Free Microsoft Word - Sherwood, Valerie - Nightsong by kps Page B

Providence when he was not. New Providence was the sinkhole of the western world. Surely there was no credit to be gained by claiming acquaintance with such a place!
    Encouraged by Carolina's words, Gilly rushed on, determined to ingratiate herself.
    "And he didn't describe Rouge right either. Rouge ain't no-whatever he said."
    "Amazon," said Carolina absently. "It means a warrior woman."
    "Well, I don't know as I would call Rouge that either," said Gilly in an injured voice.
    "It's true she's tall and she wears men's clothes, and I've heard tell she could fight with a cutlass, but I never seen her do it. Rouge is beautiful!" she burst out. "She has more red hair than I ever seen and when her eyes flash, there's not a man on New Providence that doesn't turn to look at her!"
    "Indeed?" Carolina's brows elevated at such heat from Gilly. "And what is Rouge to you, Gilly?"
    "Nothin'," mumbled Gilly. "But," her voice flared up, "Rouge was good to me. When Ace and Black-boots wanted to throw dice for me, Rouge said she'd have Fletch kill the pair of them if they didn't let me alone."
    "I see." Carolina gave her new serving girl an odd look. "It would seem that you are perpetually being saved, Gilly. First by the famous Rouge and now by the Silver Wench." Her voice held a scathing note. "But that hardly explains how you got to Port Royal, does it?"
    Gilly swallowed. She hadn't realized Carolina would ask her that.
    "You came here on some pirate ship out to survey the local shipping, out to watch the merchantmen who came here to trade with the buccaneers and catch up with them later after they'd left with their goods, didn't you?" asked Carolina in a hard voice.
    "Didn't you?"
    Gilly was looking at her in panic. "Yes, I did," she cried. "But I run away-leastways I tried to run away, and they caught me and put me in Sadie's house. She dressed me up in Tilly's petticoat and her own chemise and said it was enough for me to wear, I'd look juicier to her clientele!" She began to sniffle. "And I managed to get my dress back and put it on over the top of them, and I jumped out the window onto a cart and slid off the cart, and I was running away with them chasing me when I tripped and fell-and that's when I looked up and saw you!"
    It wasn't true, of course. Jarvis had indeed taken her to Sadie's brothel, and while there she had idly filched the chemise and petticoat. She had been dancing around the front room, showing off. Jarvis had come in at that moment, muttering excitedly that the Silver Wench in a yellow dress had left her house and was strolling toward High Street. Gilly had hurried outside and Sadie and Tilly, noting their clothes disappearing with her, had given chase. Where upon Gilly had thrown herself down at Carolina's feet.
    But to Carolina, Gilly's story was believable. Terrible things happened in this part of the world, worse yet in New Providence. It was entirely possible that Gilly had been spirited here to wear away her youth in a brothel, and had run from the place in terror.
    "I'm sorry, Gilly," she said in a softer voice. "It was just that when you mentioned New Providence . . ."
    "I know," Gilly said quickly. "It's an evil place. I never been anywhere so evil." Her curiosity got the better of her. "Have you ever been there?" she asked.
    "No, thank God." Carolina shuddered. She turned as Betts knocked softly and entered. Betts gave Gilly an affronted look. "Never mind, Betts, I'm all unhooked,"
    Carolina told the girl. "Find Gilly a place to sleep, won't you? I think Nell's old room would be best."
    Betts started to protest because Nell's old cubbyhole of a room lay directly between hers and Cook's, and she didn't relish having Gilly as a neighbor! But the mistress seemed bent on favoring the street girl, even though she and Cook had both recognized Gilly for a bad one at first sight!
    Gilly was smirking as Betts led her away.

Chapter 4
    Carolina's mind as she undressed for bed was not upon the handsome stranger who