Free The Peacock Throne by Lisa Karon Richardson Page A

huge crate tucked in a shadowy corner and half covered with dirty canvas. I gripped my sword and made ready to fend off any attackers that might rush from the darkness. The man lit a nearby lantern, and then taking up a crowbar he proceeded to open the front of the crate. Pulling out the old straw that padded the interior he worked with feverish intensity. When he stepped away, the feeble light of the lantern revealed the polished glint of gold.
    All thought of thieves fled. I stepped forward to get a better look at the treasure ensconced in the crate. It was a throne, though not what an English mind might picture. This was a platform on four curved legs with a waist-high railing and a seat at the back. The entire thing was fashioned of gold and encrusted with priceless gems. Even the feeble light of the dingy lantern caused the throne to glitter. Rubies, emeralds, pearls and diamonds vied within their golden setting to see which could most dazzle the beholder.
    Large enough to seat at least two reclining people, the throne even had a small golden canopy suspended above the seat. It too was covered in jewels. On each of the columns that supported this canopy, the delicate image of two peacocks separated by a tree had been formed by the intricate placement of jewels. Awestruck, I gaped at the thing for several moments.
    My guide finally brought me back to my senses by tugging on my sleeve.
    In pure bedevilled curiosity I asked how much the Mughal would pay for my assistance. The answer stunned me. One hundred thousand pounds.
    My mind worked furiously. God help me, but I decided then and there. Greed was like a fire in my blood. I would put it before my officers because I could not pull off the scheme alone. We would treat the Mughal’s bribe as prize money, but with the added benefit that the Admiralty need claim no share. All that would be required of us was a detour away from our appointed duty, and that would be easy enough to justify to the Admiralty. We had only to say that we spotted a ship and gave chase, or that we were caught in a blow.
    I raced back to the Centaur. On the ship I held a meeting of all the officers and put forth my proposal. The men were unanimously in favour of my proposition.
    Under cover of night we manoeuvred the throne into the hold of the ship, and then went about the rest of our business as usual. We left port with the next tide and made our way with all haste to an island chain in the Indian Ocean. We found an island with a natural harbour. Ships often put in to take on fresh supplies of water and fruit, but at the time there was no permanent settlement. It is not large, but a mountain rises straight from its centre and undoubtedly much of the island has never been truly explored. It had the reputation of being a hiding spot for pirates, and if pirates could use it for nefarious purposes why could we not put it to more profitable use?
    We made our landing in the harbour. Scouts were dispatched to find the best hiding place for the throne. Eventually my first lieutenant returned with news of a cave located strategically up the side of the mountain. It was dry and spacious and, most importantly, well concealed from cursory examination. A little artifice masked the place completely. It was no easy task to transport the throne. It took days, and three of my men were crushed when the crate toppled from its cart. In the end,though, we managed to get that monstrosity up to the cave and hidden.
    We never returned to Bombay. As we neared the port we received orders to join Vice-Admiral Pocock’s squadron with all haste. I dispatched a letter to my contact in the Mughal’s family, advising of the throne’s safety, but I had no notion of whether it was ever received. As we worked our way around the southernmost tip of India we were attacked.
    A French ship of the line and two frigates, undoubtedly on their way to join their own squadron, came upon us and gave chase. The Centaur and her men