Part 60 (1/2)
Mewes laughed. ”I'd give a hundred sovereigns to the man who could spark up a candle lantern in this weather!”
Winston looked up to see Joan slowly descending the companionway from the quarterdeck. They watched in silence as the longboat was lowered and oarsmen began rowing it the few yards to sh.o.r.e.
”Well, this is quite a sight, if I may say.” Her voice was contemptuous as she broke the silence. Suddenly she began to brush at her hair, attempting to straighten out the tangles. ”I've never known 'her ladys.h.i.+p' to venture out on a night like this. . . .” She turned and glared at Winston. ”Though I've heard talk she managed to get herself aboard the _Defiance _once before in a storm.”
”You've got big ears.”
”Enough to keep track of your follies. Do you suppose your lads don't take occasion to talk when they've a bit of kill-devil in their bellies? You should be more discreet, or else pay them better.”
”I pay them more than they're worth now.”
”Well, they were most admirin' of your little conquest. Or was the conquest hers?”
”Joan, why don't you just let it rest?” He moved to the railing at mids.h.i.+ps and reached down to help Katherine up the rope ladder. ”What's happened? This is the very devil of a night. . . .”
”Hugh . . .” She was about to throw her arms around him when she noticed Joan. She stopped dead still, then turned and nodded with cold formality. ”Your servant . . . madam.”
”Your ladys.h.i.+p's most obedient . . .” Joan curtsied back with a cordiality hewn from ice.
They examined each other a moment in silence. Then Katherine seemed to dismiss her as she turned back to Winston.
”Please. Won't you come back and help? just for tonight?”
He reached for her hand and felt it trembling. ”Help you? What do you mean?” His voice quickened. ”Don't tell me the Roundheads have already started marching on Bridgetown.”
”Not that we know of. But now that the rain's put out the cane fires, a few of the militia have started regrouping. With their horses.” She squeezed his hand in her own. ”Maybe we could still try an attack on the Oistins breastwork at dawn.”
”You don't have a chance. Now that the rains have begun, you can't move up any cannon. The roads are like rivers. But they've got heavy ordnance. The Roundheads have doubtless got those cannons in the breastwork turned around now and covering the road. If we'd have marched last evening, we could've moved up some guns of our own, and then hit them at first light. Before they expected an attack. But now it's too late.” He examined her sadly. Her face was drawn and her hair was plastered against her cheeks. ”It's over, Katy. Barbados is lost.”
”But you said you'd fight, even if you had n.o.body but your own men.”
”Briggs and the rest of them managed to change my mind for me. Why should I risk anything? They won't.”
She stood unmoving, still grasping his hand. ”Then you're really leaving?”
”I am.” He looked at her. ”I still wish you'd decide to go with me. G.o.d knows . . .”
Suddenly she pulled down his face and kissed him on the lips, lingering as the taste of rain flooded her mouth. Finally she pulled away. ”I can't think now. At least about that. But for G.o.d's sake please help us tonight. Let us use those flintlocks you've got here on the s.h.i.+p.
They're dry. The Roundhead infantry probably has mostly matchlocks, and they'll be wet. With your muskets maybe we can make up for the difference in our numbers.”
He examined her skeptically. ”Just exactly whose idea is this, Katy?”
”Who do you suppose? n.o.body else knows you've got them.”
”Anthony Walrond knows.” Winston laughed. ”I'll say one thing. It would be perfect justice.”
”Then use them to arm our militia. With your guns, maybe--”
”I'll be needing those flintlocks where I'm going.”
Joan pushed forward with a scowl. ”Give me leave to put you in mind, madam, that those muskets belong to Hugh. Not to the worthless militia on this island.” She turned on Winston. ”Don't be daft. You give those new flintlocks over to the militia and you'll never see half of them again. You know that as well as I do.”