Part 9
Adam and Julia hitched their horses outside The Golden Goose. It was a pub, not in the worst part of London, but certainly not in the best and was frequented by petty criminals such as pick-pockets. Adam knew that Dick and Mac would head for the Red Griffin but the three had a rule that if things went badly, they would not meet at their usual rendezvous spot outside of London since there was no booty to share nor would they meet at the pub afterward-the three of them didn't care to be seen together.
Julia found that her legs were shaky and she had to stop and lean against her horse before she walked further. Adam laughed and told her that if she was going to live a life of crime, she needed to be more brave and steady than that. He propped her up and they headed for the door.
"Keep your cloak 'bout you tightly and," he added, pushing the point of her tricorn hat down further over her eyes, "Keep your hat down to hide those green eyes or some men may indeed develop a yen for trying out pretty, young boys."
Julia made a flustered noise and Adam grinned. They walked into the crowded pub and Adam turned to her. "Above all, don't palaver. You may nod and say aye or nay, but that should be the sum total of your conversation. Understand?"
"Aye, Cap'n," Julia replied, trying to lower her voice slightly.
Adam rolled his eyes at her atempt. "Just don't talk."
"Cap'n!" voices shouted from a table where some men waved for him to join him. Julia walked behind Adam, wrinkling her nose at the smell of unwashed bodies, tobacco smoke and sour vomit.
"Sit down, Cap'n, and join us in a game, that is if ye be willin' to part with a few coins?"
"Thanks-but I do believe that it be ye who'll part with some of the silver in your pockets." Adam pulled a chair over for Julia and almost held it for her to sit. He then realized that he was showing deference to her because she was a woman so he sat down and Julia finished pulling the chair over, unable to fit anywhere but beside Adam; she wasn't close enough to the table to slide her feet underneath it but she pulled her cloak about her and sank down in the chair, content to sit at Adam's elbow. As long as he was near, Julia felt safe.
"Hello, me handsome one," One of the bar maids said as she walked over and leaned to kiss Adam on the mouth. "Now Betty and all of us been missin' you the past few nights. Betty's been so distressed that the poor girl's been put off her food."
Adam reached out and pushing his chair backed, pulled the woman on his lap. She squealed in mock protest and swatted at his hand as he grabbed one of her substantial breasts. "If she has," Adam said reaching into his pocket, "It won't be for long, I'm sure. Now bring me and my friend here," he motioned with his thumb to Julia, "an ale." He flipped the coin in the air and the woman caught it. "The rest is for you."
"Anything for you, Cap'n," she said and kissed him again before rising from his lap. As she walked away, Adam gave her a slight swat on the buttocks and she turned and smiled.
"Who's your friend," one of the men asked, indicating Julia.
"Me younger brother," Adam said. "He's a poor innocent lad so I thought I'd slowly introduce him to the sinful ways of the world." The men laughed and Julia peeked out from under her hat and gave a slight smile.
"If you want to do such as that," one of the men said, "introduce him to Jess-she'll teach him the sinful ways that she learned from her time with you." All the men laughed and then settled down to a serious hand of cards. Julia wondered who Jess was and also wondered if Adam loved any of the blowsy, brazen women there whose breasts were practically falling out of their low-cut blouses and who allowed the men to take liberties. And in a way, Julia felt envious of them and their freedom. She thought how nice it would be to throw all conventions aside and to fall onto Adam's lap and have him caress her breasts as he had the barmaid's.
Julia sat quietly, sipping at her ale. At first, the taste was bitter and she didn't care for it but eventually, she began to taste the hidden sweetness and decided that she liked it and drained her mug. She nudged Adam who called for another one and bought a round for the table. Julia drained the second mug a bit more quickly and found herself becoming sleepy. The noises began to blur in her ears and within a few minutes, she was nodding off. Adam heard soft snoring at his elbow and turned to see Julia's head lolling on her breast.
"Looks as if I must be gettin' my brother home-my ma will be woefully upset to see Johnny with havin' a nip too many." Adam stood up and hoisted Julia from the chair. She started to mumble and Adam wanted to get her out quickly.
"But, Cap'n, it's the middle of the round! Don't ye want to wait until the hands are shown?"
"What is wanted and what must be done be two different things." He tipped his hat to the men at the table. "Thanks for the game." And with that, he practically dragged an unsteady Julia out of the pub.
"I hope you can ride," Adam said to her. He placed her on her feet, stepping back but prepared to catch her should she topple.
"Yes-I'm just a bit dizzy," she said. Adam held her horse's reins while she tried to place her foot in the stirrup. She finally managed but every time she tried to pull herself up to the saddle, she failed. The horse became nervous at the unsteadiness of his rider and started prancing in place.
"Here, girl," Adam said. "I'll give you a boost." Julia attempted to pull herself up again and still holding the reins in one hand, Adam slipped his other hand under her buttocks and lifted and she landed heavily in the saddle, falling against the horse's neck. She reached for the reins from Adam, trying to catch the other stirrup with her foot. "Sit steady," Adam said. "Wait until I mount. Your horse will follow mine if you give him his head." Adam mounted his horse and then turned to look at Julia who was wavering in the saddle. "Hold onto the horse's mane if need be but don't fall," Adam said, "or I'll let you lie." He didn't mean it but it did make Julia sit up more and pull her shoulders back.
"Aye, Cap'n," she said and as Adam turned his horse toward her family's manor, Julia gave her horse a slight kick and the white horse followed Jupiter as they left at a trot. Julia tried to post but couldn't-it made her dizzy so she just held on and felt her teeth jar at every step.
