She never saw that coming. Here was the reason why Jacob had been courting her. It made sense. This was a time when men were still in the closet about their sexuality and forced to take desperate measures. She had always had a live and let live attitude, but this really opened her eyes. As she contemplated life in her time, she was happy she wouldn’t have to live in this era.
Suddenly, she received a jolt of sensation as right before her eyes the airwaves parted.
It happened, before she could stop it, before she knew what was going on, and before she could scream!
~ Chapter Two ~
HUNTER ENTERED THE Kings Head, and looked around. He grimaced as he could see why this place had been chosen over the Mermaid Inn. This tavern didn’t even try for an outward appearance of respectablility.
He pushed past two men who were involved in a heated argument, ducked a punch meant for another man, smiled at the barmaid and made his way to a dark corner. He took a wooden chair and positioned it, before he sat and watched the antics being performed by an intoxicated group of hard drinking sailors and fishermen.
He saw Swit as soon as the man entered the tavern, and waited for him to make his way to him.
Swit took a chair and sat opposite. He looked disturbed, nervous, and ill at ease as he blu
rted out, “I just met with Horwich. The man isn’t right in the head, I tell you.”
“No. He isn’t right in the head. Never mind that, did ye make the arrangements?”
“I did, and I told him like you wanted about Bellingham’s suicide. That threw him. He nearly went off into a convulsion. Thought he would spit blood, I did. He was already in a black mood and that didn’t help.”
“Are you set for this evening’s sail?”
“Aye. So we are, so I told him,” Swit answered.
“There is another matter, I need ye to take care of,” his lordship said in a soft voice. He had to study Swit’s face, unsure if Swit had heard him. He waited for a reaction. Patience had been something time had taught him.
Swit sighed heavily and leaned back a moment, chewed his bottom lip, and then rested his elbows on the square table. “I was wondering when you would be wanting more from me. What is it then?” Swit asked looking irritated.
“What do ye have on Sir Jacob?” Hunter put up his hand. “Doona try telling me ye have naught, for I know better. Why does the lad let ye hang on forever?”
“The truth is, I don’t really know. I was playing with him; testing him. I mentioned that I saw him with a flash covey. Not sure who the man was, well dressed though and didn’t belong in a seedy out of the way little Inn just outside London. When the boy saw me looking his way, he nearly fainted.” Swit shrugged. “Don’t know why. They must have been up to some illegal business they didn’t want me to know about. After that, all I ever had to do was mention the inn’s name and the boy gave me whatever I wanted.”
Hunter had gone very still while Swit talked. When he had met with Lucas Osgood earlier that day, something had nagged at him. He now knew Osgood was the man Jacob had met outside of London.
Hunter was a sophisticated man of the World. Swit being able to so easily blackmail the lad, told a story.
He knew now without a shadow of a doubt that Sir Jacob and Osgood weren’t in business together, illegal or otherwise. They were lovers. It all made sense. He was surprised…but only surprised.
He was an immortal wizard and understood things humans had yet to learn.
His lordship leaned forward and said quietly, “Jerry, I have an envelope for ye, and ye shall get it after this night’s work. I’m telling ye this, because it is important to me that ye change yer way of living.” He eyed him for a long moment. “The envelope holds a draft for an account I have arranged to be held in yer name at Barkley’s Bank of London.” He paused and allowed this to sink in before he continued. “This account will become active when I give you a letter of release. Ye will be financially comfortable for the rest of yer life. However, ye will only be allowed to spend the interest from this account until ye are forty years of age. I hope ye will have found yerself some good sense by then. I have also arranged for a separate fund to be created at the same time, that will allow ye enough to restore yer estate and make it an income producing property. Think on it, Jerry. Ye will be what ye are, a land owning gentry buying modern equipment for yer tenant farmers. See they do well, so that ye will do well. Ye have it in ye. I saw how ye handle the men. So then, Jerry Swit, after tonight ye will have enough of the ready for the rest of yer life. But tonight, ye best do all that I ask and earn it. Also, ye are never to bother Sir Jacob again. If I hear that ye have, I shall end it all for ye, quickly and simply. Am I understood?”
Jerry Swit opened his mouth then closed it, and opened it again. At first nothing came out of it, and Hunter smiled. He had never seen Swit speechless.
Finally Jerry managed, “Why would you do that for me? I know you despise me.” Jerry was incredulous.
“While ye doona deserve it, it happens that ye need another chance to start over. I think ye will be good at running yer estate. And, of course, I want Sir Jacob to be left alone from yer threats. Whatever he did, as far as ye be concerned is over, and should be forgotten. Are we clear?”
Jerry Swit agreed readily to this and surprised his lordship by taking both his hands and shaking them vigorously. “Ye won’t be sorry, Lord Scotsman. You won’t be sorry.”
“Och! I already am,” said his lordship as he chuckled.
Last minute plans were drawn up and every contingency was discussed. The only thing left to do was to get the false information to Napoleon.
It had to be tonight, before the battle of Waterloo which was only two days away.
Dusk had settled in and as they looked up, in walked Horwich none to happy to see them together.