Usual disclaimers... phooey!
***
It was dark, two days later, when Catherine and Rose eventually reached Portsmouth, the skies heavy and threatening snow. Catherine shivered in her thin dress, the sight of the docks bringing back memories she had long forgotten.
"Are you alright Catherine?" Rose asked in concern, seeing her shiver.
"Just memories. I used to live here..." she replied quietly, her voice hardly audible above the rising wind. "We should take lodgings somewhere and try to find a ship in the morning. Most of the Captains will be well into their ales by now..."
She led the way through the dark streets with an assurance born of long association, turning down several narrow alleys until she found the inn that she was looking for. Overlooking the waterfront, the Whyteleafe Inn one of the more respectable establishments and Catherine paid for a twin room for two nights.
Catherine sat tiredly on the bed, sighing heavily as she untied the bundle that Isaac had given her in London. She had not been able to look with the other passengers around them on the coach and this had been her first chance of the privacy to do so. She carefully unwrapped the clothes - a basic cotton shirt and some workman's stout trousers. She held them up to her, realising that she would have to cut them off, but had expected that. The best items were concealed within - a pistol and the short sword. She lay the sword aside whilst she dismantled the pistol.
"What are you doing?" Rose asked, surprised at the competent way she handled the weapon.
"This could save our lives," Catherine explained. "And I need to know if I can trust it - a dirty pistol can misfire!"
She tore a strip from the bottom of her undershift and set about carefully checking and cleaning each piece as she reassembled it. When it was completed she aimed and cocked it, listening with satisfaction at the click before loading it and laying it on the small table next to her bed. "Don't touch it!" she warned Rose.
"Don't worry my dear," Rose smiled reassuringly. "I have no intention of touching it!"
Catherine next reached for the sword, testing the edge. It was sharp enough she thought, but was pleased to see that Isaac had though to put in a small whetstone as well. She stood, feeling the weight of the sword in her hand before sheathing it. She looked across at Rose who was watching her still, noticing that it was snowing outside through the small window..
"Alright," she sighed, turning for Rose to untie her laces. "I guess you've gone too far to back out now... ask your questions and I will answer what I can."
Rose climbed into bed, thinking of all the questions that Catherine had refused to answer in London. "How long have you been married?" she asked.
"Six years," Catherine smiled as she blew out the small candle. "It was our anniversary a month ago..." She climbed into her bed, sighing as she lay down.
"Do you have children?" Rose asked.
"No," Catherine replied sadly. "I cannot."
"Why?" Rose asked softly.
"I was injured as a child here in Portsmouth. My father served in the Navy and was home on shore leave. He was showing me around the Dockyard when there was an explosion. I was nearly killed, but the Admiral's surgeon himself saved me..." She sighed heavily. "At a cost."
"And John..." Rose began.
"Jack knows - he's known since we became lovers..." Her lips twitched at Rose's gasp of shock. "Your son is a very attractive man, Rose and I was no virgin when I met him. I had been widowed for two years..."
Rose frowned in the darkness. "You were married before?" she asked in surprise.
"My first husband Greg was a Naval Lieutenant and I lived here in Portsmouth with him. He served on HMS Comet..." Catherine said quietly. "Which is how I came to meet Jack. When Greg died I became companion to another naval wife, friends of ours. But then they both died - William of sickness and Ester shortly after childbirth. I was employed to take their children to Jamaica. Their Uncle was Commodore... still is and my own brother served under him, so it seemed an ideal solution..."
"Why do I get the feeling that things did not go to plan?" Rose prompted gently.
"The ship we were on was hit by Bailie just outside of Nassau... he killed everyone onboard but set myself and the children adrift. Sarah died... she was just too young, and James and I were barely alive when Jack found us..."
Rose was surprised to hear the grief still in her voice. She had the feeling that there was a lot more that Catherine was not saying about the attack, but she held her tongue.
"I must visit Ester's grave tomorrow before we seek passage to the Caribbean. If not, we must seek a ship to the Americas for we need to be at sea before George and Stephen discover our route. It will take them time to discover we are not in the city, but we may have been noticed and they might strike lucky. The quicker we are out of England the happier I will be."
