Interested now, Cloud raised speculative brows. “How?”
“There are two privately owned schooners in the harbor. Wilkes tells me they’re already outfitted to do some privateering. Their guns are good and the crews are experienced. They have only been waiting for the proper time to leave port. There are also several smaller craft that would be battle worthy if they had the arms.” Smiling, tongue in cheek, she said, “You may have noticedDark Ladyhas some extra munitions. I propose to use some of them now. We can outfit two of the best sloops and still be adequately stocked.”
“An armada. That’s what you’re talking about, you know.”
“I’m talking about ridding this area of the British and opening up trade for the city again. At least temporarily.”
“You’ve been thinking about this before theRaleighincident, haven’t you?”
“Of course I have. I thought at first we could be in and out. But the delays, the reports, and now theRaleigh—well, you know the difficulty we’re facing. Wilkes has approached the owners of the ships I would like to have with me. They’re willing.”
“Do they know with whom they’re dealing?”
“Alex Danty, you mean?” When Cloud nodded, she explained. “No, I didn’t want them to be swayed by tales they may have heard. They made all the arrangements with Wilkes. We’ll let them know it’s Danty who’s leading them just before we sail, and only then because I don’t want them forgetting who’s in command.”
Cloud was pensive for several moments. His attention focused on the map at his fingertips, wandered to the activity beyond the cabin windows, and finally riveted on the woman in front of him. A lazy, confident smile formed on his sensuous mouth as his eyes slowly appraised Alexis.
Her throat became tight, her mouth dry from the possessive nature of his gaze. “What are you thinking?”
“That I like you in black.”
Three days of preparation were required to make the two sloops ready for battle. From the moment the first cannon leftDark Lady’shold rumors held the city’s imagination. As word spread of reprisals for theRaleigh’sactions, townspeople visited the harbor to get a look at the men who were going to do it.
Alexis had not been able to go on deck for over a week. There was already too much speculation surrounding her ship’s identity without adding the enigma of a woman.
Those hearty souls who suspected that any move to be made would occur at night were rewarded for their vigilance when Captain Danty made an appearance. At first they were not certain they had seen more than a shadow, an insubstantial black wraith against an inky sky, but when questions were put to the shadow and husky commands were returned, they knew they were witnessing the authority of Alex Danty.
An hour after midnight Alexis ordered her ship out of the harbor.Dark Ladywas followed minutes later by the schooners,PhoenixandCenturion,and after that, the sloops,DianneandHancock.Out of sight of the harbor they separated to the coordinates Alexis had outlined several hours earlier as Captain Danty.
TheDark Ladywould be a decoy, an attractive prize ship for enemy privateers, or a defiant blockade runner that naval ships would not want to overlook. There was no moonlight to reveal their number, giving Alexis confidence that surprise and skill would see them break the foreign hold over the city before dawn.
Little distance had been covered before Randall’s alert from the cap signaled a ship had taken the bait. Alexis allowed the British privateer to narrow the distance between them while she skillfully drew him to where the sloopswaited to turn the tables.
OnceDark Ladyhad cleared her nearly invisible partners she swung wide to watch the trap close. Cannon shot ripped the air asHancockopened up on an enemy schooner. Flashes of light froze the action for the spectators.Dark Lady’screw saw theDiannepull hard to starboard and as the dull sound of metal meeting wood was carried across the water, they knew the schooner had been secured with grappling hooks. There were shouts and cries after that, painful to hear, more terrible in some ways because they could not see—only imagine.
It was not until a flare was released from theHancockthat any of them were certain of victory. Beneath her mask, the gravity of their accomplishment and the accompanying loss of life was etched on Alexis’s taut features.
The light and the noise of the battle attracted a second ship a naval brig intending to assist the floundering schooner. While prisoners were being taken aboard theDianne, theDark Ladydiverted her adversary, delivering her into the hands of thePhoenix.ThePhoenix,although swift and ably commanded, could not match the gun power of the brig.Dark Ladywas going to return to help when the late arrival of theHancockmade it unnecessary.
Victory over the brig was assured after several hours. Aware of the limited time before morning, Alexis ordered theDark Ladyto the coordinates where theRaleighhad last been sighted. As they left, thePhoenixwas taking prisoners and Alexis had to force her eyes away from the burning brig. She committed the destroyed vessel to memory, its smoking timbers and flaming sails engraved so finely in her mind that when she would recall the event later her stomach would heave.
On the way to their target theCenturionwas sighted sailing in the direction of the harbor with a privateer in tow. Alexis maintained her course, calculating the increased risk to be acceptable with three of her four companions returning to port with prisoners and prizes.
Randall’s next sighting forced Alexis to order her men to their battle stations. She scanned the horizon for the ship while the men took positions by the cannons below deck and others manned the on-deck guns. She made a satisfied murmur when she located what Randall had observed and handed her scope to Jordan.
“They’re going to give chase, Mr. Jordan. Have Peach send up a flare to warnHancockto stay away. She’ll be of no help to us, not against that frigate. We’re on our own.”
Jordan made out the shape of the vessel and thought he actually saw every one of the twenty guns on its port side. It was not a reassuring image. Handing the scope back to Alexis he carried out her order. The momentary light from the flare clearly exposed their position to the enemy and he wondered how she would turn that in their favor.
As if in answer to his thoughts Alexis told him, “This ship can outmaneuver any frigate on these waters and they’re not expecting us to give more than a token resistance. If I were their captain I would be readying my long-range guns. Give the order to take position to leeward at my signal.”
Jordan hoped his shock was hidden in the darkness. He was certain she knew that positioning theDark Ladyto leeward was an additional disadvantage. It would allow the frigate to close the distance more quickly.
When the British fired the first shot, missing theDark Ladyby only fifty yards, Alexis lifted her arm in signal and they slowed dramatically. Even as the frigate gained on them Alexis remained calm, keeping her pursuers off the port stern with clever maneuvering. She knew now the frigate was not theRaleigh,but her sister ship, theFrancis Drake.
“Are the men ready at the Long Toms?”
“They’re ready, Captain.” He was wondering what their very accurate guns could do if theDrakemanaged to get broadside at close quarters. They would have no chance then. Still, he observed Alexis was in control, firing her orders as if this were her hundredth battle with weapons, rather than her first. He wanted to suggest that she move away from the helm. The frigate’s shots were coming dangerously close and she was in the line of any damage the shots could do. He opened his mouth to speak but his words were lost in the explosion on deck.
