The Baron's Quest Read Online Free PDF Page B

him that this girl might turn to lifting her skirts in order to pay her debts, but it did.
    “You two go ahead and set sail. I’ll follow in my ship and meet you in Hastings. I’ve got my ship loaded down with wool and grain I’ll gladly trade you for some of your exotic spices from the east, Hastings.”
    Conlin spoke up. “You keep throwing money around on things no manor has a need for, and if you do ever get a castle some day, it’ll be empty since you’ll not have a shilling left to your name.”
    “You just worry about finding a mother for that uncontrollable daughter of yours, Sandwich, and leave me to worry about my own affairs.”
    “You mean, like getting that wench to warm your bed?” asked John.
    “Nay,” answered Nicholas. “I told you, she holds no interest to me.”
    “Then get her to warm my bed,” said John. “I haven’t had a young, comely merchant girl in a long time now. Humble enough to lift her skirts for a noble, but yet business savvy enough to barter her goods with you afterwards.”
    Once again, the two of them laughed, and Nicholas just ignored them and headed down the wharf. Making his way through the crowd of sailors, tradesmen, and fishmongers, he headed to where he’d seen the girl.
    He walked up behind her just as she held out a wooden bowl and a silver spoon to a tradesman.
    “Two shillings for the spoon and six pence for the bowl,” she told him. “It’s a good, sturdy bowl made from quality wood, I assure you.” The tradesman just looked at her and shook his head and walked away.
    “And so we meet again,” Nicholas said in a low voice, causing her to spin around.
    “My lord!” She turned so fast she dropped the bowl and spoon to the pier. He bent down and picked them up and held them out to her. It was an action that would receive mockery from his friends, since he was a noble – bending down to a merchant girl. Still, he had a soft spot in his heart for pretty women – it was one of his downfalls he supposed.
    “I thought I told you not to try to peddle your wares on the docks again.”
    “I’m sorry.” She grabbed the bowl, but Nicholas wouldn’t let go of the spoon. It caused her to raise her indigo eyes to meet his. Exactly what he wanted. The sun was just rising on the horizon, and the rays hit her face, lighting it up in a soft orange glow. Their eyes interlocked for only a few seconds, but in the depths of her swirling orbs, he saw a sadness that he hadn’t seen from anyone in a long time now. He also saw strength glazing over the obvious fear and desperation.
    “My bailiff tells me you are late paying your rent on my marshland. Two months late, actually, and I can’t believe I have overlooked something so important as this.”
    He released the spoon and she snatched it away, shoving it quickly into her travel bag along with the bowl. Instead of looking at him, she kept her eyes focused downward.
    “I will have it for you soon, my lord,” came her soft answer.
    “Not by selling wooden bowls and silver spoons for two shillings at a time you won’t.”
    “I’ll do whatever is needed.”
    “My lord, your ship is ready to set sail,” came a dockman’s voice from behind him. He turned to acknowledge him.
    “Thank you, I’ll be ready to board in a minute.” He turned back around to talk to the girl, but to his surprise - she was gone.
     
    Muriel ran through the crowd of people, dodging merchants carrying barrels of grain over their shoulders, as well as men unloading trunks from a ship. She passed up two stray hounds being chased after by a young boy, and a fisherman holding a fish that was almost as big as him. She wove in and out of the crowd of dockworkers who carried dripping wet ropes and oars that had been used at sea. Gulls swooped overheard, calling out, trying to get a piece of the loaf of bread that one man handed another to be added to his trade. Life on the wharfs was a busy place, and it was easy to blend in and get lost. She had