Dover.”
“I think not. It will be better for you two to take the other road, in case it was a subterfuge. The road forks at the east end of town. We’ll go together that far.”
“You’ll never be able to handle the three of them alone,” I pointed out. Why that innocent remark should get Kestrel on his high horse was a mystery. “You don’t even have a pistol,” I added, to assuage his pride.
“That’s a good point. I’ll purchase one before I leave. The pawn shop is my best bet, since the money is running short.”
“Did you leave London to deliver that important document without any protection?” Ronald asked. We exchanged a look, no longer of surprise at this poor excuse for a spy, but of dismay.
“I had a pistol in my curricle. I forgot to bring it along when I transferred to the coach,” he admitted.
“You’d best buy two,” Ronald said.
“That won’t be necessary.”
“If the Frenchies’ asking for the Dover road was a subterfuge, as you suggested,” I reminded him, “it is Ronald and myself who will have to deal with them.”
Kestrel reluctantly acknowledged this, but when he came out of the shop, he carried only one pistol. “I didn’t have enough money for two,” he announced calmly.
“You got ten guineas for your emerald ring! You can’t have spent that much!”
“There will be other expenses before we’re through. I’m sure the Frenchies have headed straight to Dover. If you think you are on their scent, you should go to the constable here and seek assistance. It would be improper for a lady to mix with spies in any case.”
It was too much to be borne. “Improper! You wouldn’t be this close to them if a lady had not bullocked you into action, sir, and so I take leave to tell you. You’d still be on your haunches in some inn, eating mutton and leering at those dirty pictures you stole from the vicar and filling yourself with ale. This lady has dealt with rougher and more numerous enemies than a trio of tame Frenchies. I was betrayed by Prince Nasar and abandoned alone except for Ronald in the Bedouin desert, surrounded by Arabs who would as soon shoot us as spit. I brought them to heel, and I assure you I am not about to flinch from three damned Frenchies!”
Kestrel’s nostrils quivered into slits. “It seems you hardly need a pistol, Miss Mathieson. You could quell them with no weapon save your sharp tongue.”
“It’s well my tongue is sharp, for if you shoot that pistol as incompetently as you do everything else, it will be yourself you maim. Come along, Ronald. We shall lay your watch on the wood and get ourselves a brace of pistols.”
Ronald chose that moment to express his obstinacy. “Why not your watch?”
“Because I have already had to hawk my necklace. It’s your turn.”
While Kestrel stood trying to think of some clever set-down, Ronald and I went into the shop and, with our experience in Arabic haggling, managed to obtain the one remaining pistol in the shop, and the necessary ammunition, in exchange for Ronald’s watch. “I wonder why Kestrel didn’t take this one,” Ronald said, hefting it. “It’s well balanced—it looks brand-new.”
“What would he know? His was probably a penny cheaper. He wants his money to buy ale.”
Kestrel was still standing in the street when we came out. He looked at the pistol as though he would speak. I wasn’t in a mood for more of his foolishness.
“Are you still here? What are you waiting for?” I scolded. “The Frenchies will have delivered their letter and sent it off to Boney. I begin to think that is precisely what you want.’’
As you have no doubt concluded already, I had given up any thought of using Kestrel as my entree to Castlereagh. I was beginning to think Kestrel’s help would do more harm than good.
His face turned scarlet with anger—or shame. He looked ready to explode, but when he spoke, he attempted a conciliatory tone. “I merely wished to settle how we should all
“I think not. It will be better for you two to take the other road, in case it was a subterfuge. The road forks at the east end of town. We’ll go together that far.”
“You’ll never be able to handle the three of them alone,” I pointed out. Why that innocent remark should get Kestrel on his high horse was a mystery. “You don’t even have a pistol,” I added, to assuage his pride.
“That’s a good point. I’ll purchase one before I leave. The pawn shop is my best bet, since the money is running short.”
“Did you leave London to deliver that important document without any protection?” Ronald asked. We exchanged a look, no longer of surprise at this poor excuse for a spy, but of dismay.
“I had a pistol in my curricle. I forgot to bring it along when I transferred to the coach,” he admitted.
“You’d best buy two,” Ronald said.
“That won’t be necessary.”
“If the Frenchies’ asking for the Dover road was a subterfuge, as you suggested,” I reminded him, “it is Ronald and myself who will have to deal with them.”
Kestrel reluctantly acknowledged this, but when he came out of the shop, he carried only one pistol. “I didn’t have enough money for two,” he announced calmly.
“You got ten guineas for your emerald ring! You can’t have spent that much!”
“There will be other expenses before we’re through. I’m sure the Frenchies have headed straight to Dover. If you think you are on their scent, you should go to the constable here and seek assistance. It would be improper for a lady to mix with spies in any case.”
It was too much to be borne. “Improper! You wouldn’t be this close to them if a lady had not bullocked you into action, sir, and so I take leave to tell you. You’d still be on your haunches in some inn, eating mutton and leering at those dirty pictures you stole from the vicar and filling yourself with ale. This lady has dealt with rougher and more numerous enemies than a trio of tame Frenchies. I was betrayed by Prince Nasar and abandoned alone except for Ronald in the Bedouin desert, surrounded by Arabs who would as soon shoot us as spit. I brought them to heel, and I assure you I am not about to flinch from three damned Frenchies!”
Kestrel’s nostrils quivered into slits. “It seems you hardly need a pistol, Miss Mathieson. You could quell them with no weapon save your sharp tongue.”
“It’s well my tongue is sharp, for if you shoot that pistol as incompetently as you do everything else, it will be yourself you maim. Come along, Ronald. We shall lay your watch on the wood and get ourselves a brace of pistols.”
Ronald chose that moment to express his obstinacy. “Why not your watch?”
“Because I have already had to hawk my necklace. It’s your turn.”
While Kestrel stood trying to think of some clever set-down, Ronald and I went into the shop and, with our experience in Arabic haggling, managed to obtain the one remaining pistol in the shop, and the necessary ammunition, in exchange for Ronald’s watch. “I wonder why Kestrel didn’t take this one,” Ronald said, hefting it. “It’s well balanced—it looks brand-new.”
“What would he know? His was probably a penny cheaper. He wants his money to buy ale.”
Kestrel was still standing in the street when we came out. He looked at the pistol as though he would speak. I wasn’t in a mood for more of his foolishness.
“Are you still here? What are you waiting for?” I scolded. “The Frenchies will have delivered their letter and sent it off to Boney. I begin to think that is precisely what you want.’’
As you have no doubt concluded already, I had given up any thought of using Kestrel as my entree to Castlereagh. I was beginning to think Kestrel’s help would do more harm than good.
His face turned scarlet with anger—or shame. He looked ready to explode, but when he spoke, he attempted a conciliatory tone. “I merely wished to settle how we should all
Similar Books
