“And, Captain Cloud,” she added thoughtfully, “I realize it will be more difficult this time. But at some point I will succeed. I do not consider it likely that I will be interested in anything your superiors have to say to me. They must know my methods are quite different from anything the navy could use in good conscience. The information I possess is available to any sailor. Why are they not using you to their advantage? You were once my instructor. You know as much about British movements and tactics as I do.”
Cloud smiled, fully relaxed for the first time since they sat down. “I am being used to their advantage. I have Captain Alex Danty, don’t I?”
“And you really think I will help your side? Now? Before I do what I have to do and after you threaten me with the imprisonment of my men?” She raised her eyebrows in an arch that feigned interest.
“I never thought it for a moment. I was ordered to bring you to Washington to meet with the President and the four men who explained this assignment to me. What you tell them is your own affair.” His voice achieved the blandness it strived for.
“I see.” Her eyes blazed contempt for him.
Cloud met her gaze and waited for her hatred. When her face still did not become distorted by that emotion, he knew the extent of the love she’d once had for him. Love he had never been able to know fully because in order to have it he had had to release her. He knew then, just how difficult it was going to be to keep her a prisoner.
“I will go on deck and tell them what you have decided while you collect the things you want to take,” he said.
Alexis went to her desk. Without looking at him she said, “That would not be very wise. You shouldn’t return without me. My men may not like it.” She smiled when Cloud remained seated. “I have an entry to make in my log; then I will go with you and explain to my crew. Peach will pack my things.” She sat at her desk and opened the log. Dipping her pen into the inkwell, she began writing. “It is the eighteenth of June, Captain. I will not forget that.”
Cloud said nothing but thought he would not forget it either. In Washington there were many who also thought the date of significance. Not because they had Captain Danty—that they did not yet know—but because Congress had acted on Madison’s written proposal. War had been declared.
Alexis finished writing and shifted in her chair to face him. “Shall we go?”
Cloud nodded and followed Alexis through the companionway to the hatch. When they reached the deck Alexis said to him, “Please take your men to one side. I wish to talk to my men alone.”
“I want to hear what you have to say,” Cloud answered. “I will not allow you to enlist the aid of your men for your escape attempt.”
“That was not my intention, but you may listen if you wish. I want my men to stand far away. I will escape from you on my own.”
Cloud motioned his men to the side and they went reluctantly. Since their captain and Alexis had gone below not a word had passed between the two crews. They had filled the silent void with sullen stares.
When Alexis’s crew had gathered around, she called Peach to her side. “I want you to go below and gather my things. There is a bag in my wardrobe. Put my clothes there. I am going with Captain Cloud.” There were loud protests from her men that drowned out the sigh of relief from theConcordcrew. Alexis barely noticed either. She only had eyes for the boy in front of her. He looked at her in bewilderment, completely at a loss to understand why she was leaving. “Go on, Peach. I will need those things right away.” She knew she had disappointed him. He had not been with her long enough to know all that was involved in her decision. She searched his thin face and dark brown eyes. He was willing to fight and she was not. Yet it was she who made the decisions. She watched him hurry off, and faced the others.
“I have been placed under arrest for acts the United States government thinks have helped to precipitate war with Great Britain.”
“Captain Danty!” Jordan cried, making no attempt to conceal his anger. “You’re English! This is a mistake! They can’t take you on those charges!”
“Mr. Jordan! I am fully aware of my citizenship as you no doubt are aware of yours.” Her statement halted all protests as the men realized she was offering herself in their place. She continued softly but none of them questioned that what she said was an order. “I have agreed to go with Captain Cloud. I have not agreed to go as far as Washington, however.” She smiled as her men laughed softly. “This ship is now under Mr. Jordan’s command, and my last order to him is that none of you interfere with theConcord’sprogress from here. I want no man doing anything to help me escape. When you return to Tortola explain to Mr. Grendon what has occurred and inform him he is now in complete charge of Quinton Shipping. Each of you is free to decide to stay with him or to return to the United States and fight on her side. Whatever you commit yourselves to, I know it will be the right choice for you. Because I have no intention of aiding the United States after what has occurred here today, I will not be granted a pardon. I expect to be spending a great deal of time in prison—if they can get me that far.” She faced Cloud. “That is all I have to tell my men. We can go now.”
Cloud was silent, grimly observing her crew. He spun around when he heard quick, light footsteps behind him. It was Peach, carrying Alexis’s bag of clothes. He held out the bundle to her, and she took it firmly in her arms. Cloud knew better than to offer assistance. He started for his ship and Alexis followed, her chin held a narrow margin too high. Instead of her crew seeing their captain being proudly led away, they could not help notice her quivering chin and trembling lips. They were glad Captain Cloud, walking in front of her, could see none of it.
Cloud jumped to the side while Alexis threw her bag to theConcord.She accepted his outstretched hand because of her dress but she refused assistance in making the leap. Cloud shrugged and jumped first, followed by Alexis, Landis, Mike, and the others. Aboard theConcord,Cloud ordered Alexis taken below. While she was being led away by Harry and Landis, Cloud gave the command for theConcordto sail.
Alexis was shown to a small cabin. When she was inside Landis shut the door and she heard a bolt slide into place. A prisoner, she thought, in all respects. She leaned against the locked door and slid down its length. When she reached the deck, she dropped the bag she’d clutched so tightly when she’d left theDiamond Mariaand clasped her arms about her knees, drawing them close to her chest. She closed her eyes as she felt theConcordpulling away. Above the sound of water breaking against the hull she could hear the familiar voices of her crew cursing her old friends. She dropped her head to her knees, sighing as the tears came again for the first time in two years.
The curses died and silence remained as Jordan and the others watched theConcordslip from view. Alexis would not have been surprised to learn it was Peach who expressed his opinion first.
“Mr. Jordan…I mean, Captain. How could she leave us? Why wouldn’t she fight? Is she a coward after all?” His large brown eyes stared helplessly at the new captain, waiting for an explanation of Alexis’s behavior. He wanted to hear something that would vault her back to the pedestal he had placed her on. He did not flinch when Ned Allison shook him roughly by the collar of his shirt and threw him to the ground.
“Simple brat! You—” Ned started and stopped, interrupted by Jordan who stepped forward and lifted the boy to his feet.
He set Peach firmly on the deck and turned to Ned. “He doesn’t know what she did, Allison. She sent him away.” He looked down at Peach’s thick mat of brown hair and lifted the boy’s chin so he could see those confused features clearly. “How long have you been with us, Peach?”
“Three months, I came on the last ship.”
“And do you think it was Captain Danty’s cowardice that got you away from that frigate?”
“No, sir.”
“Captain Danty saved us all from being thrown in prison, Peach. No one would have cared that you’re only twelve or that you’re as English as she. If she had decided to fight, and she knows we all wanted to, most of us wouldn’t be here right now. Do you understand?”
Peach nodded and said hopefully, “Then we’re going after her, aren’t we? We can’t just let her be taken. We could help her get away somehow.”