"Do you think they will come after us?" Rose gasped in shock. She had not counted on being pursued by her family.
"I am sure of it," Catherine said firmly. "Which is why we should get some sleep... we have a lot of walking to do tomorrow..."
***
Catherine swept the snow from the headstone, her fingers tracing the name of her friend. Rose stood a short distance away, respectfully giving her privacy. Whatever was said she could not hear, but watched as the small bunch of snowdrops they had bought was placed at the foot of the grave. For a moment Catherine crouched there, scratching in the snow before placing a small pebble in her purse. She rose and turned sharply, walking past Rose without looking back. Some things were not for sharing.
Rose hurried to catch up, walking in silence along the streets until they reached the dockside.
"I am sorry," Catherine apologised. "I have not given you a chance of lunch. We'll stop and eat before we go any further. The Griffin used to serve good food..." She turned, heading for an inn across the street, dodging the sailors who called out to her. "Come." Catherine held open the door and led Rose through to where she could see a quiet seating area next to a window. They ordered their meal and sat looking out at the snowy streets. "I haven't seen snow for years," she smiled. "It would be pretty if it wasn't so damned cold!"
"It is not so bad this year," Rose smiled as she ate. "We had blizzards last winter in London!"
"Brrr!" Catherine shivered. "Give me golden beaches, turquoise seas and glorious sun..." She glanced out along the docks, looking at the ships. "There look to be a few almost ready to sail... we will try today and tomorrow if need be. If we cannot get passage here we will have to move on and try elsewhere... we should not stay too long in any one place," she cautioned.
Rose chased the last of her casserole around her plate, savouring the warmth. "I guess we should get going then," she said.
"Aye, we should," Catherine grinned. "Come on!"
***
Thierry Muret watched the two women with small bags slung across their backs work their way around the tables, speaking with each of the Captains before turning away disappointedly. He wondered what they wanted for it was unusual to find women of seemingly good name in a dive such as The Swan. He sidled close, trying to catch their conversation.
"Captain!" René Troyes burst into the tavern, frantically looking around. "The watch!"
Thierry grabbed the nearest woman, the grey haired one, reaching for his pistol. "Well I guess we have a hostage!" he laughed. "Let's leave!" The woman squeaked in fear.
"You're going nowhere!" a female voice hissed.
He looked in surprise to find himself facing a pistol, an unwavering pistol aimed at his head. "Let her go!"
"Captain!" René pleaded.
Thierry was surprised to find the woman glance anxiously towards the door, but it was not the look of someone hoping for rescue - more the look of someone frightened who wanted to be well away from the tavern.
"Why do you think the watch want you Madame?" he asked smiling.
"And why are you so sure it is you?" she countered, trying not to look at Rose's frightened eyes.
He shrugged. "Because I am a smuggler," he replied.
Catherine walked forward towards an empty table between them, her finger tracing a letter on the wood with spilled ale. P. He looked at her in shock as she wiped the letter away. "I'll buy passage wherever you are going - but we leave now!" she offered. "Do we have an accord?"
"We do!" he grinned, "And if it is not you then two hostages will slow them better than one! Quickly woman!"
Catherine nodded, uncocking her pistol and hiding it beneath her cloak as Thierry passed the older woman to René.
"Catherine!" Rose cried. "Are you mad?"
"Mad as Jack," she grinned as Thierry wrapped his arms around her, edging towards the back door as the watch burst through the front door.
"Drop your weapons gentlemen or the ladies get hurt!" he threatened, cocking his pistol and aiming it at Catherine. He smiled as he felt her reach beneath her cloak for her own weapon - just in case. Whoever this woman was, she had courage.
"Let the women go smuggler!" the lead watchman ordered. "You'll never get away with... Cat?" he stopped in disbelief, gasping at the woman before him - sure it could be no other.
Catherine looked at him, frantically trying to recognise the man. John, James, Jack, Jim... no - Jimmy! She wriggled a little in the smuggler's grip. "Jimmy, please!" she begged. "Back off!"
