Read Gypsy Lady for Free Online Page A

England, and to hold himself in readiness should Robert Livingston
in Paris need him. That and to convince his uncle Roxbury to give a favorable
nod to the proposed American-English alliance. Altogether, he decided with a
grin, his trip to England should prove very, very interesting.
    Catching sight of Jason's
grin, Jefferson snapped testily, "You find this all amusing?"
    His grin vanishing, Jason
admitted, "No—not the situation in Louisiana. I was just thinking how my
innocent trip to England to buy horses had become colored with overtones of
political intrigue."
    Jefferson grunted.
"Speaking of political intrigue—are you positive it was Bias Davalos you
saw yesterday?"
    "I'm positive."
    "But why would he
avoid you? You two used to be quite good friends, weren't you? Whatever caused
the break? Some woman? Or is it that he is a
lieutenant in the Spanish army that makes you dislike him?"
    A grim smile flitted across
Jason's dark face. "His being in the Spanish army definitely makes me dislike
him —and the fact that he apparently followed me from New Orleans, and doesn't
want me to know it! But the break between us happened before this—and it wasn't
over a woman."
    Curious, Jefferson couldn't
help asking, "Well, what was the real reason?"
    Avoiding Jefferson's
question, Jason said, "You met him once."
    "Did I?"
Jefferson asked surprised, his shaggy eyebrows raising .
    "About five years ago
he came with me on one of my dutiful-son visits to Greenwood. We were here for
almost two months, and you met him a few times then."
    "Oh yes, I recall
now—slender, black-eyed fellow about your age and typically Spanish, swarthy
skin and all."
    "Bias is Spanish—which makes me wonder why he is here in Virginia and not in New
Orleans."
    "Hmmm, you have a
point there. But you've also very cleverly not answered my question—what caused
the trouble between you?"
    Jason seemed to hesitate as
if he would not talk of it. Finally he asked, "Do you also remember a
meeting with Phillip Nolan?"
    Jefferson looked startled
but admitted, "Yes, he came to see me once a couple of years ago—seemed a
very intelligent young man. Pity about his death."
    Feeling the familiar
tightening in his gut at the mention of Phillip's death, Jason said in a harsh
tone, "Yes, it was a pity. And Davalos was the man who murdered him!"
    Jefferson appeared shocked
and cried, "Are you sure? The report only said that Nolan was killed
trying to escape from the Spanish troop sent to stop his exploration."
    Unable to just rudely
change the conversation, Jason briefly and unemotionally reported to Jefferson
the true facts of what had happened on that last journey of Nolan's. He ended
by saying, "And as you know Nolan's body was later returned, so you see it
was not an accident."
    Deeply troubled, Jefferson
replied, "No, obviously not." Then as if struck by a new thought, he
asked seriously, "Jason, do you really think that Davalos is following
you?"
    Jason shrugged. "Why
else would he be here?"
    "I don't like it at
all! Perhaps it would be wise if we knew exactly why Davalos has left New
Orleans."
    Relieved that Jefferson had
expressed precisely his own thoughts, Jason said quietly, "If you will let
me, I would prefer to have someone of my own choosing discover what Davalos is
up to."
    Jefferson looked at him
steadily for a moment before asking, "Someone you trust? Implicitly? Remember, we want no undue attention connected
to your trip to England. Livingston may never have need of the information I
have given you, but if he should, he will send for you. And in view of that, we
do not want every agent in Europe watching every move you make."
    Nodding in agreement, Jason
smiled reassuringly. "Trust me to be most circumspect." Beyond that
he would say no more.
    Rather grudgingly Jefferson
said, "Very well. I shall leave the details to you, but I cannot stress
strongly enough the need for the utmost secrecy. We positively cannot risk a
war with Spain at this point—despite