Read The Clockwork Wolf for Free Online Page B

She chuckled. “I’ll send Wreck to buy fifty copies and use it to wallpaper my loo.” Her grin evaporated. “You’re not going to ruin that, now, are you?”
    I turned my hand from side to side. “The lady believes her husband was bespelled—that someone made him into the Wolfman.”
    â€œCome on, Kit.” Rina kicked the tuffet in front of her feet. “He ripped apart two chaps, right in the street. There were dozens of witnesses. No black magic in the world can make a man do that.” She gave me a suspicious look. “Why would you hire out to her anyway? You don’t believe in any of that nonsense.”
    I couldn’t tell her that I did because that would mean explaining the hows and the whys, none of which she remembered. “I took the case as a favor to Lucien Dredmore.”
    â€œOh, that makes perfect sense. Of course.” She lobbed a throw pillow at me. “You brainless bint. Doing favors for a deathmage who wants nothing more than to toss up your skirts? Have you gone off?”
    â€œIt gets worse,” I said. “I met Lady Bestly once before, just after I came here from Middy. I was working at a tea shop as a counter lass, and I caught one of the lady’s friends spiking a deb’s cup with gut toss.”
    â€œNasty.” Rina pursed her lips. “Daughter’s rival for some posh lad, I wager?”
    I nodded. “I put a stop to it and told her to leave. Got a nice tip from the deb, but Lady Bestly showed up the next day. Called me a witch, got me sacked, and saw to it I couldn’t work anywhere else.”
    â€œBleeding Christ, Kit.” Rina went still. “You were barely out of the schoolroom when you got here.”
    Wrecker knocked and came in with the still-steaming tea and two golden-brown turnovers. “Warmed up somemeat pies for you and Miss Kit. Thought it best, her looking peaked and all.”
    Rina would have snapped at him, but my stomach chose that moment to growl. “You’re like a stray. My staff is always feeding you.”
    â€œThat’s why you’re my best friend,” I told her, and smiled at Wrecker. “Thanks, mate.”
    â€œPleasure.” He ducked his head and shuffled out.
    â€œWrecker’s never fancied the ladies, you know,” Rina said. “Wouldn’t guess it to look at him, but he’s quite cozy with some kneecapper of the same persuasion.”
    I took a bite of my pasty and shrugged. “None of my business. If he’s happy, isn’t that all that matters?”
    â€œTo you and me,” she allowed. “Your fine lady Bestly, however, would have him strung up by his smalls in market square and flogged for it. Now tell me truly: why have you hired yourself out to that right bitch?”
    â€œShe’s about to go through hell, thanks to her husband.” I tried my tea and winced as it parboiled my tongue. “Working for her, I get a front-row seat to it all. Should be vastly entertaining.”
    â€œNicely put.” Rina studied me. “But I know you better than that, you silly cow. Out with it.”
    â€œAfter your bastard fiancé lost your maiden night in a card game, you made good on the wager. Even when you knew it would ruin you forever, and your parents would toss you out on the street, you handed over your virtue to the winner.” I cocked my head. “So you know exactly why I’m working for Lady Bestly.”
    â€œRevenge by honor. Daft twit.” Her expression softened. “She won’t thank you for it.”
    â€œThen it’s good that I’m not doing it for her.” I sipped my tea. “Now tell me everything else you’ve heard about Terrance Bestly.”
    â€¢Â Â Â â€¢Â Â Â â€¢
    I took a carri-cab from the Eagle’s Nest to my home in one of the oldest sections in town. At first I’d rented a flat in the simple goldstone, saving every pence I