"Byrne, Westenra, take a seat. Westenra if you would take notes? Thank you,
the paper is on my desk."
We perched about the cabin, which was close enough with four people within, and settled down.
"Lieutenant, Captain Marshe has just returned from x----------x, and has news of the Duchess and her ship. Marshe?"
"The Duchess was travelling between Spain and Britain when her ship, the Incorrigible, was captured off the Spanish Main. The Spanish supporters of Bonaparte took them into a tiny harbour called 'Puerto Locales' and then, from intelligence gathered later, Captain Andrews and his first and second lieutenants, along with the Duchess and her maid, were taken to the nearest large fort, named Santa Angela, where they were held for three months before we could exchange the sailors. They would not ransom the Duchess and maid until two weeks ago, for reasons unknown."
Marshe's blue eyes had remained firmly on me, with the occasional flicker towards the other two men, during the entire speech. It was unnerving me, and Byrne and Captain Wendon had clearly noticed it too.
"Thank you, Marshe. The problem is that we want, if at all possible, to get the money back after the return of the Duchess, to show the Spanish our feelings about kidnapping helpless women."
I barely restrained myself from bristling angrily, and forced myself to think clearly. He continued. "Marshe is willing to help as much as he can if we need him, but his orders demand that he return to Portsmouth in a month, and it will take another ten days to reach Santa Angela, with good weather, so we need a good plan, and fast. Any immediate ideas?"
Byrne mused. I remained silent- a thought had struck me. If I could switch places with the maidservant, and she could be got away safely, the Duchess could be allowed on board while I was kept as security... If, then, during or after the exchange of money, I could substitute the real gold with bags of sand and hide the gold somewhere, then escape... Many ifs I noted. I pointedly ignored Marshe's stare- it was becoming rude and tiresome, and incredibly unnerving.
"Alright, we'll reconvene tomorrow at twelve bells. Everyone should do their best to think of something between here and then. Understood? This is to be kept secret for the moment, gentlemen. Dismiss, Lieutenant, Westenra."
We exited the cabin, and I muttered to Byrne "I'll see you later- I have to think."
I rushed into my cabin and began to plot, noting my ideas on scraps in my notebook. Eventually, three hours later, I thought I had resolved most of the major flaws. My worst one- how normal I would look in a dress- was partly resolved by my 'gypsy' background. I could claim to have dressed up for theatre, and all sorts, escaping angry farmers who were chasing us off their land- they were much nicer to a young lady, even a poor one, resting beneath a tree during a walk. Another problem was how to convince them I could do this. It was a major responsibility, and one only I could take on, being the only fluent Spanish speaker on board (both the Duchess and her maid spoke Spanish well). I decided to try my plan out on Byrne first- if he burst out laughing, I'd have to think of something else for the Captain.
I found Byrne in his cabin, also planning. I explained my idea to him, and thankfully, he didn't laugh. Instead, he looked at me seriously and said "It has possibilities."
He thought for a moment, then reached for a sheet of paper. "Here's a plan of the fort. We'd need to know where the gold would be held, and how to get it back. It's a hell of a lot of pressure, though Jack. If you were found out, you'd be killed for sure. What if the Duchess objects to having a man in her service?"
I didn't think that would be a problem. I hoped to be able to confide my secret to the duchess, whom I had met twice previously and liked enormously- she was a woman of great sense and intelligence. She would recognize me at once, which might be a problem.
"I shall explain to her after she boards the Dominion, and she can complain to whoever she pleases as long as it's not the Spanish. I'll be careful. There would have to be a gap of two days at least between the Duchess boarding and my escape, so I can find my way around and work out a plan of escape. I could even send a message to you- if the Duchess 'forgets' a bag or something I can secrete a message inside, or if you wanted to communicate with me, the Duchess could send me a gift- women do it all the time, you know. Is it any good?"
I was very enthusiastic, and it must have been contagious, as we planned and thought, and changed ideas, and worked out all the possible problems and details until, at eight bells, we were starving. Byrne had contributed so many practicalities and realities to the original plan that it seemed much more probable. Also, it was so unusual; it would be the last thing the Spanish would suspect.
We stretched our cramped limbs and went up for food. As we sat with our food, munching hungrily, Byrne mumbled through a mouthful of biscuit, "It'll be dangerous, y'know. Not just physically for you. If it all goes to hell, your career is gone, you'll probably be imprisoned for life... If you aren't sure- completely sure- you can do it, give it up now. I won't hold it against ye, I couldn't be sure I'd do your bit, I tell you now."
I thought hard. I believed in myself. The risk was, if I were discovered, they might discover my identity. Then Captain Wendon's career was at risk, as was my families' gold- they could ask a lot for me, and I would be in disgrace for the rest of my life, even if my family did pay the ransom. My mind explored the risks, until I shook my head decisively.
"I can do it. Shall we see what the Cap'n thinks?" Byrne smiled easily. "Yes, I think I'd feel a lot better without Marshe there- he couldn't take his eyes of you, Jack, it was makin' me nervous. Why, d'you think? You aren't *that* pretty..."
I pretended to swat him in a manly way, which set him off laughing- I found it even more amusing- apparently the hair and hat hid more than I'd thought, as at home I was considered one of the foremost beauties of England. My hair (when washed- it hadn't been clean for a good three weeks now) was shiny and curly, a beautiful brown, but I plaited it severely in the seaman's fashion, and therefore kept it long. It was shorter than many of the older sailor's plaits!
