Wings of the Morning (Kensington Chronicles) (35 page)

swallow it all at once.

"Easy, easy," Brandon warned her, but she didn't notice his

words or the tears that had formed in his eyes. Please, Father, he silently begged Please don't make her go back to ibat

place. I don't know if she can take much more.

"Here, Smokey." Brandon finally had to step in and take

the cup from her before she made herself sick. She looked

at him with vague, wounded eyes that cleared after just a

moment.

"They don't give you that much to eat inside. For a moment

I forgot where I was."

"Smokey," Brandon spoke softly. "It's almost time to go in.

Are you going to be all right?

"Where are my men?" she asked, ignoring the question.

"They were released just this morning and all taken back

to the ship. Darsey said none of them had been mistreated."

239

Smokey eyes slid shut with relief. It simply didn't matter

what they did to her, as long as her men were safe. She opened

her eyes when Brandon spoke

"You're going before Judge Pinkerton. He's a complete

eccentric and loves a show, so be prepared for anything."

"Where is Dallas?" Smokey asked as though she hadn't

heard Brandon's words.

"He'll be here." Brandon spoke with confidence even

though he hadn't seen him in nearly five days.

The door opened then, and the guard outside came for

Smokey. She was led into the courtroom and onto a bench.

Another trial was in session, but Smokey didn't really catch

the gist of it. Praying all the while, she half dozed until her

name was called

When she did hear the sound of her name, Smokey opened

her eyes and was directed to stand in the criminal box called a

dock. The magistrate appeared to be hundreds of feet above

her, but in truth it was only six or seven. She looked up into his

frowning face and had to catch herself when the room tilted

"Has this woman been drinking?" Judge Pinkerton's voice

sounded outraged, and Brandon spoke.

"No, your worship. She was in the Tower and then moved

without my knowledge. I've just learned within the last hour

that she'd been taken to Klink Prison, where I believe she was

mistreated"

"You've no proof of that," the jailer stood and began to

protest.

"As you can see," Brandon cut him off in anger, "she can

barely stand for lack of nourishment, and when she was taken

into custody, her hair was long. Heaven knows what else she's

been through."

The judge's gavel hit its pad at that moment, and his voice

was dry as it rang out over the courtroom. "Is the jailer on trial

here, Lord Hawkesbury?"

Spectators laughed, but Brandon didn't Join them.

"No, your worship, I'm sorry," he apologized "I was only

trying to prove my client innocent of drinking."

240

'Very well, carry on. No!" he said, suddenly changing his

mind. "Don't carry on. I wish to know from the girl, who did cut your hair?"

Sniokey blinked, not fully understanding that she was

expected to answer.

"Does this woman have the proper faculties to come to

her own defense?" Judge Pinkerton asked, frowning again.

"Miss Simmons," Brandon addressed her from his own

box, his voice all business. "Tell the judge what he wants to

know."

"What does he want to know?" Smokey was feeling completely

disoriented She could tell that the room was full of

people because she heard constant whispering and some

laughter, but she was too tired to even turn around

"Just answer the questions he asks of you," Brandon

instructed her. As Smokey looked to the white-wigged judge,

Brandon prayed

"What is your name, young woman?"

"Victoria Simmons."

"And you are an American?*'

"Yes, sir."

"Do you know why you were arrested?"

"Yes, the charge was piracy." Smokey was feeling a bit

better with something specific to think about.

"Now, why would you be charged with piracy?" The judge

was again scowling.

"I own and captain my own ship, but I've never stolen

anything."

"How did you come to own your own vessel?"

"It was left to me by my father."

"His name?"

"Clancy," she said, and a murmur went through the crowd.

The judge's scowl intensified. He studied her silently until

Smokey thought she wouldn't be able to stand it. Trying to be

as subtle as possible, she moved her hands to the railing of the

dock and held on for her life.

"Did they feed you in prison?"

241

"One time, every other day," Smokey admitted and saw

the judge visually spear someone standing behind her.

"Tell me your story, Miss Simmons," the judge continued

Smokey watched as he settled back in his chair. She took a

deep breath, tried to settle her thoughts, and began.

"Some weeks ago when I was docked here with my men, I

was grabbed, drugged, and abducted I was taken aboard a

ship, and when I woke the pirate Haamich Wynn admitted that

he'd taken me. I escaped him and--"

"How did you escape?"

"We fenced--" Smokey had to cut off when the room

exploded with laughter. The judge himself was looking incredulous,

but he shouted for order.

"You fenced with Haamich Wynn," the judged asked, "and

won?"

"Yes. I cut his face, and he fainted at the sight of his own

blood" Again the room exploded, and Smokey had to stop.

