The Master's Wife Read Free

you hear?’
    ‘That you beat the crap out of Mickey Croggan.’
    Jago glanced at the split skin and purple bruising on his knuckles. ‘Yes, so?’
    ‘Word is he’d be dead now if you hadn’t been pulled off. What was that lightskirt to you anyway?’
    ‘Nothing.’
    ‘Then what was you thinking of?’
    ‘She turned him down so he hit her. He’s twice her size, he’s a vicious drunk and he needed a lesson.’
    ‘You need to watch your temper. You killing someone will bring your missus even more grief. She don’t deserve that.’
    Anger roared through Jago. But before he could speak another man entered.
    ‘Afternoon, Cap’n.’
    Turning, Jago saw Will Spargo, Bonython’s senior captain on coastal trade. He shook the outstretched hand.
    ‘Will.’
    ‘I was sorry to hear about your boys. Me and Mary lost our middle son to the scarlet fever when he was just a little tacker.’
    ‘I never knew that.’
    ‘’Twas a good few year ago. No point going on about it, is there? It’s not like we was the only ones.’
    ‘Even so, you have my sympathy.’
    ‘Much obliged to ’e, Cap’n.’
    Jago wanted to ask how long it took Will’s Mary to get over her loss. But he was afraid of the answer.
    ‘I’ll leave you to get on. See you tomorrow afternoon, Toby.’
    ‘She’ll be ready.’
    Touching his cap in salute, Will Spargo left.
    Jago turned back to the foreman. ‘I need Cygnet ready for tomorrow morning.’
    After a moment’s silence, Toby nodded. ‘Where to?’
    ‘Egypt.’
    ‘That’s some trip. Take ’e –’
    ‘At least three weeks.’
    Toby sucked air through his teeth. ‘Right. Hammer and Jimbo’ll be finished within the hour. I’ll send Mart down to Curgenven’s. He know what to get to revictual her. Afore you go I’d take it very kindly if you was to give the riggers a bit extra in their wages. Same for your crew. Nathan done some ’andsome job with they spars. Worked like the devil they have, every man jack of ’em.’
    Jago nodded. ‘See to it.’
    ‘A word of thanks wouldn’t go amiss neither.’
    Jago stiffened. ‘Be careful, Toby.’
    ‘No, ’tis time you was told. You got the best crew in Falmouth. They deserve better than you’re giving ’em.’
    ‘For God’s sake, they’re grown men! I’m not their father.’ He could have bitten off his tongue.
    ‘You’re their captain. ’Tis next best thing,’ Toby yelled back, not giving an inch. ‘They’d follow you to hell and back. But you’re driving them too hard.’
    ‘No harder than I’m driving myself.’
    ‘D’you think I don’t know that? But you’re going to kill yourself and them along with you.’ Toby stabbed a forefinger at him. ‘Broken spars, snapped ropes, ripped canvas, half the port rail gone and the hull leaking like a sieve. That’s not weather damage, not every voyage. Cygnet can’t take that kind of punishment and neither can you.’
    Jago glared at the foreman who glared right back. Then, like curtains parting, he saw past Toby’s anger to the concern that inspired it. Shame swept through him, dissolving his fury. He rubbed his face.
    ‘I beg your pardon.’
    ‘’T isn’t me you should be saying it to. You don’t need to say it at all. Just ease up. Now, if there’s nothing else, I better get on.’
    Jago left, briefly gripping Toby’s shoulder as he passed.

Chapter Two
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    C aseley wished she hadn’t gone into town, although having Rosina with her meant she could simply nod and smile in response to greetings and keep walking . She didn’t have to stop to respond to people’s enquiries.
    Most meant well. But their lives hadn’t been devastated, and their polite expressions of sympathy made her want to hit them. These sudden urges to violence were unnerving and she felt like a stranger to herself.
    She was so angry: with Jago for not being here when she desperately needed him; with herself for failing at the most basic task of being a mother, to protect her