Sackett's Land (1974) by Louis - Sackett's 0 L'amour Read Free Book Online

warningly, and I smiled at her. "Very lightly," she added.
    "And I, also," I said. "A trouble, is it not?"
    Yet it seemed I had scarcely slept when morning was graying my window. I arose, bathed lightly and donned by clothes. I was hesitating to decide whether I should simply leave quietly or wait until I could pay my respects when there was a light tap on the door.
    It was, of course, Lila.
    "The master is breaking his fast. He requests your presence," she said.
    Captain Brian Tempany was a stalwart, gray-haired man with a spade beard darker than his hair. He shot me a hard, level look from cool blue eyes and gestured to a seat.
    "Ruffians, was it? Hadn't you a sword?"
    "I had ... and have. But there were a number of them and I became separated from my friends."
    He looked at me coolly and waited until I was seated. "I was at the theater," he said bluntly, "in the box next to the one into which you dropped."
    "I could not easily have explained all that," I said, embarrassed, "and might have frightened your daughter."
    "Abigail," he said grimly, "is not easily frightened. She stood beside me off the Malabar coast and used a pistol to repel pirates who were attempting to board us."
    He faced me squarely. "Why were you fleeing like a rogue from Rupert Genester?"
    Lying would serve no purpose, and this man was no fool. As briefly as possible, I explained.
    "Ivo's son, eh? I know the name. He was a fighting man. And you? What of you?"
    "He taught me the blade, Captain."
    "He did, did he? Well, probably it was better to avoid them. A bunch of rascals, Genester included." He stared at me. "You wish to return to London?"
    "I have a meeting there with the man I mentioned."
    "To whom you would sell your coins? May I see them?"
    From my purse, hidden inside my shirt, I took them out and placed them upon the table.
    He touched them with his finger, studying them intently. "Yes, yes ... good! Good!"
    He stirred them about, studying the light as it fell upon the details of the coins. "I will buy them."
    I was startled. "I had promised Coveney Has--"
    "It will be well with him. As a matter of truth, I wish to make a gift of these coins to the very man to whom he planned to show them."
    "You know him?"
    "I do. England is a small country, after all. Men with like interests tend to know each other. I am not a member of the Society of Antiquaries, but I know of them. This man to whom Hasling would show the coins is a man of influence at court, where I need a word spoken for me."
    "You say you know him?"
    He smiled. "And he knows of you. This gentleman of the Antiquaries is the very man whom your father defended so nobly on the battlefield. The story is well known, Sackett.
    "Not only was your father a very brave man and a tremendous fighter, but this Earl is a man who always appreciates what was done for him. Too many forget too readily, but he has made the story known everywhere. He is a man of great influence who could advance your career."
    "I would enjoy that, but--"
    "But what?"
    "I understand you are sending a vessel to the New World. I would prefer to sail with her, Captain. I have it in mind to venture a small sum in goods."
    "Venture? How much?"
    "What those are worth, and a bit more. Hopefully, quite a bit more."
    He laughed. Then he got to his feet and went to the sideboard for a bottle. "Here! Try a man's drink!"
    "No," I said, "the ale will do."
    His smile faded. He was not a man accustomed to refusal. Then he shrugged. "Fine ... so be it."
    When our glasses were filled he sat down again. "All right, buy your goods. I shall have a ship sailing within a fortnight, and you shall go with her."
    "And two friends?"
    "Are they fighting men?"
    "They are."
    "Then go they shall, Sackett. Go they shall."
    I stood up and he shook my hand. It was not until I was astride one of his horses and on my way to London that I began to worry.
    It was all working out too well, much too well. And that bothered me.
    As I approached London Bridge, I