Free The Admirals' Game by David Donachie

though no man could be said to differ more. Martin had hated Pearce to start with, for his ill-formed nose was a direct result of a punch from that source, yet the man had turned out to be a gem of a fellow, unlike the bugger now grinning at him.
    â€˜I’s all right, Corny, and how are you?’
    The face closed up; Gherson hated that nickname, but he fought to look pleasant again. ‘What’s afoot with the captain’s lady?’
    â€˜Nowt.’
    â€˜Must be something, Martin, you being called to the cabin. First time you’ve been in here, I would guess.’
    â€˜Happen,’ Martin replied, using the back of his hand to wipe his nose.
    â€˜So, are you going to enlighten an old shipmate?’
    â€˜You ain’t no shipmate o’ mine, Corny, wi’ yer fancy togs and airs, an’ in truth I don’t think you ever was.’
    Cornelius Gherson’s face went from pretty to downright spiteful. ‘While you turned out to be Pearce’s little playmate.’
    Martin Dent spat back at him. ‘Watch your tongue, bastard, or you’ll get a clout wi’ a marlinspike one dark night.’
    â€˜I’m shaking in my shoes.’
    The head disappeared; obviously, by the crash of the marine sentry’s boots, he had heard the imminent return of Emily Barclay, for she appeared moments later, approaching close again and speaking softly. ‘Martin, Mr Glaister has agreed that you may leave the ship.’
    â€˜Ma’am.’
    â€˜He may enquire of you what you were asked to do. It would be doing me a service if that was kept to yourself.’
    â€˜I dunno as I can do that if the premier demands to know.’
    Emily was thinking hard; she could mention John Pearce, for she had the impression that young Martin would do anything for him, but that would open up a can of worms, so she decided to take the same line as she had with Glaister.
    â€˜The matter relates to something the admiral wants to do for my husband.’
    Hang the bugger, thought Martin, for what had happened at the court martial was common gossip.
    â€˜He wants it to be a surprise, which is why I asked for you. To request that either Shenton or Gherson carry out this task would put them in an invidious position.’
    â€˜Invi what, ma’am?’
    â€˜Sorry, false is a better word.’
    Martin had another thought then, that it was a good word to apply to that pair. Emily put up her hand and asked him to be still, while she went into one of the side cabins, a sleeping place Martin saw through the open door, with a swinging cot and a sea chest. With her back to him he did not see her extract a coin from her chest, but it was clutched in her hand when she returned.
    â€˜Martin, I want you to take this as reward.’
    Their hands met and he looked down to see gold, half a guinea, and he knew without being told that this was no reward for the errand, but the price of his silence. He also knew questions would be asked about what was afoot, and not only by the likes of Gherson; every one of his shipmates would be at him. Emily was watching him closely and could see in his face the confusion as he held out the coin to her.
    â€˜Best I don’t take this, ma’am, though it is kindly meant, I’s sure.’
    â€˜Why, Martin?’ she asked softly.
    â€˜Not a soul aboard will trouble me for an answer in just doin’ such an errand,’ he lied. ‘But if’n they sniff I was paid a reward, they will be at me for a reason like hounds after a hare.’
    â€˜Surely they will only know if you tell them.’
    Martin grinned, and that lifted Emily’s heart for it was more like the cheerful lad she knew, the one who never stopped talking as he worked his oar. ‘You don’t know much about tars, ma’am, they’s got eyes in the back of their heads, and as like as not gold would be spotted before I could get it into my dunnage. And if’n I get