The Other Gwyn Girl by Nicola Cornick

Author:Nicola Cornick [Cornick, Nicola]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Published: 2024-03-07T00:00:00+00:00

10

ROSE – LONDON, JULY 1671

I had been sitting for two hours in a dark corner of the Ram’s Head alehouse, waiting for Nell’s blackmailer to show his or her face. Customers had flowed in and out of the pub like the tide of the Thames: fishermen, dockyard workers, barrow boys and girls, all the flotsam and jetsam of life. This was not an inn that was patronised by the more affluent sort of guest. The walls were filthy with the smoke of old tallow candles and the floors deep in dirty rushes, but with money from Nell in my pocket, I could command a corner table, a plate of mutton chops and a pint of sack, and the landlord kept the riff-raff away from me.

I waited first with a sense of anticipation edged with nervousness, and after a while an increasing sense of irritation. I visited the jakes, making care that no one should knife me in the dark alley whilst I was occupied, and returned to my table to discover that I had a guest, Colonel Thomas Blood.

I was surprised to see him. Although I’d suspected he might be behind Nell’s blackmail, I had expected him to send an underling to do his dirty work. Yet here he was, spreading out to take my place in the carver chair, smelling of stale beer and even staler tobacco, and looking dissatisfied as he viewed the remains of my plate of meat.

I took pleasure in offering him neither food nor drink, but slid into the seat opposite and fixed him with a gently enquiring gaze. ‘I turn my back for one moment,’ I said, ‘and look what appears.’

He showed his teeth in an unfriendly smile. ‘A lesson never to turn your back, then, madam,’ he said.

‘What may I do for you, Colonel?’ I asked.

He paused a moment, considering me with a narrowed gaze. ‘You are here on Madam Gwyn’s business, I take it?’

‘I am,’ I replied. ‘I assume you are too, Colonel? If so, let me save you time and tell you that there are no grounds under which you can blackmail my sister. I do not know what you imagine you hold against her, but you are mistaken.’

He laughed, but there was no humour in it. ‘What about the locket that she so foolishly gave your late unlamented husband as surety to buy the Crown Jewels?’

I felt chilled to the bone. Either John had told him that Nell was interested in buying the jewels and had given her locket as a guarantee, or he had found it amongst John’s possessions. Either way, he knew the truth. But blackmail was a game of daring and skill and this was only the first move. I took a deep breath.

‘What of it?’ I said coolly. ‘Even if you had such a locket in your possession – and I am not at all certain you do – I doubt you could prove that Nell had given it to John under those circumstances.’

He was watching me like a cat with a mouse.

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