“You can trust me, Your Grace, as you’ve done so often before, to keep me mouth shut.” The Duke knew this was true.
Jenkins had always been a magnificent servant on all their travels and he had never once betrayed to anyone anything his Master had told him confidentially.
“Well, one thing’s for sure,” Jenkins remarked as the Duke did not speak. “We be getting something new, and that’s always what Your Grace wants and I wants too!”
“You are quite right, Jenkins. If nothing else, this voyage will bring us new ideas and new interests.”
They drove on in silence.
Only when they neared the Thames did Jenkins say excitedly,
“There be The Mermaid! I can see her sure enough through them trees.”
The Duke knew that the Captain of The Mermaid would tie up as near as he could to the House of Lor
