Verity nodded. “Oui, the government melted the fences to make guns.”
Christian expected trouble. Having been fired, the pistol was not much good to them. Their arrival was noted. The National Guard soldiers along the quay stood and watched them. He waited for them to give chase, but no attempt was made to stop them. It would be a different story at Le Havre.
When Rouen disappeared behind them, Christian took a deep breath and eased his tight shoulders as Anthony came to take over the tiller.
When he stretched out on the deck Henrietta sat beside him. Her serious green studied him, her delicate eyebrows drawn together. “You are so tired, my darling.” She rolled up her cloak and placed it beneath his head for a pillow. “Sleep!” He needed no nudging, and he shut his eyes.
Anthony must have slept for hours. He felt a hand on his shoulder and was on his feet before he came fully awake. “Look!” Henrietta pointed. A posse of six National Guardsmen in their blue and white uniforms rode flat-out, beside the river heading for Le Havre. The guards saw the boat, but didn’t slow their pace. The road wound away from the river, and they disappeared.
“Looks like they plan to arrest us when we reach Le Havre,” Anthony said.
Christian nodded. “This requires a change of plan.”
“What have you in mind?” Anthony wiped his brow with his hand. “Is there another way?”
Christian sniffed the salt on the breeze. “Possibly. We’re not far from the coast.” Another untried course to take. “If we leave the boat before we reach the mouth of the river, we can travel overland to a cove south of Honfleur. Smugglers use it. They’re a nasty bunch, but if we offer them payment, they’re likely to agree to take us. Many have crossed the Channel that way. It’s a lucrative business for them.”
“What if they’re not there?” Henrietta asked.
He tried to smile. “Let’s hope they are.”
She squeezed his arm. “We must do it. Mustn’t we, Papa?”
“As good a plan as any,” Anthony said. “I don’t fancy taking our chances at Le Havre.”
Verity came to rest her arms on the rail. “But what about Philippe?”
“There’s nothing wrong with my legs. I can walk.” They turned to see Philippe standing on deck. “I’m much better.” He grinned. “The trip downriver has done me no end of good.”
“Then it’s agreed.” But Christian suspected Philippe’s bravado was designed more to put them at ease than the truth.
