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.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"You promised," said Lucy, ignoring his question."You gave your word.""I did not!" said William."Anything in your power, you said." She pouted and stamped her foot."Yes, but " said William, trying to get a word in."Just because I am a weak and feeble girl, you think you can cozen and ignoreme."Simon choked back a laugh.Queen Elizabeth was fond of the weak-and-feeblewoman line, usually just before cutting some poor bastard off at the knees.Lucy had obviously been studying her technique."I don't " said William."It's not fair," said Lucy, stamping her foot again.Here come the tears, thought Simon.That's the next weapon in her formidablearmoury."And all I am trying to do is protect you," Lucy sobbed."Protect me!" said William, in astonishment.The concept of him needingprotection was a little difficult to come to terms with."Very well, if you won't let me come with you then I shall have to do the jobalone," said Lucy."Out of the question.You may be strong and fast but you are not bulletproof.One unlucky shot, that's all it takes, my lady, to make you worm food.I havemade my decision and it's final.You are not going near that house.""And how will you stop me?" she asked.That of course is the rub, thought William.He could order her and bedisobeyed.He could not physically restrain her.It was socially unacceptableand probably practically impossible due to that damn demon she carried aroundwith her.That demon had got to go.He couldn't even put Lucy across his kneeand administer the smacking she so richly deserved.The spoilt little richgirl just did not seem to understand the danger.He controlled his anger with an almost physical effort.William was not usedto being contradicted to his face in this way.When they married, Lucy wouldhave to know her place.The rational part of his mind pointed out that thegirl would probably have a very clear idea of her place; it just wouldn'tcoincide with his view.The stupidirrelevance of his thoughts made him laughout loud, which broke the argument.Lucy looked at him with a strange expression.'A man who can laugh at his own pomposity is a rare catch,' thought Lilith.'I like your sea captain, Lucy.''He's notmy sea captain,' thought Lucy, carefully concealing her underlyingthoughts from Lilith."I will do a deal with you, Lady Dennys.You can come with us." saidWilliam, carefully.Page 165ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlLucy squeaked and struck her hands together."On one condition," William continued, over her intervention."An enterprisecan only have one commander or it is lost.You will consider yourself asoldier in my service and obey my orders without argument.Without argument andwith alacrity, milady.""Of course, Captain.I shall consider myself your servant in this affair."Lucy held her hands meekly in front of her, the epitome of womanly obedience.She didn't fool William for a moment.The sun was making one of his dazzling appearances overLondon.The earlymorning showers had cleaned the air and washed away some ofLondon 's waste.Now the sunlight glittered off the wet city and sparkled along theThames.Around Billingsgate dock, homeless beggars stirred in the doorways and alcoveswhere they had taken shelter.Bright rays of light burst through gaps in blacktowering clouds.England 's fickle weather gods were still undecided whether togrant the people ofLondon sun or rain so were supplying a little of each.A seafaring man strolled down to the dock and took the air.He positionedhimself on a convenient timber and produced a pipe.That the man indulged inthe new vice of smoking marked him as welltravelled, an oceanic sailor, then,rather than a coast-crawler.Lighting the pipe was a long and complexaffair.Smethwick appeared fully engrossed in the task.A barge sailed up the Thames past the custom houses and legal quays thatclustered against the river to the west of theBloodyTower.The vessel waspiled high with cargo that was covered by an oiled cloth.The crew of threelounged unconcerned on the deck.One still appeared to be asleep.Earlymorning barges like these carried the night catch from the fishing fleet toBillingsgate.Her Majesty's hungryLondon subjects depended on them and thefirst delivery of the morning got best price.The seafaring man watched the barge casually.He took his cap off andstretched, waving the garment in the air.A man and woman walked arm in armacross the head of the dock.The man was dressed in cheap but flashy clothes.He clearly worked with his head rather than his hands.He looked like a poxdoctor's clerk.His doxy was no better.She wore a cheap imitation of afashion dress and her makeup was far too heavy for one so young.Possibly thewhite ceruse that covered her face hid the ravages of smallpox or, indeed,some other pox.The couple argued as they walked.She slapped his face.Hegrabbed her arm and pushed her forward.She stumbled and responded withfurious accusations.Smethwick chuckled and pulled on his pipe.The barge sailed straight past Billingsgate dock towardsLondonBridge.Themaster shook his head at the crew.Fishmonger's Hall, with its associatedmarket, was just the other side, above Old Swan Stairs, but a fish barge couldnever shoot the bridge safely.That was why Billingsgate dock was where itwas.The barge crew seemed to wake up late to their predicament and theyhastily tried to turn the boat.The couple walked upStink Lane , still arguing.The man dragged the doxyalong.They stopped outside a doorway as their dispute reached a climax.Theclerk held the woman by the forearms and shook her.The beggars watched withcuriosity.On the river, things were not going well.The barge's bow had come round tooslowly.It crashed sideways into the embankment where a house overhung theriver.Somehow the crew stayed on their feet.They flung grapnels up at thePage 166ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlhouse's windows.The oiled cloth was flung aside to reveal men armed withpistols and cutlasses.The men clustered around the ropes and began to climb.Smethwickblew a piercing blast on a seaman's whistle [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]