were seven Taggert children in assorted sizes and ages and varying degrees of dirt. Each person had a wooden bowl full of steaming fish chowder and a wooden spoon. They were precious utensils and treated with the courtesy of fine silver. The stew was quite plain, with no seasoning to speak of, nothing but fish cooked for a long time in water. The few vegetables from last summer had been eaten and the new garden had not borne fruit yet.
    â€œWhat did Sayer say?” Jessica asked, still laughing into her stew.
    Eleanor gave her sister a glare. She had worked at the Montgomery house for four years now, and after Alex’s mother had died two years ago, she’d taken over as housekeeper.