“That’s a damn relief.” The general grunted before rapping on the door that separated them from the driver. At the man’s “Yes, guvna?” Grimaldi snapped, “The docks and make it lively.”
The driver called to the horses and snapped the reins and the conveyance took off down the street.
Danielle spent the ride to the docks removing the rest of her maid’s clothing and replacing it with the garments of a cabin boy. By the time her shoes were buckled and her hat placed atop her head, with her hair tucked up inside, the hackney was pulling to a stop near the docks. Danielle rolled up the clothing she’d been wearing and stuffed it into the valise.
“Make certain this gets back to my mother’s flat,” she said, pushing the valise toward Grimaldi with her foot. “Along with this.” She handed him the note she’d written to her mother, telling her and Mrs. Horton she’d be gone for a while and would return as soon as possible.
“I will,” Grimaldi said with a curt nod. “I’ll also ensure they have enough money while you’re gone.”
“Thank you,” she managed.
Realizing she was fully dressed, Grimaldi turned back toward her and pushed up his hat. All business again.
“What are my orders?” She pulled her short leather vest tightly against her shoulders. She glanced down to ensure that her breasts weren’t—ahem—noticeable. Thankfully, she wasn’t well-endowed enough to require much binding there. A cotton tunic beneath her shirt was all she needed.
“The Elenorsails at dawn,” Grimaldi said. “It’s chasing Capitan Baptiste.”
Danielle nodded. Exactly as she had suspected. She was meant to follow Lafayette Baptiste. It was time for a reckoning. “IsThe Elenorfriendly to the Crown?”
He studied her face. “It’s a privateer, friendly enough. I just learned tonight. It’s on the same mission we are.”
She turned her head to look out the window, searching the dark waterline for any sign of the vessel. “I suppose I’m to be a cabin boy.”
“No.”
The one word stopped her. Her hands dropped away from her vest and her head snapped up to face the general.
“There wasn’t an opening for a cabin boy. You’re to be the cook’s assistant this time.”
“Cook’s assistant?” Her mouth fell open. “But I can’t cook a bloody thing!”
“You didn’t know how to be a cabin boy once upon a time, either, but I daresay you’ll learn. You’ve always been a quick study, Cross. Besides, how difficult could it be?”
She pushed a couple of wayward strands of hair up into her cap. “Did you tell them I have experience as a cook’s assistant?”
Grimaldi smirked. “Of course I did.”
She scowled at him. “What do you think they’ll do when they find out I don’t know a potato from a carrot?”
He eyed her in that condescending way of his. “Potatoes are white. Carrots are orange. Any other questions?”
Danielle clamped her mouth shut and glared at him. Grimaldi did exactly as he pleased whenever he pleased and she and the other poor sops in his employ were left to make do the best they were able. All in a day’s work of being one of the Home Office’s best. “Fine. I’m a cook’s assistant,” she muttered. “Anything else I need to know?”
“Not at the moment. We’ll have another ship following you a day or so behind. I’ll be on it. You know what you need to do.”
She nodded once. There was only one more thing she wanted to clarify. “This is it, Grimaldi. My last mission. You promised. For my mother’s sake, I’m settling on the coast and living a life of peace and quiet.”
“You know I’m a man of my word,” he said. “I promised you.”
That was all she needed to hear. She nodded once. “Very well.” She finished tucking her hair into her cap. “You’re not going to ask me what I learned about Cade Cavendish?”
“No. I’ve recently received some additional intelligence about him. Cade is no longer our mark.”
“Who is?”
“Baptiste, of course.”
Grimaldi let down the opposite canvas window and pointed into the inky darkness. The light from the nearly full moon illuminated the water and the large ship that rested at anchor in front of them.
