“Captain Danty, it won’t work. I know what you’re doing.” He scowled at her but Alexis saw he was saying, “Naughty child.”
“What I’m doing?” she asked, covering her laughter. Her body trembled with delight at this dangerous game and Cloud’s half-hearted attempt to stop her. “What am I trying to do besides save our necks before this deceit goes on?” Not a truer statement had been uttered all evening but its real meaning was lost on everyone but Cloud.
She stood, facing the four men who had arranged for her capture. She avoided Cloud but knew he was watching her more intently than any of the others.
“I must apologize, gentlemen,” she said quietly, her voice tight. “It is not in my nature to lie. I have been part of a deception this evening and I had not the strength to escape it until now.” She paused to see if any of them realized the deception was their manner of approaching her: the false charges, treating her as a guest. They did not. She began to cry, her sense of shame immense as she continued. “Tanner has known me for many years—please don’t object, Tanner—I cannot bear it any longer. When he failed to hold Captain Danty aboard theConcordhe came to me and asked for help. He thought I would serve because I have the same general coloring as the woman described to you. He requested I take her place at this dinner and do as you ask. After that it would be a simple matter to be lost at sea and you would never know you had the word of a pretender. I agreed because he is my dear friend, but I cannot stay and listen to these accusations any longer.”
She collapsed in her chair, wiping away her tears with the handkerchief Bennet offered. She was forgotten as outraged faces and angry voices turned on Cloud.
“Did you think you could get away with it?”
“How stupid did you expect us to be?”
“This is your commission!”
“No wonder you asked that Captain Danty not be required to bring Lafitte!”
“Treason! A violation of your orders!”
Cloud scarcely knew who was saying what. He kept his eyes on his folded hands resting on the table. The men wanted no answers. They wanted proof, and out of the corner of his eye he saw Alexis stand and walk to the open window. How like her, he thought. She could walk out of this room, probably leading Bennet by the nose, and they would forgive her everything. But she wanted to give them the proof Howe had asked for when the meeting first began. Her pride demanded it. He heard her voice, clear and distinct above all the others. How could they not hear the commanding authority of her voice?
“Gentlemen! It is senseless to lay blame upon Captain Cloud. You asked the impossible of him. He could not hold Captain Danty any more than any of you could.” She measured her steps to the terrace, leaning against the frame of the window. “Senator Howe.” She calculated the darkness beyond the well-lighted room and saw it would offer adequate protection. “I said I had been part of a deception”—she saw the street beyond beckoning her with comfortable shadows—“this evening and that I had not the strength to escape it….” She looked at the curious faces turned in her direction. They were drawn tight in anger at Cloud until they sagged suddenly with compassion for her. She wanted to retch. “What I should have said was that I was not given the opportunity until now.”
As she ended her statement her body shuddered with sudden power and in a single, fluid motion she leaped over the terrace rail. She felt the thrill of freedom and thought the sensation was brought to life by the sound of Cloud’s laughter. She ran across the wide lawn, his laughter growing weaker, marking the distance she traveled from the oppressive house.
Cloud saw the coiled tightness of her muscles before she jumped. The sky blue gown seemed to lift her and aid her flight over the rail. He could imagine her running, graceful and focused. His first impulse was to go after her. Instead he forced himself to remain seated and let her have her brief victory. His laughter, however, was not forced. He thoroughly enjoyed the sight of the apoplectic faces turned in his direction.
“What the hell, Captain?” Farthington’s eyes flashed dangerously. “Is she or isn’t she Danty?”
“I have already answered that, Bennet. I believe she has proved it.” He stopped laughing but his eyes continued to mock Farthington.
Bennet’s jaw went slack, his face paled. He sank back in his chair, knowing he had been duped, a suspicion dawning on him that he had duped himself.
There was a murmur of disbelief around the table. Cloud heard the words but paid no attention. He stretched out in his chair, arms folded casually across his chest, long legs before him.
“She is quite a woman, Captain,” said Howe. “You warned us all but I had a hard time believing it until this moment.”
“How can you say that?” Granger said, annoyed. “She lied to us. Came in here like she was a queen instead of a common pirate in league with Lafitte. Her gown was very nearly indecent!”
“She did not lie to you until the very end,” Cloud said quietly. “You made it impossible for her to continue with the truth. Captain Danty is no fool. She took the only opportunity she’s had for days to escape. Right under all your noses.”
“Under your nose too, Captain! If you knew what she was doing, you should have stopped her!” Davidson slammed his fist on the table to emphasize his point.
“I knew.”
“And you let her go!”
“I did.”
“Damn you, Captain! We want her back! Get her!”
“I already have.” His words were greeted by stunned silence. He was the only one comfortable in it.
“What do you mean?” asked the senator.
“Just what I said. You will have Captain Danty back within the hour.” He did not move. He made no attempt to leave his chair and carry out his statement. He made it seem as if he could bring her back by the sheer force of his will. The truth was harder for him. He wanted to run from the room, from the house, stop Alexis, stop his men, and send her out of Washington himself. He did not want to see her again in this room, with these men. He remained still and did nothing. It had already been done.
Farthington put down his cheroot and gulped his wine. “Captain, about your commission, I didn’t realize. I will not say anything to Dr. Eustis.”