"Catherine... I..." he stuttered, laying his weapon down and urging his men to do the same. "You won't get away with this!" he warned the Frenchman.
"If you want the women returned safely, then I already have," Thierry laughed, backing out of the tavern. "René..."
René backed towards the door with Rose who was pale with shock. She trembled and her fear was not faked.
"It will be alright Rose," Catherine whispered. Trust me!"
"Stop talking woman!" Thierry threatened as he followed his crewman out of the door, grabbing her wrist and pulling her along after him. They skidded and slipped on the snowy cobbles, the watch close behind, but she could see he was heading towards a swift looking sloop. The crew were alert and already sails were unfurling as they frantically tried to flee the dock. If they could get clear of the harbour they would be uncatchable in the dark.
"Wha..." Catherine slipped in the dark, sending both herself and her captor falling to the cobbles. Thierry's pistol skittered away. They staggered to their feet but the watch were nearly upon them. He reached for his pistol, but a shot made him pull his hand back sharply.
"Let the woman go!" Jimmy ordered.
Thierry cast a panicked eye at some more soldiers running towards them from another direction. They were shouting something but it could not be heard over the distance. Slowly he raised his hands, watching in dismay as his ship cast off.
"Can you swim?" Catherine hissed, looking worriedly at the other soldiers.
"Oui!" he replied cautiously, wondering what she was about to do.
"Then get ready to jump..." she warned, pulling her own pistol and aiming it at Jimmy.
"Catherine?" he gasped in shock. "What is this?"
"Stop her!" the leader of the other soldiers shouted, his cries eventually reaching them. "Stop her - she's a pirate!"
Jimmy stared at her in shock as Catherine fired, he and his men diving for cover. But when he looked up she and the smuggler were gone, two splashes the only sounds to mark their passage. He ran to the dockside, his men firing into the dark water, but already they were out of sight.
"Sergeant!" the leader of the second troop of men cursed. "Why didn't you stop her!"
"I was after the smuggler Sir," he replied, astounded at the turn of events. "I..."
"Mister Waike will not be pleased!" he warned. "Follow me!"
***
***
It was dark, two days later, when Catherine and Rose eventually reached Portsmouth, the skies heavy and threatening snow. Catherine shivered in her thin dress, the sight of the docks bringing back memories she had long forgotten.
"Are you alright Catherine?" Rose asked in concern, seeing her shiver.
"Just memories. I used to live here..." she replied quietly, her voice hardly audible above the rising wind. "We should take lodgings somewhere and try to find a ship in the morning. Most of the Captains will be well into their ales by now..."
She led the way through the dark streets with an assurance born of long association, turning down several narrow alleys until she found the inn that she was looking for. Overlooking the waterfront, the Whyteleafe Inn one of the more respectable establishments and Catherine paid for a twin room for two nights.
Catherine sat tiredly on the bed, sighing heavily as she untied the bundle that Isaac had given her in London. She had not been able to look with the other passengers around them on the coach and this had been her first chance of the privacy to do so. She carefully unwrapped the clothes - a basic cotton shirt and some workman's stout trousers. She held them up to her, realising that she would have to cut them off, but had expected that. The best items were concealed within - a pistol and the short sword. She lay the sword aside whilst she dismantled the pistol.
"What are you doing?" Rose asked, surprised at the competent way she handled the weapon.
"This could save our lives," Catherine explained. "And I need to know if I can trust it - a dirty pistol can misfire!"
She tore a strip from the bottom of her undershift and set about carefully checking and cleaning each piece as she reassembled it. When it was completed she aimed and cocked it, listening with satisfaction at the click before loading it and laying it on the small table next to her bed. "Don't touch it!" she warned Rose.
"Don't worry my dear," Rose smiled reassuringly. "I have no intention of touching it!"
Catherine next reached for the sword, testing the edge. It was sharp enough she thought, but was pleased to see that Isaac had though to put in a small whetstone as well. She stood, feeling the weight of the sword in her hand before sheathing it. She looked across at Rose who was watching her still, noticing that it was snowing outside through the small window..
