Just as she’d feared, the door to Helena’s room was open. The parson’s wife was pacing back and forth in the hallway.
“I’m so glad you’ve come, Mrs. Green,” the woman said worriedly, approaching her. “Is the fire spreading? Should the rest of us leave the building?”
Mrs. Green pushed past her and went into the bedchamber. It was empty. “Where is she? Where did she take Miss Middleton?”
“Miss Edwards was rightly frightened about the fire. Your mistress was quite groggy, and could not move very quickly.”
“Yes…yes!” the housekeeper snapped. “Where are they?”
“They were going to the garden,” the woman explained, obviously offended. “She asked me to stay behind and tell you where they went. She did not want you to get worry for nothing. But are you sure the fire is out? I have two small children you know. Parson Higgins cannot afford to lose me because I came here to do some good deed.”
“Which way did she take her down?” The housekeeper asked impatiently. “What stairway did they take?”
“I’ll be happy to show you the way,” the parson’s wife said, starting down the hallway.
*****
Helena leaned heavily on Portia as they slowly made their way down the pathway leading to the drive.
“I am so tired. I cannot breathe. ‘Tis been so long since I’ve walked so far…so fast…I do not know if I can take another step.”
“We are almost there,” Portia said, relieved to see a carriage waiting just beyond the last line of trees. “When we get to it, please let me do the talking for both of us.”
Jack looked curiously at the two of them when they left the line of trees.
“You are the kindest man this side of the heaven,” Portia said brightly. “And you brought a carriage.”
“Aye, the master thought ‘twould be more comfortable for ye for the long ride.”
“Quite right, Jack,” she said. “And being the angel that you are, would you help my friend here to climb in? She is quite weak after breathing in all the smoke in the kitchen. It appears someone accidentally started a small fire.”
“Accidentally?” the groom grumbled under his breath. Still, he lent a hand and Helena was quickly helped into the carriage. Once she was seated inside, though, he turned to Portia. “The master said I would be taking only ye.”
“He must have said I’d be the only one you would know. You don’t think I would journey to England on a ship filled with sailors and no female attendant?”
“As ye wish, miss. I know nothing of such things,” Jack muttered. He helped her into the carriage and climbed up to the driver’s seat. “I just hope ye’re not putting me in more hot water with the master.”
At the gate Helena brought a handkerchief to her mouth in an apparent coughing fit. Portia leaned out of the carriage and casually told the curious guards about the fire in the kitchen.
“I don’t know if they’ve put out the flames yet,” she said in parting. “But I shall be bringing my own food to work tomorrow, just in case…and I shall bring extra for you lads.”
As they laughed, she waved and Jack flicked the reins at the team of horses. The gate closed behind them, and Portia sank back against the seat.
“So far, so good,” she said, taking her mother’s hand and thinking that the worst still lay ahead of them.
&p;
****
“I see no one here. Are you sure your friend was taking Miss Middleton this way to the garden?” the housekeeper asked irritably.
Mary looked about her in confusion. “This is my first time at this house, Mrs. Green. Now, they could not have gone too far. You know better than I how weak your mistress must be. Miss Edwards had to practically drag her out in trying to save her life. Now you say the fire was nothing really. Well, perhaps they heard that and turned around. Perhaps they are already upstairs, and Miss Edwards is tucking your mistress back in bed. Perhaps you are worrying about nothing. Perhaps—”
“Mrs. Higgins, you talk too much,” the housekeeper cut in angrily, turning back toward the house.
“I am just trying to be of assistance. My children are waiting at home for me. Aside from preparing for supper, I still need to make two more visits to sick members of my husband’s congregation. So if you do not appreciate what I am trying to do—”
“I believe ‘tis time for you to leave, ma’am,” the housekeeper said sharply, facing her. “You have been very helpful, I’m sure. Now you may be on your way, Mrs. Higgins.”
“Are you certain?”
“The gate is that way.”
“In that case…” Mary said with a huff, turning on her heel and striding out of the garden toward the gate.
****
They had been riding through the darkness for over an hour when they passed through a tiny village that Jack told her was called Barrington. It was not long after leaving the cluster of homes behind that the carriage pulled off the post road and lurched to a stop behind a thin grove of trees.
Portia had been breathing in the smell of pine for so long that she was surprised to have the scent of the salt water now pour into the carriage. She peered out the window and found they had halted by a small point of land. It was very dark, but she knew the black water that stretched out beyond had to be the Narragansett Bay.
“We are a wee bit early,” Jack said jumping down and stretching his legs.
Helena had slept for the entire ride, but now she stirred and opened her eyes.
“Where are we?” She reached out a hand cautiously.
Portia took it in her own. “Somewhere in Rhode Island. They are sending a boat soon that will carry us out to the ship.”
“Do you see any ship?”
“No. The driver says we’re early.”
Helena nodded and dozed off against the seat again.
Portiaheard a noise in the distance across the water. Curious, she climbed out of the carriage and moved to the edge of the cove.
