Rebecca waited on the deck for Jules. They had taken to having tea together on deck before retiring. Dinner was in the captain's cabin. Plans were solidified there, too. Rebecca made a three-way split of responsibilities and authority. Captain Anderson was in charge of the ships and crews, with Captain Glenshire responsible for planning the seaside part of the attacks to come.
Rebecca took command of the marines going ashore. She was taking ten men with her. They were all experienced. This time, unlike the last, no one challenged her abilities. True to their word, these people took Rebecca's orders without question.
Perhaps Sir James's mistake had made the rounds.
She smiled at that thought. Rebecca had put his objections, and the man himself down handily. If she had embarrassed him or caused a bit of teasing, he deserved it.
He apologized later, and asked her to dinner, when the Peterson case had closed. Which started his sporadic trips to London to see her.
I need to decide whether to break off this mild but pleasant relationship before it develops further or set rules to keep it from becoming awkward. We can't talk about such personal matters yet, but soon. It will need to be soon.
Sir James was on her team, going ashore. He was overseeing all the facets of the engagement, checking for holes in the defenses. She was too and conferring with him on it. She enjoyed his input and the way his mind worked.
Robertson sat back and let things happen around him. He had donned his sword and had pistols ready at his belt. The man looked like a pirate and did all he could to keep that image going. During the day, he busied himself giving sword lessons to the crew. Rebecca watched to pass the time, learning a few moves she had never seen. Old he may be, but Robertson could still take down anyone on board.
Jules stepped up beside her. He didn't speak. Rebecca gave him a smile. He was the odd man out on this trip and knew it. His pride might be incensed at being left aboard, which was what the Scots intended and perhaps had even said. She assumed he had said nothing to her because he didn't want to make an issue of it. Also, because he had been their prisoner and had been rescued too many times. If he went with them, he would become a target. The League would trade the Highland Trade Company and Phileas Fogg for the chance to get hold of him again.
We usually don't have a choice but to accept his help on missions. He and Passepartout are all the backup they have. This time I have two ships full of unhappy sailors and marines to help me.
They stood there silently, watching the waves and enjoying the wind in their faces.
Jules gave Rebecca's new wardrobe a quick glance. She had picked up some local outfits in the bazaar to make up for losing her things, including her fighting suit. They were all the same design, just different colors. The one she wore now was blue. It was a long-embroidered tunic reaching nearly to her ankles of linen for the hot local climate. The long sleeves and high collar made it prudent. Its slits up the sides and loose pants underneath made it both comfortable and exotic looking. Rebecca was as covered up as a nun if she wore the headscarf that went with it, which she did to keep her hair from being blown around. But her form was more visible than normal, which was a bit of a problem walking around deck, the only woman on board.
Jules had seen her in her fighting suit many times, which was far more revealing as far as showing limbs and figure. Even so, her new outfit was catching his attention the way the other never did. It was the contrast. The linen and embroidered embellishments were soft, feminine.
"We should reach a safe distance from the base to launch tomorrow afternoon," Rebecca said. "Ready for a fight?" she said, turning to him.
The question took him back.
Rebecca put her hand over his on the rail. "I wouldn't think of leaving you behind. As many scraps as we've shared and come out of, I'm thinking of you as good luck."
Rebecca didn't explain her reasons. If she had, he might be doubly offended. Sneaking into a large League base was dangerous enough for a trained agent, which Verne was not. What would happen on the ships once a battle was engaged could be something far more dangerous, he was also not trained for.
The next morning, all plans were set. They would be in range of the base, according to Abel's directions, by midday. The cannons, four and ten pounders, were put into position. The artillery was set in place. Schooners weren't normally so heavily armed. They were made to outrun danger, not head into it. Frigates and destroyers were made heavy enough to handle the recoil of cannon and the pounding of a fight. Of course, those types of ships were slow in the water. They did four knots to a schooner's ten. Speed was considered more important to merchant shipping, and to their purposes as well.
The ships had run as fast as they could to get to the League's base. A good bit of luck for them was the unevenness of the coastline. They could get within three miles of the base without being seen from any cliff watch.
At two hours before sunset, boats carrying the marines, Sir James, Jules, and Rebecca, left the ships. She had changed into another of her light outfits, a black one with no embroidery. Its scarf hid her hair. This tunic was shorter, only coming to her knees.
"The tide will go out soon," she said. "If any League ships are sailing from the base, this night would be the time."
Rebecca's marines landed on the shore and scaled the cliffs to the top. This part of the coast wasn't inhabited. The nearest town on the map was another eight miles inland. They headed toward the base from the crest. Two sentries were overtaken, bound, and guarded.
In the dim light of dusk, they looked over their enemy's lair. The warehouse on the top of the cliff was all Captain Abel had told them to expect. It had a stable attached to it, with at least eight horses resting peacefully. They couldn't see any sentries at the building.
They watched for a time. No one came out. There were lights visible inside, but they couldn't detect any movement through the windows. Rebecca and four went to the east side; the others went to the west, looking for an entrance.
Rebecca's group, including Verne, found an open window. She climbed a stack of crates to see inside. There was no one in sight. She saw the Aurora partly covered under a large tarp. It was deflated. There would be no using it for a quick escape. She looked at the other walls. A large set of doors on the north side had a smaller one cut into the left side. Rebecca motioned everyone that way. The marines opened them with little trouble and fanned out.
Two men came into the warehouse through a door on the east side Rebecca hadn't seen. One wore a League uniform. They were walking toward the Aurora.
Rebecca's heart leaped. It was Passepartout. She silently walked up on the guard behind him and got him out of her way with a twist of his head. She then walked up on Passepartout just as quietly and tapped his shoulder.
The valet turned and started when he saw her. His eyes went large with surprise. A smile took over his face. He gave her a big hug, calling her name out loud. Rebecca would have killed him for the noise if she weren't being squeezed to death. She got her hand over his mouth before he could say anything more.
"Where are Phileas and the McCollums?"
"Locked away," Passepartout whispered. "The League readying to take earl to Scotland. They taking stolen clipper and league schooner loaded with soldiers. They taking over island. Earl planning a warning. Lady Katharine here, as hostage. Master and I going to Count Gregory tomorrow."
Sir James and Jules had come closer to hear him. "We didn't see any ships in the cove," Sir James said?
"Ships in cavern," Passepartout said. "Entrance can't be seen from shore. Ships enter through cliff side. Master and lady in rooms downstairs to left. Earl already taken to clipper."
"Rescuing all would require splitting up or letting the ships deal with the Mary Kate when she reached open seas," Sir James said, considering their options. "Georgie," he called to one of their party. "Go back out and signal the ships. Let them know two enemy ships are leaving port."
"Aye," Georgie said and ran for the door.
Sir James turned back to Passepartout. "How many people are near the rooms and how many overall?"
"Not many. Only one guarding rooms," Passepartout said. "That one escorting me when I sent to pack for Master. All others are in cavern harbor to see ships leave. Sixty people. Ships carrying two hundred and more each."
"Meaning the eleven of us, with you, will be grossly outnumbered," Rebecca said. "We can get Phileas and Katharine free if we get it done before their send-off is over."
"You're right," Sir James said. "Let's get Fogg and Katharine."
"The Aurora," Passepartout said. "We getting away on the Aurora."
"Passepartout, she has been deflated and towed inside. It would take too much time," Rebecca said.
"We have horses," Passepartout said. He looked at Jules. "Jules and I can pull her out while you rescuing the master and lady."
In the dark? Rebecca wasn't hopeful, but… "Try. Go quickly."