The judge watched as she began to wilt. His heart was unaccustomed

to compassion toward Americans, but for some

reason this small woman touched him. She was clearly not

going to stand up against this crowd for much longer.

He rapped for silence once more and threatened to clear

the court if there were any more outbursts.

"Please go on, Miss Simmons."

Smokey stared at him for a moment and then continued,

her voice a bit stronger.

"He came aboard my ship some weeks after I'd escaped

him the first time and tried to take over. He tried to push his

unwanted attentions on me and steal my ship. Afriend of mine

sneaked aboard, and I was again able to escape him.

"We came directly here to turn him over to the authorities.

I went to stay with some friends. When I returned it was to

find that Haamich Wynn, who I'm told is really Lord Darrell

Lynne, had been released My ship was commandeered, and I

was charged with piracy. I was put into the Tower immediately,

and then taken to Klink Prison.

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"While imprisoned, Haamich Wynn came to see me."

Smokey, whose eyes were intent on the magistrate, missed

Brandon's scowl. "When I would not agree to marry him," she

went on, "he grew furious and cut my hair off at the neck."

Although the crowd was quieter now, everyone seemed to

be talking. Smokey could not read the judge's face, so she

waited, still gripping the railing with all her strength.

"What have you to say to these charges, Lord Lynne?"

Smokey's whole body stiffened on these words. He was

here; he was actually here! Smokey's gaze flew to Brandon's,

whose eyes, amazingly enough, seemed to be telling her to

trust him. She prayed again and tried to stay calm, but her

heart pounded in her chest.

"As you can see," a mocking voice spoke, "I have no such

cut on my face."

Smokey turned slowly at the sound of the familiar voice.

She stared into the pirate's face and felt stunned. He was the

same in everyway; handsome, arrogant, and seemingly bigger

than life, except that his scar was missing. Smokey stared at

him, but he ignored her. She turned back to the j judge after just

a moment, wondering if she might be losing her mind

"So you deny all such allegations that you have been a

pirate?"

Darrell Lynne laughed expansively. "I guarantee you, I

have no need to steal from anyone, and as for pressing my

attentions on this woman," the huge man's face was sneering

as he looked at the back of Smokey, "I assure you my tastes run

to women of beauty and grace--English women!" he emphasized

at the end.

Smokey felt utterly defeated Why wasn't Brandon saying

anything? She tried to read his face as he too looked at the

pirate, but it gave nothing away.

"Do you hold to your story, Miss Simmons?"

'Yes, sir, I do. I don't know why he doesn't have a scar, but I

did fight him and I did cut his face."

"Would you be willing to prove that?" the Judge asked her.

243

This time it was Brandon's turn to stiffen. He feared something

outrageous like this would occur, but to refuse the idea

would surely hang her. Brandon stayed quiet long enough to

pray for Dallas' swift arrival and then spoke.

"What did you have in mind, your worship?"

"Why, a duel, of course. If Miss Simmons is as adept as she

says, she will surely be willing to display her skill."

Brandon glanced at Smokey to find she did not seem as

stunned as he felt, and wondered if she understood what was

about to happen. Brandon knew he had to keep control of this.

"My client accepts on one condition, sir--that I be allowed

to fight her."

"So that you can go easy on her, Lord Hawkesbury?"

"The duel will commence before his worship's very eyes,

and you alone will be the judge."

"Done!" Judge Pinkerton announced with satisfaction.

"This court will recess for 15 minutes so foils can be gathered"

Brandon came for Smokey then, leading her though the

noisy crowd and back to the anteroom. Once inside he said

only one thing.

"Resign yourself to the truth, Smokey. I wish it were otherwise,

but the duel we fought at Bracken wilt feel like child-play

after today. Dallas is not yet here, and I'm afraid that nothing

else will save you."

245

"tell me about my men," Smokey asked Brandon, who

blinked at her in surprise.

He had just warned her how difficult their duel was going

to be, and she asked about her men. Brandon stalled by giving

her some more water, frustrated that he hadn't thought to

bring her some food. She was still very shaky.

"You did say they were released, didn't you?"

Brandon was brought abruptly back to the present. "Yes.

I'd been working for a couple of days on their case, and it was

finally decided that you were the one they were after.

"I couldn't get comfortable until they were out. It wouldn't

do much good to have you released without your crew."

"And you believe I'll be released?"

"Yes."

Smokey sighed. "Where was his scar, Brandon?"

Brandon opened his mouth, but the guarding constable

knocked and entered. Just minutes later Smokey found herself

back in the courtroom. Her eyes met the seething gaze of