Blood Diamond: A Pirate Devlin Novel by Mark Keating Read Free Book Online

up.
    ‘It could hurt some; could hurt plenty . And the order was to stay south of the river. If anything were awry Dandon would be back.’
    ‘Aye, and maybe they’ve done for him too.’
    Bill thought on this, his placid dark face never changing its expression. Peter, and all the others, Devlin included, always looked to Bill for calm. If his fury leapt free then the world was surely on fire. He pulled on his pipe and ruminated. ‘Order is to wait. The captain’s mind is right. Why would these Germanium bloods go to all the trouble of finding him in such secret ways if all they wanted to do was kill the captain when half the bloody world is trying to do such anyways? Besides, as far as them who may do us harm are concerned we ain’t even here. We came in at Falmouth and the captain took a coach to London. He’ll keep us in his pocket for if he needs us. Stay your feet at least a day, Peter Sam. The captain’s fine.’
    Peter grunted and tapped out his tobacco over the gunwale. ‘I’m waiting ’til midnight, Bill. Then I’m taking Hugh Harris across that bridge with me. Orders or no.’ He started for the Great Cabin.
    ‘I can’t stop you, Peter Sam if that’s what you aims to do,’ his words to Peter’s back.
    ‘That’s a damned fact!’ The cabin door slammed behind him. A bottle or two was calling him to help raise his fire. Peter Sam had never been to London. He was thinking two bottles and two pistols each for himself and Hugh Harris, the bloodiest of them.
    Aye, that should be enough for an English town.

Chapter Five

    The small candle on the floor did nothing to illuminate the face that appeared at the hatch in the cell door. The voice however set Devlin on his feet.
    ‘Good evening, Captain,’ Dandon’s voice echoed around the room. ‘I trust you are well?’
    Devlin sprang to the door. ‘Dandon! You have me found! Get me out of here!’
    ‘In good time.’ Dandon stood back and left Thomas Langley to his work, the three locks taking an age to unhasp while the shadows jumped across the walls from the lanterns now set for the evening. Timms and Dandon tried not to take in the moans and sobs all around, bewailing another night in the wards of Newgate.
    At last the door gasped open. Devlin’s chain rattled taut as he reached the limit of his freedom and Langley smirked and gripped his bull’s leather.
    Dandon and Timms tipped their hats to him and entered the gloom. Langley made to follow but Dandon placed a soft palm to his chest.
    ‘Alone, if you please. Close the door behind and busy yourself at the taproom with my gold.’ Langley sniffed and meandered away like an October bee.
    Devlin stepped back, ashamed of his chain and surroundings and perhaps humiliated that he had grounded in the place he deserved; and there stood a fine courtier in Timms, judging him rightfully as such.
    The two pirates embraced unashamedly, but just as a ruse: Dandon to check that Devlin still had his guineas sewed into his waistcoat and Devlin disappointedly to feel for hidden weapons about his friend.
    ‘Captain Devlin,’ Timms acknowledged as politely as he could.
    ‘Or should we say, “John Coxon”?’ Dandon chimed. ‘Lucky I am humorous enough to spot such jest.’ Dandon checked Devlin for injury. Sometimes, and certainly for friends, he took his position as ship’s physician seriously.
    ‘I figured my real name would not be welcome.’
    Dandon raised his brows as he inspected the lump on Devlin’s skull. ‘I imagine that in here it would be most welcome, Patrick.’
    Timms coughed. ‘But it is most appropriate that you maintained your discretion. Well played, sir.’
    Devlin turned to the man in black. The officious cut of him represented the sharp edge of everything Devlin despised. ‘And, you are?’
    Timms touched his hat. ‘Secretary Timms. Attached to His Highness at Leicester House. Where you should have been at two o’clock this afternoon.’
    ‘Tell His Highness that I have been