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

delayed.’ Devlin brushed Dandon aside. ‘Now get me out of here and I’ll see your poxy prince.’
    Timms began to walk the room, watching his feet amid the straw, hands clasped behind. ‘Nothing would be finer to me, Captain. But you have created an unfortunate chain of events that has clouded my position.’
    Devlin’s eyes did not follow the wandering Timms; his sight was locked on the door in front of him. ‘I am sorry to have made matters “cloudy” for you.’
    Timms stopped pacing. ‘I do not think you appreciate the delicacy of your situation, Captain.’
    Devlin faced him. ‘I do not think you will appreciate the delicacy of your situation if I am not released.’
    Timms threw a frustrated glance at Dandon.
    ‘He always talks like that,’ Dandon offered consolingly. Timms continued.
    ‘You have killed a man this afternoon. Although this might seem a commonplace factor in your life, Captain, we take such matters quite seriously in London.’
    Dandon agreed. ‘It is true, Patrick. I have seen dozens of gibbets hanging above the very streets on my passage here.’
    ‘I know,’ Devlin said. ‘I survived these streets once.’
    Timms put a handkerchief to his mouth, remembering the gaols reputation for typhus – the ‘gaol fever’. ‘In my capacity I have the power of warrant to extract prisoners from gaol, but not felons held up for murder! And most certainly not ones who have killed one of the Thief-Taker General’s assistants!’
    ‘I was attacked. I defended myself and was robbed and placed here. It was no will of mine.’
    ‘But doubtless another soul would have found an alternative to violence? Perhaps you could have run away? Your legs seem sound. That would have been a more prudent action for one whose main imperative today was to bloody well meet the Prince of Wales !’
    Devlin said nothing but his teeth grated. He was not a boy, to explain himself to fops, but he knew Timms was right, and his anger abated. Dandon could understand his captain’s annoyance but if they were not both to wind up in Newgate he assessed that Timms was a man to have on their side.
    ‘What do you suggest, Mister Timms, to alleviate our situation and assist you?’
    Timms sniffed and resumed his contemplative pacing. ‘It is not as simple as it once was. I can return to the prince and inform him what has occurred.’ He began to reel off notions as if no longer addressing either of them but instead picturing the days ahead.
    ‘You will appear in the sessions house by ten tomorrow. Naturally not as the pirate Devlin but by this rather fortunate name you at least had the presence of mind to conjure. The Justice will set a trial, for this week, after which your punishment will be execution. Which gives us until Monday, by which time we can conduct our meeting with the prince. Thus there is no problem other than a lost week.’
    ‘Save the problem of me being at Tyburn on Monday,’ Devlin reminded him.
    ‘Never mind that.’
    Devlin and Dandon glanced at each other with the quick eyes of those used to conspiracy, which more innocent men barely notice and often mistake when they do – until they find a knife in their back. Timms went on. ‘The most important matter is to get you through tomorrow, as this John Coxon, and get you back in here with justice seen to be done. Our real purpose must be kept secret.’
    ‘And on that,’ Devlin pointed at him and took a step closer, his voice low. ‘One of yours finds me in Maracaibo in June. A letter dated January offers me two thousand pounds and a pardon for us all if I come to bow before your fat prince and accept his even fatter father’s marque. The pardon for pirates expired two years ago, yet I am fine enough to be granted an extension?’ Timms stepped back as Devlin advanced. ‘And the full enmity of the Navy should I refuse. I noted that .’
    Dandon belched and excused himself. ‘For they have been so successful at finding you so far,