The Diamond King Read Online Free PDF Page B

against such feelings. He’d thought once he reached Paris, he would be relieved of those nettlesome feelings that sometimes made him wonder whether he had guarded his heart well enough.
    Claude, his first mate, joined the growing circle of seamen, all of whom eyed the stowaways curiously. “Stowaways?” he asked.
    “Aye,” Alex replied.
    Claude was a frightening figure, standing two inches over Alex’s own substantial height. He had the girth that Alex did not. Nearly two years of healing and being on the run had made Alex lean. He still didn’t eat as he once had. Some of the children had stuffed themselves on the ship that took them from Scotland to France, but others—including himself—continued to chew food extensively to take away some of the hunger. It was a habit he’d been unable to break. Neither had Meg, who was far too thin.
    “We can throw them overboard,” Claude offered, but Alex saw a twinkle in his eyes. Claude was a disciplinarian aboard the ship, but in the weeks Alex had known the first mate, he had also seen a patience and even humor that had already made him a favorite with the men. Alex had remained aloof. Distant. He didn’t want to know men he might well get killed.
    Now each looked at Claude with concern on their faces, obviously wondering whether the formidable man was serious.
    “That’s an idea,” Alex said.
    “Wouldn’t take much effort, puny as they are,” Burke observed.
    “We do not have enough food for another hand,” Claude said severely. “Especially not for two.”
    “We might be able to keep one,” Alex said seriously.
    Meg moved closer to Robin, but Robin looked up and grinned.
    Claude shook his head in despair. “Captain, you lack a fierce glare.” He turned his gaze to Alex. “I assume you know these two .. . miscreants.”
    “Unfortunately,” Alex said in a cool voice. “Right now, I think they need something to drink and eat. Then we will discuss their immediate futures.”
    Claude’s threat had not had the intended impact on Robin and Meg, but his own cold words obviously did.
    “They should know no‘ to go where they are no’ wanted,” Burke said.
    A look of despair filled Meg’s eyes and Robin tightened his hold on her hand. They both had been attached to Burke despite his rough ways.
    Burke apparently saw their dejection, too. His expression softened. “Come along,” he said roughly, “before one of these Frenchies decides to take the mate’s suggestion.” He grinned suddenly. “Then I would have to fight them, and you know how much I would hate that.”
    Robin’s lips twitched. Burke liked nothing better than a good fight. But then the boy looked again at Alex. “We wanted to be with you,” he tried to explain.
    Alex closed his eyes for a moment. “Get along with you,” he said softly. “Wash first, then eat. We’ll decide your fate then.”
    Robin stared up at him expectantly.
    “The barge was very ingenious,” Alex added.
    “You were a good teacher, sir.” The good manners under the cloak of dirt were infectious. So was the mischief behind the words. Robin disappeared down the hatchway before Alex could retort.
    What in the hell was he going to do with two children? He couldn’t go back. There were British ships all over the bloody sea, their crews keeping an eye out for ships leaving the French port. He’d covered his guns and tried to look innocent, but that would not always work. If they did return and the peace talks looked successful, he would never be allowed to leave again.
    “Captain,” Claude said, “do we turn back?”
    “Nay,” Alex replied. “That would be even more dangerous. The area was crawling with British patrol ships. They would be pleased to grab that lad.”
    “Lads a lot younger than that one have gone to sea,” Claude said. “We don’t have any powder monkeys.”
    “We still do not,” Alex said. “They can work in the cabins and galley but not in the munitions hold. I did not steal—and