"Alright," she sighed, turning for Rose to untie her laces. "I guess you've gone too far to back out now... ask your questions and I will answer what I can."
Rose climbed into bed, thinking of all the questions that Catherine had refused to answer in London. "How long have you been married?" she asked.
"Six years," Catherine smiled as she blew out the small candle. "It was our anniversary a month ago..." She climbed into her bed, sighing as she lay down.
"Do you have children?" Rose asked.
"No," Catherine replied sadly. "I cannot."
"Why?" Rose asked softly.
"I was injured as a child here in Portsmouth. My father served in the Navy and was home on shore leave. He was showing me around the Dockyard when there was an explosion. I was nearly killed, but the Admiral's surgeon himself saved me..." She sighed heavily. "At a cost."
"And John..." Rose began.
"Jack knows - he's known since we became lovers..." Her lips twitched at Rose's gasp of shock. "Your son is a very attractive man, Rose and I was no virgin when I met him. I had been widowed for two years..."
Rose frowned in the darkness. "You were married before?" she asked in surprise.
"My first husband Greg was a Naval Lieutenant and I lived here in Portsmouth with him. He served on HMS Comet..." Catherine said quietly. "Which is how I came to meet Jack. When Greg died I became companion to another naval wife, friends of ours. But then they both died - William of sickness and Ester shortly after childbirth. I was employed to take their children to Jamaica. Their Uncle was Commodore... still is and my own brother served under him, so it seemed an ideal solution..."
"Why do I get the feeling that things did not go to plan?" Rose prompted gently.
"The ship we were on was hit by Bailie just outside of Nassau... he killed everyone onboard but set myself and the children adrift. Sarah died... she was just too young, and James and I were barely alive when Jack found us..."
Rose was surprised to hear the grief still in her voice. She had the feeling that there was a lot more that Catherine was not saying about the attack, but she held her tongue.
"I must visit Ester's grave tomorrow before we seek passage to the Caribbean. If not, we must seek a ship to the Americas for we need to be at sea before George and Stephen discover our route. It will take them time to discover we are not in the city, but we may have been noticed and they might strike lucky. The quicker we are out of England the happier I will be."
"Do you think they will come after us?" Rose gasped in shock. She had not counted on being pursued by her family.
"I am sure of it," Catherine said firmly. "Which is why we should get some sleep... we have a lot of walking to do tomorrow..."
***
Catherine swept the snow from the headstone, her fingers tracing the name of her friend. Rose stood a short distance away, respectfully giving her privacy. Whatever was said she could not hear, but watched as the small bunch of snowdrops they had bought was placed at the foot of the grave. For a moment Catherine crouched there, scratching in the snow before placing a small pebble in her purse. She rose and turned sharply, walking past Rose without looking back. Some things were not for sharing.
Rose hurried to catch up, walking in silence along the streets until they reached the dockside.
"I am sorry," Catherine apologised. "I have not given you a chance of lunch. We'll stop and eat before we go any further. The Griffin used to serve good food..." She turned, heading for an inn across the street, dodging the sailors who called out to her. "Come." Catherine held open the door and led Rose through to where she could see a quiet seating area next to a window. They ordered their meal and sat looking out at the snowy streets. "I haven't seen snow for years," she smiled. "It would be pretty if it wasn't so damned cold!"
"It is not so bad this year," Rose smiled as she ate. "We had blizzards last winter in London!"
"Brrr!" Catherine shivered. "Give me golden beaches, turquoise seas and glorious sun..." She glanced out along the docks, looking at the ships. "There look to be a few almost ready to sail... we will try today and tomorrow if need be. If we cannot get passage here we will have to move on and try elsewhere... we should not stay too long in any one place," she cautioned.
Rose chased the last of her casserole around her plate, savouring the warmth. "I guess we should get going then," she said.
"Aye, we should," Catherine grinned. "Come on!"
***
Thierry Muret watched the two women with small bags slung across their backs work their way around the tables, speaking with each of the Captains before turning away disappointedly. He wondered what they wanted for it was unusual to find women of seemingly good name in a dive such as The Swan. He sidled close, trying to catch their conversation.
