Free HF - 01 - Caribee by Christopher Nicole Page B

quarrelled with Villiers, and is confined.'
    'My God,' Tom said. 'The Tower?'
    'His house, for the moment. Who can say about later?'
    'And what would he have us do, sir?' Ashton asked.
    North scratched his chin. 'As we think best,' he said slowly. 'His words. Words he seldom uses. I wonder what...' he raised his head, gazed at Tom. But Tom was also frowning.
    'Warwick confined,' he said, half to himself. 'This affair touches us all, Mr North.'
    'Aye,' North agreed. His forehead slowly cleared, and his mouth set in a firm line. ‘I have a copy of the grant here on board this ship. It says that we are to proceed whenever we are provisioned.'
    "Which will take not less than another month to accomplish, sir,' Ashton protested.
    'To accomplish to our satisfaction, Mr Ashton. Life is ever an unsatisfactory affair. It will take only a few hours to fill our water casks. When is tide full?"
    Ashton's turn to frown. 'At dusk, sir.'
    'Then pass the word, quietly, to my other captains to make ready for sea. We shall leave this night.' 'But, sir . ..'
    'Or we shall be forced to seek fresh employment, Mr Ashton. And I for one, have invested too much in this venture for it not to succeed. But let us put to sea, and Gondomar will waste his words on the empty ocean. Now see to it, man.' He clapped Ashton on the shoulder, pushed him towards the companion ladder, and turned back to Tom. 'Captain Warner, it truly grieves me that our acquaintance has had to be of such short order. But you'll understand the circumstances.'
    "Warwick imprisoned,' Tom mu tt ered. This is a serious blow, Mr North. I am in none too good an odour at court myself, save through the intercession of the earl.'
    'Then you had best look to yourself, sir. I have observed that heavy weights, in falling, invariably bring down with them any and all to which they may be a tt ached.'
    Tom was pulling his nose. 'While you sail away to freedom. I tell you, man... you'll know it was the earl's wish that I accompany your"
    t ndeed I do, sir. And were you to decide on that, I would be the happiest of men.'
    'With no money contributed to the venture?'
    ‘I 'll accept your experience of warfare in lieu of money, Captain Warner. We may seek peace, but 'tis likely some sort of defence will be forced upon us. You'll have command of my military.'
    ‘I will have to make arrangements for the boy; Berwicke will certainly accompany me.'
    'Youll wish him returned to Framlingham,' North said thoughtfully. 'Now there will be a problem. But we shall certainly find him a room here in Plymouth until a suitable companion can be found to take him home. I'll speak with my factor.'
    'Father,' Edward cried.
    'Boy, there are times when a man must act. This is destiny.'
    ‘I do not quarrel with that, sir,' Edward said desperately. 'But why send me back? There are boys on this ship not greatly my elders. And Mama is well cared for by Uncle Edward. Be sine that I shall only be a nuisance to her. And will you not be sending for her within the year?'
    'Take an eleven-year-old, to Guyana?' Tom asked at large.
    'You would leave me in Plymouth, sir, a prey to Heaven knows what temptations.'
    North was grinning. 'He seems a likely lad, to be sure, Mr Warner. And if we are to found a nation, there will have to be other eleven-year-olds, and less.'
    'And you promised, Father,' Edward begged. 'Be sure that if left behind I shall dwindle into a skeleton, and a vagabond besides.'
    'And would Mrs Warner ever forgive me?'
    'She gave you her blessing, Father,' Edward pointed out. "Please, Father. I'll not disgrace you. This I swear.'
    Tom chewed his lip and pulled his nose, and then smiled. ‘It goes against my nature to send you back. You've the spirit of Wat Raleigh tucked away in there, Edward. You'll find me paper, Mr North, if you will. I've a le tt er I must write. Edward, locate Berwicke, and tell him there's been a change of plan. We'll go and see if we can find this El Dorado.'
     
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    The Enchanted