Dad Hears My Thoughts novel · Chapter 9 of 32

Chapter 9: The Birdcage

The baby screamed.

Not a cry. A shriek, high and furious, right into Ralph's ear.

He flinched and held her out at arm's length.

Tristram was off the wall in two strides. His face had gone gray.

"She's saying cold," he said hoarsely. "Cold, cold, Papa."

The captain had come back to the doorway at the noise. Behind him the whole street was gathering on the cobbles.

Good, I thought.

I walked up to Ralph and took her out of his hands.

He let me. He didn't have much choice, with her kicking him in the chin.

She clamped onto my neck and screamed into my shoulder instead.

"Ask her again," I said, loud enough for the doorway. "Go on, my lord. Ask her louder."

Ralph's smile wobbled. "I was soothing her."

"You asked a baby where her mother put it."

The street went quiet.

"Put what?" I said. "What would a baby know about, my lord? The captain would like to hear. So would I."

The captain was looking at Ralph now. So was the widow from the bakery. So was the chandler.

Ralph straightened his coat.

"Her mother was a thief," he said. "I meant the stone. Obviously. It was a manner of speaking."

"You'd ask a baby where the Queen's diamond is."

"I'd ask anyone."

"Then ask me," I said. "Not her."

I stepped closer.

"You don't touch her again. You don't whisper to her. You don't put your hands on her."

I looked straight at the emerald on his finger.

"If you touch her again, I'll tell the whole city what else you say to her."

Keep reading free with an account. Start Dad Hears My Thoughts from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.