Soldier Spy by Griff Hosker

Author:Griff Hosker [Hosker, Griff]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B00L0EUSAC
Goodreads: 22699921
Publisher: Sword Books Ltd.
Published: 2014-06-14T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

As I had expected the Queen wanted to appear her best but she surprised me by sending servants down to clean the worst of the dirt from our uniforms and providing clean shirts and underwear. It was a small thing but it showed her concern. When we rode to the ship I didn’t feel as dirty and dishevelled but, compared with the Queen, we were.

As soon as we saw Messina I began to relax. The frigate had been sent the previous night to warn the King of his wife’s arrival. We were greeted by a huge crowd of soldiers, dignitaries and ordinary people. As Captain Bullen confided in me, the whole island had been waiting with bated breath for their popular queen to arrive.

After the Queen and her entourage had landed we began to prepare to disembark. We waited patiently for the Royal Party to move off but an officer came for me, “His majesty wishes to speak with you Captain Matthews. “

I led Badger down the gangplank. It is a good thing he was a surefooted beast for a fall into the sea would have been embarrassing. The king strode over to me and there were tears in his eyes. “My wife has told me what you have done for us. I owe you everything. We will visit with you and Sir John so that I can properly show my appreciation.”

“There is no need, sir, I was just doing my duty.”

He looked at me seriously, “No sir, you performed above and beyond the call of duty.”

It seemed to take forever for the party to move off but that gave my men the time to leave the ship. Suddenly I heard a voice, “Captain Matthews!” It was Sergeant Sharp.

“Here’s your horse, Sergeant Sharp, and it has been ridden by the Queen. She appreciated her.”

“I am glad you are back sir. Sir John wants to speak with you immediately.”

I had hoped for some time to change uniforms. “Are we still in Giuseppe’s?”

Sharp grinned, “Yes sir, there was nowhere else suitable.”

“Good, Sergeant Seymour, take the men back to the camp and I will go with Sharp here.”

As Sergeant Sharp led me to Sir John’s headquarters I asked him about the troop. “Mr Jackson is a good officer sir but Sergeant Grant doesn’t let anyone get away with anything. They work well together.”

“Ah, so you didn’t miss me then?”

He laughed, “I didn’t say that. We were all worried. We knew that all the ships had left Naples and wondered how you would get back. No one thought as how you would ride all the way… with a Queen!”

“She was a strong lady, Alan. She has steel in her backbone.”

As we entered the camp every eye was on us. Captain Sillery strode over, “Well you have made me a guinea or two.”

“How?”

“I bet the infantry officers that you would get back with the Queen and not lose a man. Well done, sir.”

Sir John came out of his tent to greet me. He was actually smiling, “Congratulations, Captain Matthews.

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