Memoirs of a Hoyden Read Online Free PDF

features. Of course, it is difficult for a kestrel to smirk, but the expression had that air of self-satisfied, superior amusement.
    “Wideman and the vicar were cowering like a couple of mice in the carriage when we were stopped by the scamps. Ronald may look ineffectual, but I assure he is an excellent shot, as am I. I always carry a pistol in my traveling case, and so does my secre—nephew. I also have a stiletto, and in a pinch can wield a rope to good effect.”
    “I am sure you could handle a mere trio of assassins. Naturally, I am relieved to learn Mr. Kidd can hold a gun. A pity you hadn’t employed some of your arsenal during the holdup!”
    “As I mentioned, I keep these items in my traveling case. In future travels, they will be closer to hand. I hadn’t realized England had become so interesting during my absence.”
    A reluctant smile pulled his stiff face into a parody of civility. “Would it be ungentlemanly to suggest there is a cause-and-effect relationship?”
    “On the contrary, I would take it as a compliment that my arrival generated any interest, but I fear that is bad logic on your part. A post hoc argument, if memory serves.”
    “It was not intended as a compliment,” Kestrel said bluntly. “You, I take it, are the lady they call the Queen of the Orient? I have read something of your exploits in the London journals.”
    “That is mere propaganda put out by my publisher. Modesty forbids using the title myself, though it is true they greeted me as Meleki at Palmyra,” I said dismissingly. “What we must do is make plans. A pity we haven’t a map of the area.”
    “I have a map in my coat,” Kestrel said, and reached in the pocket of his coat, which was around his shoulders for warmth.
    We reignited one of the carriage lamps from the grate and, to avoid waking the others, took it into the one bedchamber. Lacking any furniture, we laid it flat on the floor and knelt down to examine it. On this occasion Kestrel did not put as much distance as possible between us. We knelt side by side.
    “We must be about here,” I said, indicating our location with reference to Chatham. I noticed he had his own route marked out in red. As I had deduced, he was on his way to the army installations along the coast.
    “Do you know what was in your letter of instructions?” I asked.
    “I’m just a courier. If I knew that, I ‘d have continued on to deliver the instructions, and told the colonel they had been intercepted, so that he might make new plans.”
    “Should you not report your loss to Whitehall first?”
    “That was my first thought. There isn’t time. Those instructions were to have been delivered tomorrow.”
    “The highwaymen must have been delayed by this weather as well as we were. If we could hire some fast mounts and overtake them—”
    “First I have to learn where they went.”
    “Use your head,” I said impatiently. I noticed my brusque manner offended Kestrel, and spoke more gently to soothe his feathers. “French spies will be reporting to France. Naturally, they’ll be heading for the coast.”
    “Somewhere between Dover and Bournemouth.” He puzzled over the map for a moment, then continued. “If you’re really interested in helping, you and Mr. Kidd could take a message back to Whitehall for me, reporting the holdup, while I go after the spies.”
    “That news could go in the post. There’s no urgency or danger in it. You have a hundred miles of coast to cover. Anything could happen to one man traveling alone. No, we must stick with you.”
    “It might be best if we all head east, but we’ll split up. Your nephew and you go toward Bournemouth ...”
    The red line indicating Kestrel’s route went straight as an arrow to Dover. “I hardly think Boney’s men will go so far out of their way. The shortest route to France is Dover to Calais. To be on the safe side, however, we must cover the area from Dover to Dungeness. A little more than twenty miles, taking into