Around the River's Bend Read Online Free

will.”
    â€œThere’s my good girl.” Fairfax kissed his daughter again, patted her hand, and left the room.
    Sabrina sat there and felt the rebellion growing in her. “You absolutely must not go.” That’s what Charles had said. What should I do? Stay and do some embroidery? The rebellion that lay not too deeply in her spirit began to smolder. “We’ll just see about that!”

Chapter Two
    Big Ben
    A sudden pull at Sabrina’s arm made her gasp, and she looked up to see a coach-and-four driven by a haughty driver in livery fly by, rattling over the cobblestones. She turned to see a big bluff man dressed in a snuff-colored suit looking down at her. “I’d be careful if I was you.”
    â€œThank you very much,” Sabrina said breathlessly. “I believe you saved me from a rather severe accident.”
    â€œThese streets in London! The drivers pay little attention. They expect everyone to get out of their way. Will you be all right now?”
    â€œYes, sir. Thank you very much, indeed.”
    Sabrina smiled and turned away from her rescuer. She began threading her way down the streets of Cheapside between vehicles and pedestrians. It was the first time she had ever been afoot in this section of London, and she was frightened for a moment. But her courage always rose to a challenge, and lifting her head, she made her way along the street. Carts and coaches made such a thundering it seemed that the whole world traveled on wheels. At every corner she encountered men and women and children—some in the sooty rags of the chimney sweeps, others arrayed in their gold and gaudy satin of the aristocracy, gazing languidly out of sedans borne by lackeys with thick legs. Porters sweated under their burdens, chapmen darted from shop to shop, and tradesmen scurried around like ants. Tradesmen and vendors shouted their wares, many of them shoving things in Sabrina’s face. She was aware also that there was a danger of slops being thrown out of the upper windows. She noticed with interest the drain in the middle of the street. She had read an article that described how the ditch, a foot wide and six inches deep, would carry all the slops and garbage away. The writer had been most proud of it, stating, “Most cities just let the slops and garbage pile up, but not London. We are certainly leaders in the world today.”
    Finally Sabrina saw what she was looking for—the wharf on the River Thames where the fight was to be held. She glanced around and saw a sign with a red lion, rather faded but recognizable, and assumed this was an inn. She went inside and found the low-ceilinged timbers stained with age and smoke. Three men were sitting at a table playing cards, and all three looked up at her. One leaned over and said something to another that she did not catch, and all three men laughed.
    â€œMay I help you, miss?”
    Sabrina turned to the tall, thin man with white hair and sharp blue eyes. “Yes, I’d like a room if you have one available.”
    â€œOf course, miss. Come along. I’ll show it to you.”
    Sabrina followed him up the narrow stairs to the second floor, and when he opened the door and stepped inside, she nodded. “This will do very nicely.” Actually, it was not an ornate room, but for her purpose it would do fine.
    â€œWill you be staying long, miss?”
    â€œNo, just the one day. How much is it?”
    After she had paid for the room, Sabrina walked downstairs and left the inn. She walked the streets until she found what appeared to be a general store. When she stepped inside, a large woman greeted her, saying, “Yes, miss, ’ow can I serve you?”
    â€œI need to buy some clothes for a servant. A man,” she added quickly.
    â€œWe ’ave a fine selection, miss, if you’ll step this way.”
    Sabrina followed the woman, who began pulling out various items of clothing.
    â€œAnd whot would