Read Online In the Barrister's Chambers by Tina Gabrielle - Free Book Online Page B

to protest further, Jack said, “Do you trust me?”
    She looked taken aback and bit her bottom lip before looking him in the eye. “Yes. I trust you, Jack.”
    â€œGood, because we’ve arrived.”
    He opened the door, jumped down, and held out a hand to Evelyn.
    She took it and alighted, her blue eyes wide as disks as she spotted the throng of people down the street.
    â€œWe can still turn back, Evie,” he said.
    She shook her head.
    Jack tossed a coin to the cabdriver. “Stay in the area tonight and there will be double in it for you.”
    â€œAye, gov’ner,” the driver said, tipping his hat.
    Then Jack took her hand in a firm grip and headed for the thickest part of the mob.

    Evelyn couldn’t believe her eyes. The fish market enveloped them in a malodorous crowd of activity. The overpowering stench of fish lay as heavy as the humid air on her skin. Fishmongers with gut-stained aprons waved fish above their heads and cupped hands around their mouths as they shouted their prices. Screeching seagulls hovered above and occasionally swooped down to pick at fish guts or slop thrown between the stalls.
    â€œHow will we ever find the tavern?” she shouted above the cacophony of voices to be heard.
    â€œI know where it is,” Jack said.
    A burly sailor bumped into her and she stumbled. Jack steadied her with a hand at her elbow.
    â€œWe could lose each other in this crowd.”
    His grip tightened. “No, we won’t. The tavern is just down the street.”
    â€œI didn’t think it would be this busy. It’s almost five o’clock in the evening.”
    â€œIt’s worse at five o’clock in the morning,” he said dryly.
    They passed a stall where a buyer haggled with a fishwife who had a dozen turbots strung around her apron. The brownish tails and white bellies of the fish swung around as the woman gestured wildly with her hands and yelled in the buyer’s face. In the next stall a charlatan stood on a table, shouting out the benefits of a salve that could heal hemorrhoids as well as accidental cuts from fish knives in record speed. A milling crowd gathered around the charismatic man and the noise level increased.
    Evelyn looked about flabbergasted, grateful for Jack’s presence by her side. The market was like a living beast with a pulse of its own that could easily swallow an unsuspecting passerby.
    â€œI can see why you did not wish me to come alone,” she blurted out.
    He stopped suddenly and looked down at her, his green eyes studying her with a curious intensity. “Is that an admission of weakness, Evie?”
    â€œNo, Jack. Merely a statement of gratitude for your escort.”
    A strange, faintly eager look flashed across his face, but as quickly as it had appeared, it vanished.
    â€œI would have preferred to meet Mr. Sheldon elsewhere, but we’re here now.” He pointed past the table of the medicine man. “I can see the tavern up ahead. Let’s be on our way.”
    They continued on through the market. As the end of the business day neared, fishmongers threw buckets of water in front of their stalls. Some mopped the fish guts and waste, others were content to let the gulls and stray dogs do the work. The cobbled street was slick and dirty, and Evelyn held up her already-short hem as they walked by.
    Soon the murky, brown water of the Thames came into view, and the odor of fish and seaweed grew stronger. Shrimp and oyster boats were lined up at the wharf. Fishermen and porters scurried about at the direction of a burly wharfmaster, his weathered face as dark as tanned leather, whose shouts were mixed with ear-blistering profanity.
    She first spotted the sign for the Cock and Bull Tavern before they rounded the corner and the building came into view.
    â€œStay by my side, Evie,” Jack warned. “Every sailor in Billingsgate is going to be here on a Friday night.”
    They came up to