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

Patrick.’
    ‘Aye.’ Devlin’s eye was still on Timms. ‘What goes on? Why am I here? I am constantly wondering what is so bloody special about me?’
    ‘That is for discussion between yourself and His Highness. I only know that you being in Newgate – although I am sure it is where you belong – will be to the detriment of your country.’
    Devlin showed Timms his back. ‘Not my country. Not even my world.’ He shouldered past Dandon. They shared the look again. Dandon took the hint and plucked his cuffs as he spoke.
    ‘I wondered at the time that it must have taken some great powers and resources to search the pirate round. And not with mind to destroy, but to invite us to some ball or such. Most impressive.’
    ‘Indeed,’ Timms took out his watch. Now almost eight. ‘There are many powers here. Do not flatter yourselves that this was merely some ploy to entrap a brigand and his fleas. This is to the highest order and, I stress, must not be public.’
    Devlin turned. ‘But I am to stay here? And return tomorrow? How then am I supposed to attend this dance of yours?’
    Timms, fearing his own lateness, tidied himself to leave, for the prince would be half drunk by now.
    ‘Not a difficulty I am sure. You will spend a week in the wards – I don’t see how to avoid that without drawing speculation – and on Sunday be shifted to the execution corridor. We will remove you then. Come Mister Dandon, sir, time to go before we are kept here like as not.’ He moved to the door to summon Langley. Devlin and Dandon both pondered Timms’s complacent mention of ‘removal’.
    ‘And just how will you remove me?’
    ‘Hmm?’ Timms seemed mentally to have already left the room. ‘Oh, we will swap you with some other fellow who is also due, with promise to fund his widow and children or some such. It has been done before you know.’
    He called for Langley before nodding his last words. ‘Then we smuggle you out of the tunnel. No need to make a scene in the sessions house. No need for the prince to intercede. We will make the best of your bad lot that has cost us time we can ill afford.’ The door was opened.
    Devlin edged close again, sure he had misheard. ‘ Tunnel ? What bloody tunnel?’
    Dandon smiled and checked his fingernails again. Timms smiled blithely at some agreement lost on the other two.
    ‘There is a tunnel that links to Sepulchre’s church across the way there. It is most fortuitous that you were gaoled in Newgate for that matter. I believe some merchant bequeathed its construction. The warden comes down the tunnel on Sunday night and whispers some maudlin horrors through the keyholes of the cells. Must be ghastly.’
    Langley turned to the door.
    ‘One moment, Turnkey.’ Devlin pulled the door shut again, his voice lowered to a whisper. ‘Tell your prince, Timms, that we will repeat our appointment tomorrow. At two.’
    ‘Captain, the prince will not attend here. His acknowledgement of you would be out of the question.’
    But Devlin was no longer speaking to him. ‘Back to the ship, Dandon. Tell where I am. Tell what to do. Tonight. I’ve had enough of this shit.’
    Dandon took Devlin’s arm. ‘I wish I had come in sooner, Captain, and known of this. I would not have paid a guinea for a quartern of wine which I did drink before I saw you.’ He shook his captain’s hand. For luck. For sport yet to come.
    Timms looked from one pirate to the other. ‘Back to the ship ?’ His voice quivered. ‘You were ordered to sail into Falmouth. To come by coach to London. To come alone . . .’ He pushed them both back into the centre of the cell, away from the door. ‘By God ! Do not tell me that you have brought a pirate ship into London, sir!’ He swallowed, something awful in his throat. ‘You cannot, nay must not, contemplate anything that will draw attention! You must wait for me to confer with His Highness. You must stand tomorrow and await until Sunday, I beg of you. This will all go