Free Til Death Do Us Part by Sara Fraser Page B

have done very well for himself from the bit faking.’ Courtney probed casually.
    â€˜Some of the lags in here reckons so. They reckons he’s got a pile o’ rhino hid away. You can bet that’s why his missus has come looking for him. She’s bound to be hoping he’ll tell her where he’s hid it. But her can’t have been having much luck if her’s had to keep coming back here these last six days.’
    Fingers pressed on Courtney’s fist. ‘That’s all I knows, so let’s be having it.’
    Courtney released the coin on to the palm and walked quickly away.
    The grimy hand disappeared, the grill shutter snapped down, the wicket slammed shut, iron bolts squealed.
    Courtney remounted his gig and set the horse to a brisk trot, humming contentedly to himself.
    The black-clad woman was still in view as she walked up the long sloping road into the town. When Courtney neared her he slowed the horse and kept his distance until he saw her enter the same house in the tall-storied, opulent-looking terrace that he had watched her leaving from earlier that morning.
    Beaming with satisfaction he congratulated himself. ‘This really does look most promising.’
    An hour later he was in a small tavern on the other side of the town waiting to meet with Sylvan Kent.
    When Kent eventually arrived he was displaying the bloodshot eyes, hoarse voice and foul breath that denoted the after-effects of a bout of heavy debauchery.
    â€˜What news do you have for me, Walter?’
    â€˜Surprising news, Cousin.’ Courtney beamed jovially. ‘Our widow, Mrs Adelaide Farson, who claims to be in deep mourning for her recently departed Mamma, is apparently wedded to a coinage counterfeiter, Terence Peelson by name, who is to be hung this coming Saturday at Warwick Gaol.’
    â€˜Bloody hell!’ Kent ejaculated in surprise. ‘This has been a wasted journey then.’
    â€˜Not at all.’ Courtney chuckled, waving his hand in dismissal of that claim. ‘I’ve a notion that this will be a quick and easy bit of business for a change. Now I want you to get yourself fit and ready to do what you do best, my boy.’
    Kent held his hand out. ‘I’m in sore need of some readies, Walter. When I woke up yesterday morning the little bitch I was with had done a runner with what pennies I’d got left, and my watch and chain as well, not to mention my new cravat pin.’
    Courtney frowned angrily. ‘By God, Cousin! I pray for the day to dawn when you’ll keep a sober head, not be so spendthrift of our money, and make wiser choice of the whores you sleep with.’
    He gave the other man some coins, and ordered him brusquely, ‘Now stay away from the whores, and start practising sobriety. Your drinking’s getting out of control.’
    As Courtney was leaving through the door, Kent mouthed silent defiance to his back.

ELEVEN
Thursday, 17th January
Morning
    I n the darkness before dawn Amy Potts awoke in the bed beside her slumbering husband and explored her emotions.
    â€˜Well that’s it! That’s my cherry gone! I liked it well enough at the start when we were kissing and feeling each other, but when he pushed into me, it bloody well hurt! Good job that part of it was over quick!
    â€˜I know Maisie says that after I’ve done it a few times it won’t hurt any more, and that it’ll feel so good that I’ll be shouting for him not to stop. Well it don’t feel like that to me at this minute! But I’ll just have to grit my teeth and bear it, won’t I! That’s what a wife has to do.’
    She tentatively felt between her legs and her fingers encountered the stickiness there and on the sheet beneath.
    â€˜Bugger it! I’ve bled! I’ll need to get the bedding washed straight away.’
    She threw back the coverlets, slipped from the bed and fumbled on the floor for her clothes, muttering irritably as the