The Silver Horse Read Online Free PDF Page A

gambling, no wonder you don’t want any constables nosing around.’ Julisa’s voice dripped with scorn.
    â€˜That’s right. We don’t want to end up in gaol.’
    â€˜And you called the Finches fools!’
    â€˜Well, at least we’re not planning on horseracing through the middle of Kingston,’ Felipe said, exasperated. ‘It’s a private race between gentlemen . . .’
    Julisa snorted.
    â€˜. . . and if my Russet wins, not only will I gain a very large bag of gold, but Lord Berkely is bound to offer to buy the mare from me, and I’ll be able to ask a good price for her. Come, Julisa. You know times have been hard. Do you think I’d take such a risk if I didn’t think the rewards were worth it?’
    â€˜Felipe, please, can’t you cancel the race? They threw the whole Finch family into gaol because they sang and danced in the marketplace. What will they do to us for horseracing and gambling? There’ll be the very devil to pay if we aren’t careful!’
    â€˜Oooh, blasphemy, Julisa! Be careful! A Puritan may be listening,’ Cosmo teased.
    Julisa expelled her breath in exasperation. ‘There’s no talking to you men, you always do just what you want and damn the consequences.’ Her skirt swished on the grass as she walked away.
    â€˜Poor Felipe! What a nag you’re wedded to. They have a scold’s bridle in Kingston, you should take her along –’
    â€˜That’s enough, Cosmo!’ Janka spoke sharply. ‘Julisa is right to be concerned. I think you should cancel this race too, if the countryside is crawling with Puritans. It’s just too dangerous.’
    â€˜I can’t, Mama,’ Felipe said shortly. ‘The bets are all laid, and if I back out I’ll be forfeit. I can’t afford to call the race off. We’ll set lookouts all round, and make sure we have warning of any constables approaching.’
    â€˜Very well then,’ Janka said, and groaned as shestruggled to her feet. ‘I’m off to my bed. There’s a damp mist rising and it makes my poor old bones ache. Don’t you boys drink too much. You want to be bright-eyed and clear-headed for that race of yours tomorrow!’
    The old gypsy woman climbed laboriously up the steps of her caravan, her bracelets rattling, then Felipe stood too. ‘I’m for my bed as well. It’ll be a hard race tomorrow, and dirty too, with all the rain we’ve had.’
    â€˜Not just because of the rain,’ Cosmo said. ‘We need to win that race, Felipe.’
    â€˜I know,’ his brother said.
    â€˜Bad luck to have those brats arrive on our step just now,’ Cosmo said. ‘Do you think they’ll bring trouble on their heels?’
    â€˜I’m afraid so,’ Felipe said. ‘Lucky I ran into that thief-taker yesterday. Else those weans would have brought him right up to our campfire, and at the very worst possible time!’
    â€˜Best send them on their way,’ Cosmo said. ‘First thing in the morning.’
    â€˜How can we?’ Felipe said. ‘They’re only weans.’
    â€˜They’re thirteen, not three,’ Cosmo said. ‘Don’t be soft, Felipe. They must have other kin they can go to. We can’t afford trouble. Send them on their way, and concentrate on winning us that race!’
    Felipe grunted in reply and shut his caravan door. As Cosmo made his own way to bed, Emilia drew her knees to her chest and sobbed quietly into her arms.

The King’s Head

    W hile Emilia lay weeping in her rough blanket, Luka was stumbling along through the darkness with Sebastien.
    Zizi was huddled inside his jacket, fast asleep, and Luka could not help wishing that he was asleep too, rolled in a blanket by the fire. He felt sure that Sebastien was his best hope of enlisting help from the Hearne family, though. He had seen the look on Sebastien’s face when