The Lace Maiden by Evie Grace

Author:Evie Grace [Grace, Evie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781473573550
Publisher: Random House

Chapter Thirteen

A Man We Want and a Man We Must Have (Naval Cry)

At the end of the month of July, Mr Trice called at Compass Cottage.

‘I was expecting Mr Mellors,’ Louisa said coldly, wishing she’d known in advance of his visit so she could have made herself scarce.

‘I thought to come and inspect my assets in person. May I come in?’ Without waiting for her answer, he pushed past her and went straight into the parlour. He stood in front of the chaise where she and Jason had sat up together the night before while Grace sewed, and Winnie – being worn out – was in bed.

‘Will you take a seat?’

‘Not at present, thank you. The merchants are impatient for their money – there’s a limit to how far they are willing to extend their credit. However, I have received information that there will be another shipment coming your way, if you are intending to continue in the honourable trade.’ Smiling disagreeably, he went on, ‘Rumour has it that you are maintaining a close association with the free traders of Deal.

‘I see that this observation has taken you by surprise, but you have to understand that it’s my duty to discover every detail. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, Miss Lennicker. One requires the whole picture, and to that end, I employ many sets of eyes and ears in the inns and capstan grounds, and at the dockside in Dunkirk and Gravelines. But I digress.’ He looked at her expectantly.

‘I can make a part payment.’ Her voice quavered, betraying her nerves. Flustered and angry for showing weakness, she excused herself to fetch the money she’d collected a few days before in readiness for his clerk’s arrival. It was nowhere near enough, but it was all that she could scrape together.

‘Here you are, Mr Trice.’ She handed it over to him in a small box; he counted it out on the table, then without asking, wrapped a chain around the box and padlocked it. The bodyguard who had been waiting outside, was called by Mr Trice and told to remove the box and take it to the phaeton.

Thinking that giving up the box in addition to the money was a fair exchange, she began to breathe a sigh of relief, but he hadn’t finished.

‘Are your sisters at home?’ he asked. ‘And your lodger?’

She was about to tell him the truth, but instead she said, ‘My sisters are in the hang.’

‘That’s strange – the evidence would suggest not. I smell no smoke.’ He smirked. ‘I know you’re lying – I saw them pushing a handcart towards the market when my man dropped me off at the corner. As for Master Fleet, he was on his way to the capstan grounds. It seems to me that this is the ideal opportunity for us to become more … intimately acquainted.’

‘Please, give me another few weeks and I’ll make sure you receive your money, every penny.’ A pulse began to throb at her temple as she watched Mr Trice close the curtains.

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