Free Serpents in the Garden by Anna Belfrage Page B

had been lovers before Da married Margaret, and Jacob didn’t understand that. Nor had anyone ever given him a good explanation for why Da had sliced Luke’s nose off in the first place – it seemed a cruel thing to do.
    “There’s no love lost between your da and your uncle,” Captain Miles said. “And, as I recall, for good reason. Your uncle has ever been a viper at your da’s breast, lad, and you best remember that.”
    Jacob shrugged. It wasn’t as if he was bound to ever meet Luke Graham, was it?
    “Nay, that you’re not. You’re coming with me to Edinburgh, and there I will turn you over into the loving hands of your other uncle, Simon Melville.” The captain looked Jacob up and down. “You’ll get a welcome to remember, lad.” He laughed and mimed an aching backside.
    Jacob nodded morosely. He already knew that.
    “So where does the king live?” Jacob asked, once they were back outside.
    “The king?” Captain Miles shook his head. “The king doesn’t live here. He’s no friend of the city of London, and the city of London is no friend of his. You know about the Commonwealth, don’t you?” He lowered his voice, looking guardedly at the men that thronged by them.
    “Aye, and Da says how London stood on the side of Parliament and free men.”
    “Against the king.” Captain Miles pointed in the general direction of the west. “The king lives yonder, in the palace of Whitehall; an hour or so by foot.” He had lost his audience: Jacob was staring at a young girl sitting in an upstairs window and smiling down at him.
    *
    They parted company on Cheapside, the captain to conduct his business negotiations, and Jacob, according to the captain, to return to the ship.
    “Straight back, or you’ll be swabbing decks all the way from here to Edinburgh.”
    Jacob rolled his eyes. “I’ll be doing that anyway.”
    “Aye.” Captain Miles grinned and clapped him on the shoulder. “We sail with the tide,” he added as he turned away. “I have most pressing matters to attend to in Edinburgh.”
    Jacob took his time getting back to the wharves. He strolled up and down the narrow streets, spent two shillings on a small silver ring for Betty, bought himself a sticky bun, and eyed every lass he saw with interest. His Betty would be like a dull pigeon among a flock of glamorous peacocks had he brought her here, he reflected, feeling somewhat disloyal. Always in muted colours, always with high-cut bodices, she’d stick out like a sore thumb among these enticing creatures.
    Low necklines, frothy lace and gleaming silks and velvets… He gaped at the creative hairdos, intricate compositions of braids and curls that succeeded in displaying very much hair to the world, despite the immaculate caps or hats that perched atop. And their faces…cheeks that glowed a delicious pink, mouths that looked suspiciously red, and darkened lashes that lowered themselves at his overt staring.
    He was in a state of half arousal when he turned into the alley leading down to the water, and there, leaning against a wall and highlighted by a lantern above her, stood a wench that smiled at him. Jacob was not an entire innocent, and he knew this was a whore, but she was pretty for all that. His cock was nosing at the cloth of his breeches, and he was young and had money in his pouch. Captain Miles would never know, nor would Betty, so he followed when she led him up the creaky stairs. He gasped when her hand closed on his member, and for a moment he was sure he loved her, this woman who spread her legs for him and helped him come inside of her.
    Half an hour later, it was dark outside, and the evening fog had transformed itself into a drizzle that seeped through Jacob’s coat in a matter of minutes. Not that he cared, humming to himself as he relieved himself into the river. He shook his cock and adjusted his breeches, ensuring the little pouch still hung where it should, very close to his privates. He didn’t hear the murmured