‘I do know Maggie returned to her father’s farm in Cornwall,’ he told her. ‘I may not write to her. It has been two years now. Dear God, so long.’
She took a mighty leap then, thinking of her husband, and gently put her hands over his eyes. ‘There now. Go to sleep, David,’ she said when she took away her hands, relieved to see that awful stare of war gone. ‘Sleep now,’ she said again, no command, but softly as she would to Allan or Pru.
‘Only if you promise to do the same,’ he said, then added, ‘Thank you, kind lady.’
She left the room after a firm touch on his shoulder. Upstairs, she lay down and slept.
The third day began as the others had.
She sat quietly beside David, who, during the night, had rubbed more chalk onto his face and neck. It so unnerved Madame Durand that she refused to enter the sitting room. ‘Mission accomplished,’ he whispered to Anna.
She looked up from the sonnet she was reading aloud to hear banging on the front door.
‘Friend or foe?’ she asked him, frightened.
‘Call the children over,’ the Marine ordered. ‘I’ll defend you all to the death.’
She did as he said, gathering them close, then gasped when Captain Tyler stormed into the sitting room, dragging Billy behind him. The Durands peered over his shoulder.
She said nothing when Dan Tyler shook the chain binding the foretopman, at least until Billy Whitlow, thief of a sloop and perhaps the bravest man she knew, smiled at her. She glanced at Captain Tyler, who did the same and put a finger to his lips.
‘Why did you bring this…this…rascal back to us, Captain Tyler?’ she demanded, speaking for the benefit of the Durands, who stared from the doorway.
‘I wanted you to know that this thief of someone’s sloop—we have returned it to the port master—harboured the delusion that I would be happy to see him. Oh, no! I clapped this Yankee Doodle vermin in irons and I am taking him to theConstitution.’
‘Thewhat?’ she asked, genuinely confused.
‘TheConstitution,’ he repeated. ‘It’s a bonny man-o’-war, now in Tripolitan waters and sailing to America soon.’ He gave the foretopman a good shake. ‘He’ll hang from the yardarm before we reach Gibraltar, if I have any say in the matter.’
His performance continued for the Durands as he addressed them. ‘I want you to know,madameandmonsieur, that myHartfordis now anchored in the slot reserved for theSwallow, and we sail in the morning. That is all. Come along, you wretched man! You have a date with a cat-o’-nine-tails, one hundred strokes at least!’
‘We deeply appreciate knowing this,’ Hector said.
‘Thank you,’ Dan Tyler replied. ‘I will return to my ship, after I speak with this Marine.’ He peered closer. ‘He doesn’t look so good, does he? Look at him!’
The Durands couldn’t leave fast enough. Captain Tyler released Billy and knelt beside David’s cot. ‘Billy told me everything and all is well. I imagine that rascal teacher, who can see my ship from St Matthew’s, will light two torches to informLa Guerre.’ He motioned to Anna. ‘Mrs Beattie, John knows. TheSwallowwill anchor tonight in your private inlet, as you suggested, all lights extinguished.’
She closed her eyes in relief.
‘TheHartfordsails tomorrow before dawn’s light.’ He turned to the Marine. ‘I trust you will be at St Matthew’s in timeto prevent Hal Brown—or whatever his name is—from any signalling.’
‘Nothing will make me happier than to wring a spy’s neck,’ David assured him with some glee. ‘BothHartfordandSwallowwill sail, withLa Guerrenone the wiser.’ He rubbed his hands together. ‘I’d love to watch that battle.’
‘I wish you could. Private Bartleby, please assure me that you are actually healthier than you appear.’
‘Sound of wind and limb, Captain Tyler. You needn’t fear for Mrs Beattie and the children. I also have a good idea what I can do with the Durands right here.’
‘Captain Beattie thought you might. Farewell to you all. If this venture goes as planned, we’ll foulLa Guerre’s anchor once and for all.’
Captain Tyler kissed Anna’s cheek. ‘Captain Beattie told me to do that for him, but really I did it for me!’
He left, dragging Billy Whitlow after him, cursing and swearing, in case the Durands were nearby. Anna sank into the chair by David’s cot and pulled Pru and Allan close.
‘Not a word of this,’ she told them. ‘We know nothing.’
‘Not a thing,’ Allan agreed.
Anna saw his anxiety; she felt it, too, but now was not the time to show anything but courage.