Halfway home, Julia pulled up her horse. Adam stopped and turned around.
"What is it?" Adam asked. "What's the matter now?"
"I…I…" And Julia leaned over the side of her horse and vomited onto the ground.
Adam smiled to himself. Perhaps she learned a lesson tonight, he thought as Julia continued to heave. Then she sat up, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand and began to cry.
"What?" Adam asked. "Why are you crying?"
"I just feel…I'm sorry, Adam, to be such a burden to you. I wanted some excitement and all I've done is cause trouble."
"Girl, from the moment I saw that beautiful face and those green eyes, I knew you'd be nothing but trouble for me-but I embraced it. I couldn't ask for more attractive trouble. Now wipe your eyes and blow your nose-I need to get you home."
Julia sniffed and offered a weak smile. She did adore him. He kicked his horse and hers took out after his. Julia grabbed the edge of the pommel with one hand to right herself as the horse bound forward as Adam led on ahead.
They arrived at the manor and all the windows were dark. Adam held back Jupiter as he scanned the area for any movement. It wouldn't do to be caught bringing Julia home but Adam knew he wouldn't abandon her but he didn't much fancy having her father's hunting rifle pointed at him. Then he remembered that Julia had dropped the pistol she had brought along on her "adventure."
"Julia," Adam said, "after I leave you, I shall attempt to espy your father's pistol that you abandoned. If I cannot, can the gun be traced back to your father in any manner should anyone discover it?"
"Not that I am aware," Julia said, "but who would discover it?"
"Who do you believe was riding down upon us?" He turned in his saddle to look at her; her eyes were wide with fear.
"I…I didn't think of whom they may be?"
"They were either the King's soldiers or men hired by Amesbury. One or the other."
Julia's mouth opened. "You mean, we were almost…"
"Yes, girl, we were very close to being caught and although it's not often done, you might have ended up with a stretched neck as well as myself or Dick or Mac. This is not child's play; a man-or a woman-takes their destiny in their hands."
Julia looked down; she supposed that she hadn't really thought about being caught but now she feared for Adam.
"Then you could be…hanged." She looked into his face and suddenly a great fear gripped her bowels; she was now desperately afraid.
"Please, Adam. Don't do this anymore. I can't bear the thought that…"
Adam cut her off. "What way did you leave tonight?"
"I slipped out the front door while my father was in the study. My mother was already upstairs," Julia said quietly.
"And how were you planning on returning?"
"I….well, I guess I thought I'd go in the same way. But since my father's room is dark, the door is bolted." Julia looked pleadingly at Adam.
"I suppose you'll just have to climb the tree to your room-unless, of course, you care to spend the night in the barn."
Julia looked at him and Adam saw the tears start in her eyes. "Damn your tears, woman," Adam said, dismounting and going over to her. "Now come down." He held out his arms and Julia practically toppled into his waiting arms, her hat falling off. Adam helped her to stand on her feet. "I don't know how you're going to climb if you can't even stand."
"Oh, Adam, I'm so sorry," and she let her head drop against his chest. He still carried the odor of smoke about him mingled with his manly smell that she had always noticed and it was a comforting smell. She relaxed into him.
"You are a sorry one, aren't you?" he said quietly with more affection than disdain. Adam held her with one arm and held her head against him with the free hand. "There now, you'll be fine." He pressed his lips against her hair. "I'll come behind you in case you lose your footing. Let off your cloak and let's go."
Julia, after finally standing up and unhooking the neck of her cloak and letting it drop, walked over to the tree. Adam boosted her to the lowest, solid limb and after she climbed to the next fork, he jumped, caught the limb, and swung himself up. Adam urged her on, pushing on her rear once to stop her from falling as her boot slipped on a branch.
"I should goose the girl," he thought to himself. "She'd get to the top fast enough with a poke in the arse." He did admire her well-shaped buttocks as she rose up the tree before him. And then he began to think of other things he would like to do to her.
Finally, they reached the balcony and Julia almost fell as she tried to move from the tree to the railing. Adam followed her and was pleased to discover the window wasn't locked. He opened it and Julia stumbled in and fell onto her bed in relief at being safely home. She rolled over on her back and gave a small groan, flinging one arm over her eyes.
Adam shook his head. He then pulled slightly on her riding boots to expose the buckled inner straps that were above her calves. He unbuckled them and pulled off her boots.
"Thank you, Adam," Julia groaned. "Thank you and I'm sorry if I ruined your plans tonight." She looked at him and how handsome he was in the darkness. She also thought how wonderful it would be if every night she saw his face looming above her and heard his voice in the surrounding darkness of the room.
"You may have saved Dick and Mac tonight as well as me and for that, I owe you. You're quite the woman, Julia Gosling, and I feel pleasured to know you." He walked to the side of the bed and bent down and kissed her forehead. She looked up at him and Adam felt that with very little persuasion, Julia would allow him more liberties, perhaps even letting him between her thighs but he held himself back. He wouldn't be able to rest easy afterwards knowing that he took advantage of her when she was so vulnerable. But he knew that he wouldn't rest easy anyway.
"Good night, Julia," he said quietly and then reluctantly went out to the balcony.
"Adam," she called out to him, sitting up. "Will I see you again?"
He turned and gave a small laugh. "Aye, Julia. You'll see me again but it best not be on the road. You stay put, girl. I'll come to see you and not through the window."
Julia watched Adam disappear from the balcony and wanted to go to watch him leave but when she tried to stand up, her head began to spin and she had to lie back to soothe her head and her stomach. And she had a restless night dreaming of black horses and blasting guns and Adam's face above hers expressing his desire.