Read Clockwork Blue for Free Online Page B

watched. Strange how at ease he was, as if he were accustomed to prowling the night. His gaze seemed to peel back the inky la ye rs that cloaked her.
     
    " Do something, " she whispered to the Callers.
     
    " You ' re on your own, " Allegro responded.
     
    Falcon ' s steps echoed loudly as he approached the table behind which she crouched: slow, measured steps, as if he were taking a leisurely stroll rather than confronting an intruder. As he neared, his Roman nose and high cheekbones were illuminated, but his mood was difficult to read. Was he angry? Quite likely. Dangerous? Assuredly.
     
    Nicola shrank into a tighter huddle, barely able to breathe. Per haps he wouldn ' t see her in the shadows. His brows, as dark as the thick black hair that fell onto his forehead, swept downward. With no more than that, he tripled her heart rate and made her feel as if she were a small field mouse about to be snatched by a ravenous hawk.
     
    " To whom are you talking? "
     
    His voice was cool, level and destroyed her last hope of going undiscovered. In an attempt to salvage some remnant of dignity, she rose from her crouching position, careful to hide the axe in the folds of her skirts. " No one, my lord. "
     
    With a scowl, he glanced behind her.
     
    " Truly, ' tis only myself here. " She fussed with smoothing her skirts, hoping Allegro would change his mind and intervene on her behalf. She didn't trust Glissando to do anything except actions that benefitted him. " I-I suppose my presence at your place of business at this hour seems a bit strange. " Her reticule jerked against the axe and she quickly shifted the items behind her back, praying the earl hadn ' t seen.
     
    " Just a bit. I ' m almost afraid to discover your intentions, after viewing your behavior at Glasshouse Street. "
     
    She remembered the street brawl and grimaced. " You were there? "
     
    " I had the dubious honor of witnessing your hoydenish manners. "
     
    Hoydenish? He thought her hoydenish? It wasn ' t her fault things had gotten out of hand. And as for her manners, they were perfect ly adequate for all—well, most— situations. Lifting her chin, she looked straight into his dark eyes . " If you must know, we were merely distributing handbills, informing the public about the stockingers ' plight. That hosier was going to throw a punch at Ramsey. He was much larger. I couldn ' t merely stand by and watch. "
     
    " Just as you couldn ' t stand by and watch your cousin destroy my newest loom. " Quick as a hunting bird, he plucked the axe from her hand .
     
    Horror scorched her throat. She wished, oh, how she wished she had thrown the incriminatory implement out the window. She gulped and rallied. " What made you come? Do you make a habit of patrolling your property? "
     
    " I suppose I should, now that I comprehend your family ' s insane propensity toward destruction. "
     
    " Excuse me, but we are merely passionate in our beliefs, not hooligans as you assume. " Frowning, she persisted in trying to change the subject. " Truly, what brought you here tonight? "
     
    " A very reliable source warned me that your hotheaded cousin was coming. However, I didn ' t expect to find you. " His gaze swept her. " I ' m quite shocked, Miss Moore , at your scandalous behavior—not to mention your cousin ' s criminal tendencies, which will lead him straight to a ship's galleys filled with other prisoners, headed for New South Wales . "
     
    Nicola wasn ' t about to allow Ramsey to be hauled halfway across the world. " Now, now, let's not be hasty. It is I who tend to be rather rash, I ' m afraid. "
     
    " I won't argue with you there . "
     
    The disapproval in his tone caused her to stiffen. " I hope to appeal to the goodness in your heart. "
     
    " You assume much if you think there is any. "
     
    She glanced at him and her stomach clenched. Although his expression was calm, his eyes gleamed with an intense coldness that was hard to miss. " Miracles do happen. Why, I heard