It was the sound of the muffled oars on the water. She wasn’t certain where it had come from, but a longboat was passing. The rowers were strangely hushed despite their numbers.
“Who are they?” she whispered when Jack came down to the water next to her. He too stared out at the longboat that was quietly passing the point.
“I do not think you really want to know, miss, though I’m guessing that one hails from Bristol, just south of here.”
Portia didn’t press him, but she wondered if MacHeath was on that boat. This afternoon, as Jack drove them back to the apothecary to fetch Portia’s trunk, she had been searching every face they passed. She’d been hoping for a glimpse of Pierce one last time. She had not dared to ask Jack, though.
Perhaps Captain Turner was right. Perhaps Pierce…or rather, MacHeath…had come here after she’d left him last night. Portia looked at the boat gliding away from them into the darkness. The quietness, the sense of secrecy made her think they were smugglers. With this realization came worry. She was terrified to think that Turner and his men might be lying in wait in some cove to arrest them.
“Jack,” she said, “Admiral Middleton was sending Captain Turner and some men to Rhode Island today. They left this morning. Should we warn anyone about them? They could be anywhere…and the captain had some kind of trap planned. He was certain that they would succeed, and…”
Her voice trailed off as Jack shook his head.
“If ye wish to leave tonight, then I wouldn’t say a thing, miss. Let the people who know their business do what they must.”
Portia felt her nervousness rise. “If the choice is for me to leave or saving your master from trouble, then I should tell you now that I will forfeit the journey.”
Jack smiled. “Ye fret too much. What I was trying to say was that ye are worrying for nothing. The master knows what he’s doing.”
“But if I can help him—”
“Ye’ll help him by staying out of the man’s way until he’s done, miss.”
&n
bsp; Suddenly, the crack of a gunshot came from across the water. Portia moved closer to the water’s edge, with Jack right beside her. She could not see anything of the longboat. The sound of shouts and fighting grew louder, though, and continued.
“They could be under attack.”
“I should say they are under attack,” the groom said in a matter-of-fact voice.
“Is there no one we could go to for help?” Portia climbed onto a rock protruding from the water, hoping to see something.
“Nay. We’re to stay here and—”
“We cannot just wait—”
“Aye, miss. We can. My instructions—”
Portia slipped off the rock and fell into waist-deep water with a loud splash. She skinned her elbow as she went, and the salt water stung fiercely.
“Bloody hell,” the groom cursed under his breath, wading in to help her out. “Settle down, miss. Aye, there is a ship under attack. But ‘tis not what ye think. There are longboats from Providence, as well, and they…”
The sounds of riders approaching drew their attention to the road. Just beyond the thin line of the trees, a dozen soldiers on horses were passing. Still standing in the water, she thought of Helena still sleeping inside the carriage.
“Get down, miss,” Jack whispered, climbing behind the rock. “Do not let them see ye.”
He tried to pull her down into the water with him as two riders at the head of the company cut off the road and reined in beside the carriage.
“Helena,” Portia whispered.
At that moment, another gunshot came across the water, and the two riders spurred their horses to the water’s edge to get a better view.
Portia tried to get down in the water before they saw her, but she was too late.
*****
Astounded, Captain Turner stared at the woman standing in the water. He had to look again and push his horse toward the boulder. He had to make sure he was not mistaken.
“What the devil are you doing here, Miss Edwards?”
“Sir, the men are getting ahead of us.”
The captain quickly looked around them. There was the carriage, but no one else that he could see.
“Catch up to them, Reynolds. Continue on to Providence… but send two men back here. We shall follow.” As the junior officer rode off, Turner turned again to Portia. “Well, what explanation do you have for this madness?”
“A very reasonable one.” She started to walk toward him, but stumbled and fell deeper into the water. “But would you be kind enough to help me out of here first, sir?”
He nudged his horse into the water and extended his riding crop to her. “Whose carriage is that? Who is that inside?”
“I cannot swim, sir.” She reached up, but wasn’t able to catch hold of the crop. “Please.”
“For the heaven’s sake, woman, this water is not so deep. Just stand up.”
“Something is pulling at me. I think it must be quicksand.”
“There is no bloody quicksand in this water. Perhaps the tide could—”
Her head went under, and she disappeared. Turner stared for a moment, but she did not surface again. Mild concern added to his growing annoyance. He had no option but to climb down from his horse into the water. He felt around in the shallow pool for her, but could find nothing.
“Where are you?” he shouted. “Miss Edwardiv>
“Have they come for us already?”
The woman’s voice from the carriage window drew Turner’s head in that direction. It took only moment for him to recognize the voice. He turned in shock and started toward her.
“Miss Middleton?”
“Captain Turner,” she gasped, opening the carriage door. “What have you done with my daughter?”
“Daughter?” he returned. “What is the meaning of this? Have you truly lost your mind?”
“Where is Portia?” Helena stretched a hand out.