Don't read. Oh, too late, eh? Well, never mind. Since you're here, you could review. If you have to. Please? Luv Es xx
We perched about the cabin, which was close enough with four people within, and settled down.
"Lieutenant, Captain Marshe has just returned from x----------x, and has news of the Duchess and her ship. Marshe?"
"The Duchess was travelling between Spain and Britain when her ship, the Incorrigible, was captured off the Spanish Main. The Spanish supporters of Bonaparte took them into a tiny harbour called 'Puerto Locales' and then, from intelligence gathered later, Captain Andrews and his first and second lieutenants, along with the Duchess and her maid, were taken to the nearest large fort, named Santa Angela, where they were held for three months before we could exchange the sailors. They would not ransom the Duchess and maid until two weeks ago, for reasons unknown."
Marshe's blue eyes had remained firmly on me, with the occasional flicker towards the other two men, during the entire speech. It was unnerving me, and Byrne and Captain Wendon had clearly noticed it too.
"Thank you, Marshe. The problem is that we want, if at all possible, to get the money back after the return of the Duchess, to show the Spanish our feelings about kidnapping helpless women."
I barely restrained myself from bristling angrily, and forced myself to think clearly. He continued. "Marshe is willing to help as much as he can if we need him, but his orders demand that he return to Portsmouth in a month, and it will take another ten days to reach Santa Angela, with good weather, so we need a good plan, and fast. Any immediate ideas?"
Byrne mused. I remained silent- a thought had struck me. If I could switch places with the maidservant, and she could be got away safely, the Duchess could be allowed on board while I was kept as security... If, then, during or after the exchange of money, I could substitute the real gold with bags of sand and hide the gold somewhere, then escape... Many ifs I noted. I pointedly ignored Marshe's stare- it was becoming rude and tiresome, and incredibly unnerving.
"Alright, we'll reconvene tomorrow at twelve bells. Everyone should do their best to think of something between here and then. Understood? This is to be kept secret for the moment, gentlemen. Dismiss, Lieutenant, Westenra."
We exited the cabin, and I muttered to Byrne "I'll see you later- I have to think."
I rushed into my cabin and began to plot, noting my ideas on scraps in my notebook. Eventually, three hours later, I thought I had resolved most of the major flaws. My worst one- how normal I would look in a dress- was partly resolved by my 'gypsy' background. I could claim to have dressed up for theatre, and all sorts, escaping angry farmers who were chasing us off their land- they were much nicer to a young lady, even a poor one, resting beneath a tree during a walk. Another problem was how to convince them I could do this. It was a major responsibility, and one only I could take on, being the only fluent Spanish speaker on board (both the Duchess and her maid spoke Spanish well). I decided to try my plan out on Byrne first- if he burst out laughing, I'd have to think of something else for the Captain.
I found Byrne in his cabin, also planning. I explained my idea to him, and thankfully, he didn't laugh. Instead, he looked at me seriously and said "It has possibilities."
He thought for a moment, then reached for a sheet of paper. "Here's a plan of the fort. We'd need to know where the gold would be held, and how to get it back. It's a hell of a lot of pressure, though Jack. If you were found out, you'd be killed for sure. What if the Duchess objects to having a man in her service?"
I didn't think that would be a problem. I hoped to be able to confide my secret to the duchess, whom I had met twice previously and liked enormously- she was a woman of great sense and intelligence. She would recognize me at once, which might be a problem.
"I shall explain to her after she boards the Dominion, and she can complain to whoever she pleases as long as it's not the Spanish. I'll be careful. There would have to be a gap of two days at least between the Duchess boarding and my escape, so I can find my way around and work out a plan of escape. I could even send a message to you- if the Duchess 'forgets' a bag or something I can secrete a message inside, or if you wanted to communicate with me, the Duchess could send me a gift- women do it all the time, you know. Is it any good?"
I was very enthusiastic, and it must have been contagious, as we planned and thought, and changed ideas, and worked out all the possible problems and details until, at eight bells, we were starving. Byrne had contributed so many practicalities and realities to the original plan that it seemed much more probable. Also, it was so unusual; it would be the last thing the Spanish would suspect.
We stretched our cramped limbs and went up for food. As we sat with our food, munching hungrily, Byrne mumbled through a mouthful of biscuit, "It'll be dangerous, y'know. Not just physically for you. If it all goes to hell, your career is gone, you'll probably be imprisoned for life... If you aren't sure- completely sure- you can do it, give it up now. I won't hold it against ye, I couldn't be sure I'd do your bit, I tell you now."
I thought hard. I believed in myself. The risk was, if I were discovered, they might discover my identity. Then Captain Wendon's career was at risk, as was my families' gold- they could ask a lot for me, and I would be in disgrace for the rest of my life, even if my family did pay the ransom. My mind explored the risks, until I shook my head decisively.
"I can do it. Shall we see what the Cap'n thinks?" Byrne smiled easily. "Yes, I think I'd feel a lot better without Marshe there- he couldn't take his eyes of you, Jack, it was makin' me nervous. Why, d'you think? You aren't *that* pretty..."
I pretended to swat him in a manly way, which set him off laughing- I found it even more amusing- apparently the hair and hat hid more than I'd thought, as at home I was considered one of the foremost beauties of England. My hair (when washed- it hadn't been clean for a good three weeks now) was shiny and curly, a beautiful brown, but I plaited it severely in the seaman's fashion, and therefore kept it long. It was shorter than many of the older sailor's plaits!
Don't read. Oh, too late, eh? Well, never mind. Since you're here, you could review. If you have to. Please? Luv Es xx
