By Way Of A Wager by Solomon Hayley Ann

Author:Solomon, Hayley Ann
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp.
Published: 2012-03-19T16:00:00+00:00

ELEVEN

Quite according to plan, the Surrey family sloop glided out of the port of Antwerp. That it did not travel a straight route but stopped first at a small but unknown cove in the heart of France raised few eyebrows. Equally, that her crew was a motley lot did not surprise any of the harbor officials who may have interested themselves in the business. Times were rough and seamen were not what they used to be.

There were few respectable people who wished to sail the seas right now. No doubt the sloop was to be used to ferry shipments of velvet and lace or the odd keg of matured rum. Even with the restrictions lifted, it was still nigh on impossible to get hold of the real thing in England. The channel crossing was too risky, the last of the rattled French legions still too desperate to make the attempt.

The sloop was sufficient to fetch a rare price in cargo for whoever dared brave the crossing. The tide at this time of year was enough to make any unseasoned mariner quite green with illness. To Jake, however, bobbing up and down the oceans like a veritable cork was no great hardship. Blessing his good fortune, he had time enough to take stock. How fortunate that he was to have free run of the sloop and its dubious shipment.

This of course included ill-gotten burgundy, Parisian perfume, and rolls and rolls of fine point d’Angleterre. Just where he acquired these luxuries was to be his business, no questions asked. When he had accomplished the trifling task for which he was employed, he was to sail home, docking the sloop at one of the small English enclaves in the south. Now there was the rub! It did not suit the fine Jake to have his profitable trade overset by details of this nature.

What is more, it suited him even less to satisfy himself with the meager consideration Sir Robert had seen fit to offer. True enough, at the time it had seemed a windfall. That was then, however. When a man has not a groat with which to pay his ale, he has little choice. When he has command of a sloop, a few dozen yards of Brussels bobbin lace, and numerous barrels of the finest French hock, it is a different matter entirely. Truth to tell, Jasper Meredith—for that was his true name—at last had the world at his feet.

The sea breeze and the saltwater slapping up against the sides did much to exalt Jake’s confidence in the vagaries of fortune. For once, he felt lady luck had favored him, and he was anxious to seize the moment. His eyes gleamed at the possibilities before him. It seemed life had landed him a plum ripe for the picking, and he was bound by his code to make the best of it.

He stroked his chin, considering. It must be said that the man was not averse to going to the highest bidder. Unlike some he knew, he was seldom troubled by inconvenient moral scruples.

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