Young Bloods by Simon Scarrow Read Free Book Online Page B

me for a moment.’
    Bastia had greatly changed since she had last visited the port. Even then it had felt more Italian than Corsican, but now the stamp of French rule was apparent everywhere, from the off-duty soldiers milling in the streets, to the French warships in the harbour and the French names above many of the businesses in the centre of town.
    Letizia made for the address of the shipping agent Carlos had told her about, and booked two berths for her sons on a cargo vessel leaving for Marseilles the next day. Then she took a room in an inn close to the harbour and had the driver of the cart unload their trunks before dismissing him for the night.
     
Even though it was winter the harbour was busy and it took a while to find the right ship. All the cargo was already aboard and the last few passengers were loading as Letizia and her sons carefully trod across the gangway and stepped down on to the deck. Behind them the porters struggled aboard with the trunks and were directed by a sailor to the cramped passenger quarters below. The captain checked off the names of the two boys on his manifest and turned to Letizia.
    ‘We’re casting off shortly, madam. I’d be obliged if you said your goodbyes quickly.’
    She nodded and crouched down, opening her arms. The two boys stepped into her embrace and she could feel the shudder of sobs through the folds of their cloaks.
    ‘There, there,’ she managed in a strained voice. Inside Letizia felt more wretched than she had ever felt in her life, and even now wanted nothing more than to turn round, take them with her, and return home.
    ‘Mother,’ Naboleone mumbled into her ear, ‘Mother, please, I don’t want to go, I don’t want to leave you.’ He tightened his grip round her shoulder. ‘Please.’
    She did not trust herself to reply, and felt her throat tighten unbearably as she blinked away the first tears. A short distance away the captain looked at her for a moment, before turning and looking out to sea, granting her a last moment of privacy before parting. Letizia swallowed and forced herself to assume a calm expression. She loosened her grip on her sons and eased herself back until they were face to face.
    ‘Hush now, Naboleone.You must be brave. Both of you. This is for the best, you’ll see. Make sure that you write as often as you can. Now wipe your eyes.’ She handed him a handkerchief and he scrunched it into his face.
    ‘There … Now it’s time.’
    She stood up and both boys gripped her round the waist. The captain crossed the deck towards her and indicated the gangway.
    ‘I’m sorry, madam, but …’
    She nodded and gently eased herself away from Giuseppe and Naboleone.They held her for a moment, and then the captain put his hands on their shoulders.
    ‘Come, lads, your mother needs to go now. She needs you to be brave for her. Don’t let her down.’
    Their arms reluctantly dropped to their sides as they stood, fighting back the tears. Letizia reached down to kiss Giuseppe on the head, then turned to Naboleone, and whispered softly in his ear, ‘ Coraggio .’

Chapter 10
    Ireland, 1776
    The abbey stood on rising ground with views over the Boyne, and beyond the river stood the huge ruins of Trim Castle. The walls and towers stood within a moat, and still looked formidable to Arthur as he stared out of the carriage window.Then the castle was lost from view as the carriage passed through the abbey gate and into the courtyard.
    His first impression of the austere setting was that it looked like a prison, and his heart ached with longing for his home and his family. The feeling swelled inside him as O’Shea unloaded his meagre trunk of clothing, books and other belongings and turned the carriage back towards the gate. Then O’Shea was gone and the sound of the wheels on gravel quickly faded away. Arthur stood alone before the main entrance. All was still, but not quite silent. From somewhere within the abbey a chorus of voices conjugated a