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. Damn! Avery struck his fist into his palm, then sought a strongdraught to assuage the pain of both hand and spirit.Restlessly hebegan to roam the room again, cursing his luck. Hell anddamnation!He had been well on his way in His Majesty's service when hehad inadvertently saved one Baron Rothsman from certaincapture during a confrontation with Irish rebels.The baron hadproved effusive in his gratitude and urged the aging captain toretire and join his entourage in the London Court.Sheltered bythe influence of the baron, he had progressed rapidly throughseveral levels of the politico.Avery's eyes grew distant, and he sampled a second share of thefiery brew.It was a blissful time in his memory, an endless whirl ofhigh-minded conferences and meetings and, in the evenings, theballs and social affairs.There had come into it all a pale-haired,newly widowed beauty of exceptional breeding, and though hereyes were always sad, she had not rejected the attention of theslightly graying Fleming.Avery discovered that her first husbandhad been an Irish rebel and that his final act had been to test alength of rope on one of His Majesty's prison barges shortly afterthe wedding.By then, Avery was well infatuated and carednaught that she had loved such a hated foe, but pressed her intomarriage with him.A child was born, a girl with locks as dark as her mother wasfair, then two years later a son of the same mouse-brown hair andruddy complexion as his father.A year after the boy arrived,Avery Fleming was elevated in position again.This one carriedresponsibilities far beyond his level of competence, but itintroduced Avery to the private clubs of the London elite and tothe high-stakes games of chance that flourished within the velvetwalls.An awestruck Fleming took to the latter like a duck isgorged for the roasting platter, oblivious of the end that awaitedhim.Despite the worried warnings of his wife, he wageredheavily and even invested in a horse that seemed addicted to thesight of many other horses clearing the way well ahead of him.His debauchery at play and ineptitude at work caused so muchembarrassment for Rothsman that the baron soon refused toaccept his calls.Angela Fleming suffered in her own way.Shehad to watch her personal fortune dwindle until the only dowryshe could give her daughter was one which could never be takenfrom her, an education and as much preparation as possible forlife as a wife on whatever level the girl would seek. Damn 'at foolishness! Avery growled. With the coin 'atwoman wasted on 'at simple twit.Why, I could've still beenlivin' in London.Dismissed from his position in that city a thrice of years ago, hehad been banished to the North of England, where he wasappointed mayor of Mawbry and carefully directed through hissimple and limited duties by Lord Talbot.On leaving London hehad left his debts unpaid, seeing no need to worry about debtors'prison, for in the northern climes he would be reasonably safefrom discovery.It was a chance to start over again with a cleanslate and prove himself to be a man of high intelligence.Then Angela died, and he went through a brief period ofmourning.A lively game of cards seemed to help him over hisloss, and shortly thereafter it became his habit to take weekendjaunts with Farrell to Wirkinton or meet with the cronies at theMawbry Inn for a game or two during the week.In hisunquenchable quest for games of chance he often visited thewaterfront, where he could be assured of finding a fresh face anda full purse.A few tars might have suspected that his skill withcards was more through the dexterity of his fingers than withluck, but a common seaman dared not speak out against anofficial.As it was, he had enlisted his talents only when thestakes were high or when he needed the purse.He was not soselfish that he was against sharing portions of the prize money bybuying a round or two of ale or rum, but seamen were generallypoor losers, especially that brawling, treacherous breed ofYankees, and he suspected that more than a few complained totheir captains.He cursed himself for not being more cautiouswhen Christopher Seton had asked to join his game, but seacaptains were usually easy to spot, and Seton had not been ofthat ilk.Rather, he had given the appearance of being agentleman of leisure or a nattily dressed dandy.His speech hadbeen as precise and refined as any lord at court and his mannersimpeccable.There had been little evidence to indicate the manowned the vessel in port and a whole bloody fleet of others.The size of the Yankee's purse had astounded him, and Averyhad purposed to take him for a substantial sum.His blood hadrushed with the excitement and the challenge of besting amoneyed gentleman [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]