Enemies at Every Turn by David Donachie

Author:David Donachie [David Donachie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: enemies_at_every_turn
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2012-02-10T16:00:00+00:00

Isaac Lavery had accepted the charge from Catherine Carruthers to find Cornelius Gherson the previous day, this imparted with the most simpering of pleas. In truth, he had a strong desire to see the fellow damned; if he could not penetrate into his employer’s mind, he was as keen to see the back of him as the alderman.

The request had occasioned a night out ostensibly trying to locate and warn him; in reality he had sat the whole time out in a snug coffee house reading the latest journals, having no idea where the pair were who were due to be taken up, Sir Richard Ford’s note not having said.

But the duty did allow him time with his employer’s wife as he sadly reported his failure and was then granted an opportunity to show her some sympathy. Should she ask him to carry on, he would continue with the pretence as his other duties allowed, for each time he reported failure he would advance his suit a little. Seeing a naive creature, a near girl lost in confusion, he failed to realise what a scheming creature he was dealing with.

Catherine Carruthers might have lacked great knowledge of the world, but she did not lack acquaintance with attempts at seduction – moves which she had been subjected to since a tender age, when the pretty child had blossomed into the beginnings of womanhood. Having had the advantage of a rare physical precocity, looking and seeming older than her years, she knew what Lavery was about and could calculate just how much latitude to grant to the old goat so that he would do her bidding.

‘Another low fellow called today, which you did not tell me.’

Aware of the sharp tone, Lavery was swift in his reply. ‘There was nothing to tell. He came with a note for your husband.’

‘Did he come from this fellow Codge?’

Lavery’s hesitation nearly got him a blast of true temper; it was only by making a fist of her hand she stopped herself from actually issuing the kind of filthy curse which, even as a child, she had confined to times when she was alone in her bedroom.

‘It seems to me, Lavery, that if we can find this fellow, he will lead us to Cornelius.’

She had not met Codge; he had, and he knew a bully boy when he saw one. His mistress was asking him to go to the kind of places a man of his type would frequent and that on its own was dangerous enough without he found Codge, who would not likely be happy about the unearthing. Thankfully he had an excuse ready to hand.

‘It is difficult to contemplate such a course when my obligation to my master takes up so much time.’

‘But you are so clever, Isaac,’ she pleaded, before looking shocked, her hand to her mouth, her voice matching the look. ‘Forgive me for using your given name.’

‘You have no idea of how happy it makes me that you feel you can, madam.

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