"Captain!" René Troyes burst into the tavern, frantically looking around. "The watch!"
Thierry grabbed the nearest woman, the grey haired one, reaching for his pistol. "Well I guess we have a hostage!" he laughed. "Let's leave!" The woman squeaked in fear.
"You're going nowhere!" a female voice hissed.
He looked in surprise to find himself facing a pistol, an unwavering pistol aimed at his head. "Let her go!"
"Captain!" René pleaded.
Thierry was surprised to find the woman glance anxiously towards the door, but it was not the look of someone hoping for rescue - more the look of someone frightened who wanted to be well away from the tavern.
"Why do you think the watch want you Madame?" he asked smiling.
"And why are you so sure it is you?" she countered, trying not to look at Rose's frightened eyes.
He shrugged. "Because I am a smuggler," he replied.
Catherine walked forward towards an empty table between them, her finger tracing a letter on the wood with spilled ale. P. He looked at her in shock as she wiped the letter away. "I'll buy passage wherever you are going - but we leave now!" she offered. "Do we have an accord?"
"We do!" he grinned, "And if it is not you then two hostages will slow them better than one! Quickly woman!"
Catherine nodded, uncocking her pistol and hiding it beneath her cloak as Thierry passed the older woman to René.
"Catherine!" Rose cried. "Are you mad?"
"Mad as Jack," she grinned as Thierry wrapped his arms around her, edging towards the back door as the watch burst through the front door.
"Drop your weapons gentlemen or the ladies get hurt!" he threatened, cocking his pistol and aiming it at Catherine. He smiled as he felt her reach beneath her cloak for her own weapon - just in case. Whoever this woman was, she had courage.
"Let the women go smuggler!" the lead watchman ordered. "You'll never get away with... Cat?" he stopped in disbelief, gasping at the woman before him - sure it could be no other.
Catherine looked at him, frantically trying to recognise the man. John, James, Jack, Jim... no - Jimmy! She wriggled a little in the smuggler's grip. "Jimmy, please!" she begged. "Back off!"
"Catherine... I..." he stuttered, laying his weapon down and urging his men to do the same. "You won't get away with this!" he warned the Frenchman.
"If you want the women returned safely, then I already have," Thierry laughed, backing out of the tavern. "René..."
René backed towards the door with Rose who was pale with shock. She trembled and her fear was not faked.
"It will be alright Rose," Catherine whispered. Trust me!"
"Stop talking woman!" Thierry threatened as he followed his crewman out of the door, grabbing her wrist and pulling her along after him. They skidded and slipped on the snowy cobbles, the watch close behind, but she could see he was heading towards a swift looking sloop. The crew were alert and already sails were unfurling as they frantically tried to flee the dock. If they could get clear of the harbour they would be uncatchable in the dark.
"Wha..." Catherine slipped in the dark, sending both herself and her captor falling to the cobbles. Thierry's pistol skittered away. They staggered to their feet but the watch were nearly upon them. He reached for his pistol, but a shot made him pull his hand back sharply.
"Let the woman go!" Jimmy ordered.
Thierry cast a panicked eye at some more soldiers running towards them from another direction. They were shouting something but it could not be heard over the distance. Slowly he raised his hands, watching in dismay as his ship cast off.
"Can you swim?" Catherine hissed, looking worriedly at the other soldiers.
"Oui!" he replied cautiously, wondering what she was about to do.
"Then get ready to jump..." she warned, pulling her own pistol and aiming it at Jimmy.
"Catherine?" he gasped in shock. "What is this?"
"Stop her!" the leader of the other soldiers shouted, his cries eventually reaching them. "Stop her - she's a pirate!"
Jimmy stared at her in shock as Catherine fired, he and his men diving for cover. But when he looked up she and the smuggler were gone, two splashes the only sounds to mark their passage. He ran to the dockside, his men firing into the dark water, but already they were out of sight.
"Sergeant!" the leader of the second troop of men cursed. "Why didn't you stop her!"
"I was after the smuggler Sir," he replied, astounded at the turn of events. "I..."
"Mister Waike will not be pleased!" he warned. "Follow me!"
***