Bold and Blooded
Page 26
“Thank you. I cannot regret his going – he frightened my little sister, you know, Captain.”
“He did too, villain that he was, and her such a happy, pleasant little miss! Had you not settled his hash today, I should have very quickly myself!”
Micah said nothing and kept his face composed. Rosamund would soon be sixteen, which was quite old enough for a girl to marry in the village, even if a little younger than was ordinarily the case. Eleanor to Mr Stamford and Ros to Captain Simmons perhaps – the girls would do far better than any mere slate-cutter in the village, particularly if Jenny might come to like Jasper Albright.
Major Holdby congratulated Micah on his performance but told him it presented a problem.
“Formby’s father has money, so it would seem from what Bamford had just said. He was not pleased to lose his young man and is certain that the Lord Lieutenant will call the duel unlawful – which, strictly speaking, any meeting is – and will demand your head. That could be a nuisance.”
“It could indeed, Major. I am quite attached to my head.”
“As you should be, Red Man. That being the case, you are to go to London. Captain Simmons has told me of a number of our acquaintances in the Trained Bands there, officers brought in to give them experience. You will ride down, Rootes at your heels, your own man, and your Lieutenant’s commission in your pack and a letter from me confirming your experience and explaining that you killed a King’s Man for me, standing in a meeting at my connivance. Not quite true, but good enough. There will be a lieutenant’s place for you for certain, the Trained Bands of London being strong for Parliament. When the war starts, as it must, in a year or two, you will be able to make your way back to us here or remain with your own company depending on your wishes and your colonel’s needs.”
“I cannot remain here and hope to ride out the storm, sir?”
“Too big a risk, Red Man. Your sisters would be most upset to see you swinging from the gallows tree, and that is a possibility. We will look after your family, Red Man. You must go.”
“So be it, Major.”
Micah stepped out swiftly to his room in the barracks, found Rootes packing his saddlebags.
“Be ready in half an hour, sir. Bring the horse round, so I will, sir. Never seen London, sir. Big old place, so they say. Make a change.”
“You are willing to come with me, Rootes?”
“Might as well, sir. Might be a laugh.”
Micah collected his papers from Major Holdby still reflecting on Rootes’ words. It seemed to him that his whole life might be a joke and he was inclined to wonder just who the jester was. He tucked his remaining cash away, some in his pockets, more in the saddlebags, twenty pounds on Rootes’ horse, all at Major Holdby’s recommendation.
“If we are separated and you have to run, Rootes, use that money yourself. Should be enough to get away on.”
“Kind of ye, sir. Doubt there will be any need, meself. Are we ready, sir?”
They rode out, past Burghley house and out onto the Great North Road, their heads pointing south.
“Something new every day, Rootes.”
“So they say, sir. Be boring if it was all the same. Are them pistols of yours loaded, sir?”
“Always, Rootes.”
# # #
Thank you for reading Bold and Blooded. The next book in the series is expected to be released in 2019. Note: The author’s recently completed Innocents at War Series, has received much critical acclaim and comes highly recommended. Find out more here:
Series Page Links
US - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N6QNS7Y
UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01N6QNS7Y
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Book One Kindle Link http://getBook.at/Conflict-1
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Series Page Links:
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Kindle links to the whole series:
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Kindle links to the whole series:
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Universal Kindle Link
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