Free The Notorious Scoundrel by Alexandra Benedict Page B

I’m too old to work, and I’ve no money saved because I’ve spent every penny on food and rent, I’ll be destitute. Thank you,” she said sarcastically, “however, I don’t like your plan for my future.”
    “Well, do you have some money saved? Or have you spent it all on mirrors?”
    “Why do you think I live in this wretched place?” She glowered at him. “I want to save every penny, but I still don’t have enough.”
    “You can get married. A husband will look after your needs.”
    He offered the alternative as if it was an obvious solution to her troubles, and she looked at him with scorn.
    “A husband will only drink away my hard-earned pennies. I see what it’s really like out there.” She pointed at the window. “I see the wives with their drunken curs for spouses. Just listen!” She outstretched her arms as if to take in all the vile noises stemming from every side of the room. “I won’t live like them.”She crossed the room and collected her shawl, fingers trembling, heart pounding. “I’ve survived on my own since I was a babe, and I’ll continue to survive on my own just fine.”
    She hustled from the room, impervious to Edward’s shouts. She made her way through the building and reached the ground level, where she quickly skirted across the muddy street, rehashing the quarrel with Edward in her mind.
    It burned her blood to even think about forsaking her profession, as scandalous as it was, and working in a shop or a factory like a miserable horse for scraps. She would keep her livelihood as a dancer and confront the risks, as she had done—successfully—in the past.
    Insensible to her surroundings, Amy rounded the dark corner and rammed a towering figure.
    She murmured, distracted, “Pardon me,” and sidestepped the ruffian with his two gruff companions, but a firm hand arrested her movements and a deep voice stirred her hackles.
    “You must be Amy.”
    Amy’s heart palpitated as she gazed into the ruffian’s sinister eyes, and the danger Edward had warned her against flitted through her head, for the shaggy barbarian, with his long hair secured in a queue, was the most menacing fellow she had ever set eyes on.
    “She looks just like he described her,” said another ruffian.
    He was almost as tall as the devil holding her, though not nearly as ominous. Still, Amy’s chestcramped as her heart beat wild and sweat formed across her brow.
    “Aye, she’s as lovely as a rainbow,” praised the third shadow. He even smiled in the dark, for his teeth gleamed like moonbeams.
    She didn’t recognize the three assailants. How many were out there searching for her? As Edward had expressed, there was a one-hundred-pound bounty on her head. Who would forfeit such a fortune?
    “Oh, bullocks!” she cried.
    Amy struggled with her captor. In vain. The man shoved her against the nearest slimy wall with one hand, and glowered at her.
    “Where is he?”
    “Who?” she whispered.
    “Edmund.”
    “I don’t know anyone named Ed—”
    Amy’s thoughts scampered like dry leaves in a windstorm. Did he mean Edward? What did he want with Edward? No, Edmund. Had Edmund robbed him of his coin purse? Was that why he was after him?
    She imagined the ruffian’s meaty fist slamming into Edmund’s handsome head, and she shuddered, pinching her lips.
    “I see you do know who I’m talking about.” Dark eyes flashed. “Now tell me where he is, wench.”
    However, she refused to betray Edmund’s location. It was so uncivilized, to be a snitcher. She wasn’t so dishonorable. She wouldn’t let them have the man who had saved her life, even if he was a thief.
    “I don’t know where he is,” she returned stiffly, her heart in her throat.
    “A guard at the Pleasure Palace told us he saw you run off with him.”
    She paled. “A g-guard told you that?”
    The same lazy one who had napped during her performance, allowing Edmund to sneak into the rear of the establishment?
    “Hmm…he was very