“I am here, Mother,” she replied from directly behind him
“I believe you both have a great deal of explaining to do. And you, Miss Edwards, I must place under arrest in the name of the Ki—”
As he turned around, Turner glanced up in time to see the dripping rock she held above her head, but he was too late to deflect the blow.
CHAPTER 19
“Did I kill him?” Portia asked, looking over the groom’s shoulder at the body spread on shore.
“A mighty blow, miss. But he is still breathing.”
Portia didn’t want to think about what she had done. She wasn’t going to feel sorry for the officer or worry about the consequences of having been recognized. She had no time for that now. She stepped around him and went to Helena, who was trying to climb out of the carriage.
“Please stay where you are, Mother. Turner’s soldiers will be back soon. We cannot wait here, or we shall be discovered.”
The explosion behind her lit up the western sky. Portia whirled around and gaped across the water. Not a mile away, flames climbed high into the sky. It was a ship, burning like a torch. She could even see the silhouettes of longboats around it.
“Mighty nice of them to burn the bloody thing and create a diversion for us,” Jack commented. He stood up and scanned the waters of the bay.
Portia saw the fishing dory about the same time that the groom did. Two men were rowing quietly toward the point. Pierce’s groom let out a low whistle, and one of the oarsmen returned the signal.
“They’ve come for ye, miss.” Jack called over his shoulder.
“Let me help you,” Portia said, going to her mother and helping her down from the carriage. The groom was beside them in a moment, hauling down the single trunk and taking it to the water’s edge.
The waterlogged clothes weighed Portia down terribly. Helena did not seem to notice the wetness, though, as she clutched tightly to her daughter’s arm.
“I am afraid,” the older woman whispered quietly into her ear. “I see a red sky. The color of blood.”
“’Tis only a far off fire. It cannot hurt us.”
Portia wished she could believe her own words. The sailors did not question the fact that it was two of them and helped Helena into the boat first.
“Will you be able to get out before Turner’s men get here?” she asked Jack.
“I’ll be fine, miss. Do not fret now.”
“You can always say I forced you to drive us here. At gunpoint. Turner didn’t see you, so there is no reason why they should suspect—”
“They’re waiting for ye, miss.” Jack nudged her gently toward the boat. “Now I know ye think ye might have tried my patience on occasion, but I do not want ye thinking such a thing. Ye just come back when ye can, and we shall do this again. What say ye to that?”
Portia smiled at the man and climbed into the boat. As they were rowed away from the shore, she continued to look back until she saw Jack driving the carriage off to the south. Turner’s horse grazed near the trees. She could see the officer’s body spread out on the dry sand.
Out on the water, they had a clear view of the burning ship and the flames lighting up the far shore. Portia knew that this was the work of MacHeath. But she also pondered whether there ever would come a time when they would meet again.
*****
While the longboats from a number of towns along the bay attacked the Gaspee, the illicit cargo aboard the Lothian was unloaded near Bristol. On shore, those who’d come from Boston for the weapons stowed them away in wagons filled with wool and hay and disappeared into the night. By the time the first explosions aboard the British ship resonated across the water, the merchant ship was waiting for its last passenger.
Pierce and the master of Lothian were in the captain’s quarters when the first mate knocked on the door with the news that that everyone was aboard, and they were ready to weigh anchor. With a nod from the ship-owner, Captain Cameron went on deck to see to the start of their journey. Pierce took one more look out the cabin window at the fire still lighting up the sky to the northw
est, and then went back to storing his belongings and the messages he was carrying back to England.
Dawn was breaking across the eastern sky when Pierce stepped out on deck. Though he’d tried to sleep, he couldn’t, and he’d known the moment they sailed out of the bay into the open sea from the motion of the Lothian. He loved the feel of the ocean. He breathed in the air. The stiff sea breeze was refreshing and immediately washed away any vestige of fatigue.
The New England coastline lay off to port. In the graying light he could just make out sections of beach and bluff. The sound of the canvas popping and straining above drew his gaze upward. The sails had been set, and the lookout perched on the topmast trestletree was scanning the horizon fore and aft for British warships and revenue cutters. Standing by the stern rail, Pierce looked forward at the glorious horizon ahead.
He was doing the right thing in going back to Baronsford, he told himself. It was time to mend the past and move o with the future.
The future!
He thought of the woman below decks. She had no idea he was on board. He recalled her beautiful dark eyes brimming with tears when she’d left his house. He also thought of their lovemaking. How dazzled he’d been by power of it! How her departure so immediately after had stung him!
It was far too early to awaken her. He would let her sleep. Still, Pierce soon found his steps leading him below decks to steerage. There, in the dim light of the long narrow passageway, he stood and stared at the doors of the four passenger cabins.
Going back on deck, he moved forward across the waist of the ship—the center section of the ship between the fore deck and the stern deck. On the foredeck, above the forecastle where the sailors slept in shifts, three tars were lashing down a dory more securely. One of the sailors who’d rowed Portia from Nahet Point, above Bristol, was among them.
“Do you know where they put our passenger,” Pierce asked as they finished the task.
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