Read Online A Certain Threat (The Merriman Chronicles Book 1) by Roger Burnage - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Roger Burnage
Ads: Link
hastily ushered his companions out of the hotel door before turning to say “A pleasure to see you young gentlemen again.”
“ Indeed Sir, and to meet you. We’ve just spent a most excellent evening together, the Lieutenant and I,” announced the soldier, “I’m about to walk back to my rooms, perhaps you would accompany me.”
“ As I am sure that your rooms are near the castle Sir, I regret that I cannot, as my way lies in the opposite direction.” And with a brief adieu he nipped quickly out of the door and disappeared.
“ Strange fellow,” mused Merriman later as he prepared for bed, “He didn’t seem very pleased to see us, in fact he was positively agitated, and the way in which he pushed his companions out before we had chance to get a good look at them was most strange. I wonder who they were?”
The next day, after he had made another visit to the ta ilor, the family returned home Three days later, the tailor arrived as he had promised, with all the new clothes for a final fitting. He fussed about as Merriman tried them on, tucking here, easing a seam there until Merriman was ready to explode with irritation. Finally the man expressed himself satisfied and left, promising that all would be delivered the next day without fail.
Chapter 6: A Revenue ship is taken
The coast of North Wales and the mountains of Snowdonia stood out clearly. Early rain had cleared the air and Merriman was enjoying the view as his horse ambled along on the Cheshire side of the Dee estuary. His intention had simply been to take a ride because it was such a fine day and he had no particular direction in mind, but his brother had asked to join him and without really thinking about it they had set off on the road to Neston. It was bitterly cold and both of them were bundled up in gloves and scarves and overcoats. They were in no hurry and between his brother’s chatter he was deep in thought about his man Owen, wondering if he had discovered anything about the smuggling gang and when he might return.
Merriman suddenly shivered. “Too long in the tropics, that’s what it is” he told himself. “Come on Matthew, I’ll race you to that far gatepost,” so saying he set spurs to his horse and thundered off ahead of his brother who tried valiantly but unavailingly to catch him.
They pulled up, almost together, laughing with excitement. “It wasn’t a fair start James, you were away before I realized what you were doing.”
“ Ha, you need to keep your wits about you little brother,” laughed Merriman.
Approaching the town, they realized that a market fair was in progress with the country folk selling vegetables, eggs and chickens, milk, butter and cheese and the like. People were buying foodstuffs, ribbons and cloth, pots and pans, and all sorts of cheap goods and gewgaws from itinerant traders who had set up their stalls under scraps of canvas. A small group was gathered around a seller of magical potions which he absolutely guaranteed would cure anything. “The recipe for this wonderful elixir was given to me by a dying Holy man in far off India. It will cure impotence and gout and will cause barren women to conceive,” he told his wide eyed and gullible listeners.
Leaving their horses tied, Merriman and his brother wandered about, amused by the chatter of the stall holders, occasionally pestered by beggars, when all at once Merriman saw Helen Simpson talking to an old lady who was selling ribbons.
“Good morning Ma’am, you must allow me to buy those for you. No, I positively insist upon it, I hope it will help to make amends for upsetting you the other day.”
“ Thank you Sir,” she replied with a small curtsey, “But really, I had quite forgotten all about it. And who is this handsome young gentleman with you?”
Merriman hastily introduced Matthew who nearly fell over his own feet trying to bow over the lady ’s hand.
She continued, “From our last meeting, you
“ Indeed Sir, and to meet you. We’ve just spent a most excellent evening together, the Lieutenant and I,” announced the soldier, “I’m about to walk back to my rooms, perhaps you would accompany me.”
“ As I am sure that your rooms are near the castle Sir, I regret that I cannot, as my way lies in the opposite direction.” And with a brief adieu he nipped quickly out of the door and disappeared.
“ Strange fellow,” mused Merriman later as he prepared for bed, “He didn’t seem very pleased to see us, in fact he was positively agitated, and the way in which he pushed his companions out before we had chance to get a good look at them was most strange. I wonder who they were?”
The next day, after he had made another visit to the ta ilor, the family returned home Three days later, the tailor arrived as he had promised, with all the new clothes for a final fitting. He fussed about as Merriman tried them on, tucking here, easing a seam there until Merriman was ready to explode with irritation. Finally the man expressed himself satisfied and left, promising that all would be delivered the next day without fail.
Chapter 6: A Revenue ship is taken
The coast of North Wales and the mountains of Snowdonia stood out clearly. Early rain had cleared the air and Merriman was enjoying the view as his horse ambled along on the Cheshire side of the Dee estuary. His intention had simply been to take a ride because it was such a fine day and he had no particular direction in mind, but his brother had asked to join him and without really thinking about it they had set off on the road to Neston. It was bitterly cold and both of them were bundled up in gloves and scarves and overcoats. They were in no hurry and between his brother’s chatter he was deep in thought about his man Owen, wondering if he had discovered anything about the smuggling gang and when he might return.
Merriman suddenly shivered. “Too long in the tropics, that’s what it is” he told himself. “Come on Matthew, I’ll race you to that far gatepost,” so saying he set spurs to his horse and thundered off ahead of his brother who tried valiantly but unavailingly to catch him.
They pulled up, almost together, laughing with excitement. “It wasn’t a fair start James, you were away before I realized what you were doing.”
“ Ha, you need to keep your wits about you little brother,” laughed Merriman.
Approaching the town, they realized that a market fair was in progress with the country folk selling vegetables, eggs and chickens, milk, butter and cheese and the like. People were buying foodstuffs, ribbons and cloth, pots and pans, and all sorts of cheap goods and gewgaws from itinerant traders who had set up their stalls under scraps of canvas. A small group was gathered around a seller of magical potions which he absolutely guaranteed would cure anything. “The recipe for this wonderful elixir was given to me by a dying Holy man in far off India. It will cure impotence and gout and will cause barren women to conceive,” he told his wide eyed and gullible listeners.
Leaving their horses tied, Merriman and his brother wandered about, amused by the chatter of the stall holders, occasionally pestered by beggars, when all at once Merriman saw Helen Simpson talking to an old lady who was selling ribbons.
“Good morning Ma’am, you must allow me to buy those for you. No, I positively insist upon it, I hope it will help to make amends for upsetting you the other day.”
“ Thank you Sir,” she replied with a small curtsey, “But really, I had quite forgotten all about it. And who is this handsome young gentleman with you?”
Merriman hastily introduced Matthew who nearly fell over his own feet trying to bow over the lady ’s hand.
She continued, “From our last meeting, you
Similar Books
