Page 48 of My Gentleman Spy
The search took most of the day and it was late in the afternoon before Will finally gave up hope of finding a clue as to Hattie’s fate. Hour after hour he had sat in the bow of a small police boat his gaze fixed on the dark brown waters of theThames.
As the afternoon light began to fade, the police called a halt to the search and headed back in toshore.
“Once the tide has come in and then out again, the chances of finding a body are very dim indeed sir,” said the accompanyingconstable.
It did not take the constable long to complete the regulation paperwork. A young woman had disappeared over the side of a ship while it was moored downstream in the river. The constable handed Will the report and Will wrote his name and parents' address at thebottom.
“If we find any pieces of her, we shall send word,” said theconstable.
He took the paper and placed it on the top of a dusty pile of similar looking documents. Will thanked him for the police time and effort, but not for his lack oftact.
Stepping back out into the street he stopped and looked at the long line of ships berthed at the dock. Under one of them, Hattie had more than likely met herfate.
Anguish swirled in his mind. Had he driven a desperate young woman to herdeath?
Groups of sailors passed him by, all headed for a nearby tavern. He was in dire need of a stiff drink. He fell in behind the sailors and followed them into thetavern.
Smoke and the raucous laughter from the crowded tavern immediately assaulted his senses. The tavern was not that big an establishment but it was packed to the gunwales with sailors, all in varying states ofintoxication.
He finally managed to work his way to the bar and bought a tankard of ale. Following occupational habit, he found a corner in which to sit and quietly sip hisbeer.
The tavern wenches who came to offer him their company were given a coin and told to go and find friends elsewhere. He was about to tell the fourth girl in a row that he was not interested in her services when he noticed hergown.
In Gibraltar he had found Hattie suitable clothing to replace the clothes she had left behind on board theBlade of Orion. One dress he had taken a fancy to was green with a white lace trim. The very same dress it would appear that the young lady of nocturnal entertainment waswearing.
He pressed his boots hard into the wooden floor, working to bring his temper undercontrol.
He pointed to the spot next to him and beckoned for her to sitdown.
“That is a lovely dress young lady,” hesaid.
She chuckled and showed a set of dark brown, misshapenteeth.
“Ain't it? My fella gave it to me when he got home from sea this morning. I am the luckiest girl in all the London Docks,” shereplied.
“That you are. May I ask which ship your chap sailed in on? I am a fancier of ships and would love to sail the oceans someday,” hereplied.
The charm offensive worked and soon Will was listening to the tale of a poor lass whose fiancé was evil and had threatened to cut off all her hair as soon as they reachedland.
“And he said he would never let her see her parents again. Wot sort of fella does that to the girl he is going to marry I askyou?”
The undisguised disgust on her face had the blood boiling in Will's veins. Hattie must have spun the crew a long and lurid tale while he was sitting cooling his heels in the captain’scabin.
“And so, what happened to her?” Will asked, sliding another coin across thetable.
The girl scooped it up and slipped it into her ample cleavage. Then raising her head, she met hisgaze.
Will sensed she was wondering why a gentleman such as him would be interested in the story, let alone give an extra coin to hear more. Uneducated more than likely, but the eyes that studied him had the presence ofintelligence.
“I happen to enjoy a good story, especially when it is told to me by such a pretty lass,” hereplied.
He pushed his half-finished tankard of ale across the table towardher.
To his relief she picked it up and took an eye wateringly large gulp. She burped and sniggered before wiping her mouth with the sleeve of her newdress.
“Well then, she convinced some of the lads of the crew, my man included, to row her ashore before the ship docked here. She traded all the stuff her horrible fiancé had bought her. I think everyone in the crew ended up with something. Even Eddie the cabin boy got a nice new hairbrush for his ma. While her fiancé was asleep, the crew lowered her over the side and helped her toescape.”
Will took himself by surprise. His temper had returned to a near civilized state and remained there. A different set of emotions now rose to the surface and took hold. An odd mixture of relief andlust.
