Lady X

“I’m not his keeper, how would I know where the lad has gone off to?” Jerry snorted. “It’s just as well. Need to talk to you alone.”

Hunter was surprised. “Really?”

“You’ve been at me about my nightly adventures, haven’t you? Well, let me ask you then, what do you think I’ve been doing?” Jerry said on a challenge.

His lordship shook his head, “I think ye have been playing a deep game…working with smugglers.”

“I am here to tell you that is precisely what I have been doing.” He paused and gave his lordship a calculating eye, “What I do is simple. I’m the one that arranges for the land runners to take goods delivered by the gentlemen.”

Hunter’s mind worked quickly. Why was Jerry telling me this and what could he hope to gain? He directed a hard look at him and asked, “What do ye want from me?”

“You always get right to the point, don’t you?” He inclined his head. “I’m as patriotic as anyone, but no one can give us brandy the way the frogs do! They have the brandy and we want it. There’s your market. There isn’t an Englishman alive who won’t pay for his brandy, war or no. He doesn’t much care how it came across the Channel.” Swit grinned widely. “So, who is to say who is right and who is wrong? If the good people of Albion want to buy their brandy with their eyes closed. Why shouldn’t I reap the benefits?”

“And I repeat, what do ye want from me?” Hunter watched him warily.

“Odds life. I know you don’t need the blunt, but you are itching for a little excitement. That is who you are and don’t try and tell me otherwise.”

“I grow weary of this, Jerry. Tell me what this is all about,” Hunter said with an impatient sigh. He knew damn well just what this was about. Jerry Swit or his partner wanted him out of the picture and they were laying a trap.

“I meet with my flaskers tonight. Taking Jacob’s yacht, I have a couple of men but I need another to crew the thing and I know you know how to sail. There isn’t a bit of danger. We’ll be in a private yacht. We get the

tubs right under their noses and drop them at the beach, where our runners will be waiting to take the tubs on their way.” He eyed his lordship, “Game?”

“Ah, so you need another deckhand and you thought of me?” Hunter asked incredulously.

“Thought you might enjoy the adventure of it,” Swit said brightly. “But, here is the rub. I don’t just need your help on deck.” He played with his shadow beard. “It’s the Frenchies. Funny lot. Won’t give over the tubs unless we hand over the ready. I am a little short this week and since you have plenty of blunt to invest, thought you might be interested.”

Hunter had lived a long experienced life. He knew Jerry Swit and something was off with this entire story. Whoever was backing Swit, knew well enough to have the money prepared for this operation. He had decided to play along anyway.

“How much will it cost me?”

“Eighty guineas.”

“And tell me this,” Hunter said. “Does Jacob know? Is he involved?”

“Dash it, I am not a fool and he is too loose-lipped! No. He knows nothing more than I mean to take out the yacht for a sail this evening.”

“Why are you using the yacht?”

“Had a bit of a problem the last two runs. Thought my usual crew should lay low for a bit as the custom vessles are running the coast. They won’t bother with a private yacht though, will they? And if they do, we’ll sink the tubs and come back and fetch them later. So what is it to be, yea or nay?”

Hunter MacTorry gave him a look. “Yea it is, Swit.”

~ Seventeen ~

“DAVID, YOU ARE in too deep. I’m telling you son, I know we don’t always see eye to eye, but this time you have got to pull out!” The squire cautioned his son with his tone both worried and rough.

David grimaced at his father. “What Papa, no stomach for it? Just a couple of weeks ago, you wanted to handle the last run yourself.” He shook his head. “Damn stupid thing.”

“That was different. Things were running smoothly and there would have been a nice savings in it for us, but now with the coast being guarded and with his lordship and Sir Jacob about, it has a different feel to it.” The squire paced. “A man should know when to cut line and get out. You aren’t doing that. Just the opposite. It was a completely different thing when all we did was smuggle brandy.”

“Shut up! Don’t get all sanctimonious on me! You were happy enough for the ready. As far as the Scotsman is concerned, after tonight there won’t be much he can do…if he lives through it.”

The squire became quiet. “Why wouldn’t he live through it?”

“Seas are rough…” David said hurriedly. “ Even if he survives the night, he will have taken a part in it and can’t inform on himself now can he?’

“You think someone like him is afraid of the law? Think again, son. You aren’t seeing this clearly.”