Page 64 of The Moonstone Pirate
Driscoll was a boastful arse and a coward. He could not be trusted to be discreet about the operation if he were ever caught.
And he would have been caught.
“They are all wastrels, Driscoll and his friends,” Draco said. “Any one of them, or all of them conspiring, might have killed Driscoll. I’m sure he was into other shady dealings. Glad you had nothing to do with him. I won’t have you leading the authorities back to me, so you had better think hard before you assure me it is safe to work with you.”
McTavish laughed. “You are one to talk. He died on your property. What’s my assurance that it is safe to work withyou?”
“It is safe. I knew nothing about Driscoll until that night, so there can be nothing to link me to him. The local constable has done all he can here, gone over these rocks and caves and the surrounding beach a dozen times. Any further investigation and arrests will happen in London, as I’ve said. If you are still uncertain, then wait a few weeks before delivering your firstshipment to me. That should not disrupt the plan, should it? Or are your clients insisting on moving up the delivery date to this week? I can accommodate them, but you’ll have to give me details.”
Parrot had remained at Draco’s side as they stood on the beach. He suddenly growled at one of McTavish’s crewmen who had put his hand inside his jacket, no doubt to reach for a weapon. When Parrot growled again, the man froze but kept his hand hidden inside his jacket.
Draco wasn’t certain what he had said to incite him. Perhaps the man felt he was starting to ask questions about the client and did not like it.
“Eedjit, Woodley’s a friend,” McTavish snarled, motioning for the man to put his hand down. “Sorry, Draco. We are all on edge.”
“It shows, McTavish. You’ve blundered into my cove in the middle of the day. What if I had guests here? Everyone would have seen you.” Draco turned an accusing eye on him. “And now your man thinks to draw a weapon on me? What is this about? If you don’t trust me, then take yourself off and never return. I don’t do business with backstabbing cowards. If you don’t like my caves, then just say so and begone.”
“Ye always had a short fuse, Draco.” McTavish held out his hands in supplication and cast him an insincere smile to go along with his suddenly heavy Irish lilt that always came out when matters grew tense. “Don’t ye get all wound up. It was just a minor misunderstanding. Why don’t I have a look at your caves now? There’s water pouring in with the tide. Are ye sure our goods will remain dry if we load them in here?”
“Yes, I’m sure. We are now at high tide. The water won’t go above your waist, but that’s just at the entrance. Once we wade through, we’ll just be walking on wet rocks.” Draco turned his attention to the man who had started to draw his weapon. “Butthat man and the one beside him do not come in with us. I have no wish to be shot in the back. You can bring the others along.”
McTavish had reddish-blond hair and a pale complexion typical of the Irish. His face now turned red with an angry flush. “How do I knowyouare not going to shoot me once we are in the caves?”
“If I meant to shoot you, I would have done it as you were landing on the beach.” Draco scowled at him. “I am a man of honor. If I give you my word, I keep it. Will you give me your word to do the same?”
“Not to shoot you? Do you trust me, Draco?”
“We’ve dealt honorably with each other in the past, McTavish. But frankly, I am beginning to have my doubts.”
“I can be trusted,” the Irishman insisted, scowling. “As a show of good faith, I’ll even leave a third man behind and just bring these two along.”
Draco eyed them warily. He saw they carried knives but no firearms. Of course, the promises made had been not to shoot each other. The Irishman could order him stabbed and still claim to have kept his word. Well, this was no Vienna peace negotiation. Parrot would warn him if one of those crewmen drew a knife. “Come along, then. I don’t have all day.”
Draco lit a torch and led them into the largest cave.
“Why don’t you keep a lantern handy?” McTavish asked.
“I would have by next week when you were supposed to arrive. The torch is the best I can do for now.” It was also something Draco could easily douse to plunge them in darkness if these men tried anything. He and Parrot knew every inch of this cave by heart. He had prepared an escape route and hidden weapons all along it.
Lord, why was he doing this?
Having made his fortune, he could have retired to Woodley Lodge as a man of leisure. But no, idiot that he was, he hadallowed his loyalty to the Crown to cloud his judgment. Why else would he have agreed to assist the Home Office in breaking up a rebel plot?
Water surrounded him up to his hips as Draco led the three men through the cave entrance and along the dank walls to the cavernous opening. Parrot swam at the rear, keeping up with their group. This was the most dangerous moment because Parrot did not have the foothold necessary to leap at anyone who tried to attack him.
But as the cave widened, the water ran off along other naturally carved tunnels, leaving the cavernous area with only a few inches of water covering the stone floor. “There will be tables set up to place your goods. This portion of the cave never fills with water except in the most severe storms. Even then, the goods should remain safe. We’ll just store them up a little higher.”
“And the other caves on your property?”
“They’ll stay dry, too. But they are not as big as this one. I’ll take whatever goods you want delivered. If this cave is full, I’ll stow the oversupply in one of the others. My fee must be paid in advance, before a single item is delivered into my custody. I do not extend credit.”
“What I want to know,” the Irishman said slowly and with a threatening edge to his voice, “is why does a privateer who is now a respected earl want to continue in his profession? I hear you are now rich as Croesus. Why take the risk?”
“It is in my blood, as you can well understand. As for my wealth, I acquired it long before I became an earl and could have retired any time I wished. Inheriting the earldom has its privileges, but it also comes with heavy obligations. I am now saddled with massive debts left behind by my brother, the former earl. I also have recurring expenses in maintaining the farms, mills, houses, racehorses, carriages. Well, you get theidea. The restoration of Woodley Lodge alone cost me an arm and a leg.”
McTavish’s gaze darted around the cavern as though he were expecting a trap. “I don’t know. I still don’t like it.”
Draco shrugged. “It is up to you. I’ll find other takers or simply use it to store my own goods once I get back on the high seas. The repairs to my own ship will be completed soon. It seems to me that you need me more than I need you.”
